FCA Camp Offers Lessons to Avery Vikings in Football and Faith

Throughout the spring and early summer, the Avery Vikings football team has been going through the paces of preparation for the 2010 high school campaign. Last week the team traveled to Boiling Springs for The Fellowship of Christian Athletes Team Camp held June 17-19 on the campus of Gardner-Webb University.

Avery’s skill position players competed in a total of ten 7-on-7 games in sweltering temperatures soaring around 95 degrees. The squad finished with a 7-2-1 record in the games, winning first place overall at the camp. While the skill positions were taking part in the 7 on 7s, the Avery linemen were spending time in drills exclusively designed for offensive and defensive linemen, developing technique, footwork, speed, and conditioning skills.

In the 7 on 7 games, Avery tangled with a number of quality football teams like perennial 3A power Asheville Cougars, in addition to other quality regional schools such as North Henderson, Erwin, Saint Stephen’s, and Brevard.

“We lost our first game to Asheville and won straight through until a tie against Erwin,” Coach Brewer stated during Friday’s camp contests. “Our defense has looked really good. We’ve broken down some coverages, but we haven’t spent a lot of time working on 7-on-7s and coverages. Those things are coaches’ fault and not the kids.”

One particular contest during the camp demonstrated the kind of fortitude and resolve that fans are likely going to see on Friday nights this fall. In a contest with Erwin, the Vikings trailed 16-0 in the unique 40-yard game format where touchdown passes count for six points and interceptions/turnovers count for two points for the defense. Avery rallied from a deficit with 18 unanswered points during the latter portion of the contest to pull out a win.

“Our defense had three picks in that game and we really stood strong when we needed to most,’ Coach Brewer said of the win. “We’ve come from behind to tie a game today as well. The kids really haven’t gotten down about things. They continue to encourage each other on both sides of the ball, which has been really good to see.”

A major aspect of the team camp goes beyond the football field. Camp organizers, coaches, and counselors impart upon the teams the importance of high moral character and living a life for a higher calling. Following every 7-on-7 contest, players were asked to give words of encouragement about their opponent, and vice versa. The counselor shared a few words, often regarding unity and teamwork, then a player would lead the huddled group in prayer. The team has also heard testimony and messages from Tim Lewis, former standout player at Montreat who shared how his life changed for the better after learning from bad decisions and spending time in prison.

“The faith aspect of the camp has been great. I’ve been grateful for the team time that they have built into this year’s camp. It allows us to come together just as our team after the daily devotions and they gave us questions to ask the kids,” Coach Brewer explained. “It has made us take a good look at ourselves individually as well as look at ourselves as a football team.”

There will be a personnel change for the Vikings football team in terms of chaplaincy this season. Pastor Jeff Brewer of Stameytown Baptist Church will be handling chaplain duties during this football season, as Minneapolis Baptist Church Pastor Bryan Griffith, who has served as team chaplain for the past 15 years, will be stepping back in his capacities.

“Pastor Griffith is still going to be the assistant in case anything happens and he might need to fill in, but he told us he felt this was a move he felt the Lord wanted him to make,” Coach Brewer said. “Jeff is a cousin of mine, and it’s funny that I’ve heard Brewers preach all my life, but he’s the only one who was standing behind a pulpit doing it! But seriously, he’s really excited about it and has been doing a really good job so far.”

For Pastor Jeff Brewer, witnessed growth from the Avery team while at the camp with the players, and hopes that he as chaplain can be there as a positive role model to help them when needed.

“As far as coming together and unity, we haven’t seen any trash talk or anything negative between teams. This has been a good time for these players to come together to play football and hear the Word of God,” Pastor Jeff Brewer stated during a break between 7-on-7 games. “I want to be a positive role model for these guys, and show them what it’s like to be an encourager in both the good and bad times. I hope we can be there for these kids on and off the field, no matter the situation, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. I hope that these players will trust me with issues they might have, and that is the kind of responsibility I lay on myself toward this team.”

Avery football wishes to express its appreciation to a number of people who helped make attending this year’s FCA team camp possible.

“I’d like to thank Minneapolis Baptist Church, Crossnore Baptist Church, folks like Dwayne Krege and others from Mount Calvary Baptist Church, as well as the folks at Stameytown Baptist Church for giving us funds toward this camp. Their generosity helped to pay for the kids to attend camp who otherwise could not afford to come, and we were also able to pay for several meals for the kids during camp,” Coach Brewer said as another day of camp wound down. “We have seen such great leadership from these kids. It’s great for us to come here to Gardner Webb just to get away from everything, because here we’re focusing on Christianity and football. It’s just the perfect place to bring the kids.”

Avery’s next scheduled summer football event is a 7-on-7 tournament competition at Cloudland High School in Roan Mountain on Friday, July 16th and 17^th.