Coach Ed Pincher’s 2009 Bainbridge High School Bearcats football team opened camp today with a scrimmage just after midnight at Centennial Field.

Today is the first day the Georgia High School Association allows member school teams to practice in pads.

The players reported to camp at the Decatur County Memorial Coliseum Friday evening. Camp sessions will run through Tuesday.

Going into camp, Pilcher said he felt pretty good about his offense and was concentrating on finding replacements for some key graduated 2008 senior defensive performers.

Two key defensive players who must be replaced are linebackers Eric Henry and Brian Hughes, who played in the post season Georgia, Florida Border Wars All-Star football game at Thomas County Central High School’s Jackets’ Nest Stadium with offensive guard Ben Reynolds, who will walk on with the University of Georgia Bulldogs.

Also gone is All-State defensive back Marquis Williams, who led Region 1AAAA in interceptions with eight.

Returning linebackers are senior Daniel Bivins, senior Dontavious Hall, juniors Brandon Linzy, Dontavious Hall, sophomore Mitchell Massengill and senior John Lyons.

While Williams will be missed, there is some veteran depth returning in the defensive secondary. It includes junior Shawn Samuels, senior Kevin Hill, senior Jeremy Harper and senior Jonathan Warren.

Offensively, the Bearcats must find replacements for two key members of their offensive line, Reynolds and Wiley Griffin. Two key offensive line starters who do return are senior center Jackson Kendrick and junior guard Jim Griffin.