Coach Ed Pilcher’s 2012 Bainbridge High School Bearcats football team is involved in their final week of pre-school practice sessions this week, on their practice field. Players and coaches begin the academic year on Friday.

The week began with a 6:15 p.m. Monday practice, and continued with a 7:30 p.m. Tuesday practice.

Since Wednesday, Aug. 1, is the first day Georgia High School Association teams can go into full pads, the team will begin the day with a 12:01 a.m. “Midnight Madness” practice.

Later Wednesday the team will have lunch at noon, a walkthrough at 2:30 p.m., supper at 5 p.m. and practice at 7 p.m.

Thursday, they will again have lunch at noon, followed by a walkthrough at 2 p.m., supper at 4:15 p.m. and practice at 6:15 p.m. Practice will be after school on Friday.

“We are anxious to get started in pads,” Pilcher said Monday. “The players have worked hard in the weight room and during passing drills in shorts.”

The Bearcats are currently working two players at quarterback — junior Preston Norris and converted junior running back Aaron Calloway.

They will be operating behind a veteran offensive line that includes seniors Cole Granato, Jason Long, Aquivius Carroll, Madison Malone, Tim Shaw, Andrzej Jeglinski, Brian Henry and Greg Bruce.

Running behind them will be Terry Lewis and Damian Bouie, a pair of senior running backs who had outstanding junior seasons.

Defensively, the Bearcats return Marshall Mack, B.J. Cheatem and Jamez Harris, a trio of strong senior linebackers.

On special teams, they return junior place kicker Daniel Provence and junior punter Paul Soden.