News Photo by James Andersen Rogers City football coach Cory Malocha watches his players complete a rope ladder drill during the first day of football practice on Monday at Gilpin Field. Monday marked the first day of practice for high schools in Michigan.

ROGERS CITY–The first day of high school football practice brings a renewed sense of optimism to football players across Michigan.

Getting back on the field represents a chance to start fresh, a chance to start preparing for the long grind ahead and ultimately a chance to play some football.

Cory Malocha is no different.

Rogers City’s second-year head coach was just as excited as his players to get started on Monday afternoon and feels the same excitement now that he once did as a player for the Hurons.

“It’s like being a kid in a candy store, you know? You walk in and see all that candy. The kids are excited and they’re ready to play,” Malocha said. “We’ve got a young varsity team, four returning seniors and the rest are juniors.”

Malocha and his staff directed about 30 players at Gilpin Field through a series of drills focused on improving conditioning, timing and speed.

The first several days of practice are no contact days, so conditioning takes on a greater importance. To that end, Malocha said this year’s team appears to be very self motivated and has put in work in the offseason, whether in 7-on-7 drills, working in the weight room or running on their own.

Improved conditioning could pay off for the Hurons as the aim to make the playoffs for the first time since 2009.

Malocha pointed to last season’s finale against Manton as a prime example of the need for good conditioning. The Hurons went down to the wire with Manton and won in overtime and finished the season 4-5.

“We win a lot of our games in the fourth quarter. Our last game against Manton went to overtime and you could tell who was in better shape in the fourth quarter,” Malocha said. “If you’re not in shape, you’re not going to win those games.”

Getting in shape and staying in shape will be just as important for the Onaway football team.

Entering their third year of 8-man football, the Cardinals are familiar enough with the ins-and-outs of the game, but conditioning becomes important with less players on both sides of the ball and more room to cover.

“We’ve been doing the same routine every hell week and we’re starting with that,” Onaway coach Jim Cleaver said.

The Cardinals have been just on the outside of the playoff picture the last two seasons and Cleaver is hopeful the Cardinals can change their fortunes despite having just 16 players on the first day of practice.

“They are (familiar with it), all the kids have played. We’ll get them a playbook here soon and get them working. They’re going to find out it’s a lot different,” Cleaver said. “They’ve got to run and they’ve got to be in shape.”

James Andersen can be reached via email at sports@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5694. Follow James on Twitter @ja_alpenanews.