The Sedona Red Rock High School football team continued its summer of preparation for the 2017 season with more 7-on-7 play at Mingus Union High School on Wednesday, June 28.

Last time out head coach Tom Miller had begun to install a new defense with new terminology and concepts. Miller acknowledged progress was made and continues to be made every time out on the field.

Players are always being moved around and tested at different positions. However making those improvements goes beyond reads, technique and Xs and Os.

“We’re making some progress, we’re figuring out who our playmakers are, and everyone is getting used to me,” Miller said. “They’ve got to learn how to accept coaching and criticism, and sometimes it takes a while getting used to different coaches, different styles, but that’s part of it.”

Only three teams were present: The Scorpions, the host Marauders and Coconino High School. Once a team’s offense finished playing, it shifted to defense and a new team came to take possession of the ball.

Red Rock’s offense stalled against its 4A opponents’ defenses, many times due to dropped passes. A couple of bright spots on the day were senior Branaghan Cunningham and junior Evan Favorite, who had a couple of catches and used good footwork to avoid defenders.

“We’re struggling a little bit with that, you know we’re trying to make one-handed catches, and that’s why you have two, but we’ll get there,” Miller said.

Defensively the team got burned a couple of times. One of its best series finished with earning a stop near the goal line against Coconino during the first of two, 25-minute running clock rounds.

As the afternoon went on, play improved.

“It’s a little better each time, but it’s a work in progress, no question,” Miller said.

The team will have time off from the field for the upcoming holiday, but will continue to work in the weight room. The Scorpions will see its third afternoon of competition for the summer during another day of 7-on-7 in Cottonwood on Thursday, July 13.