Trelon Turner, Franklin, right, intercepts against Breaux Bridge. - Lee Ball / The Daily Iberian

Later-than-usual coaching changes left the annual 7-on-7 one-day football team camp at New Iberia Senior High with only five teams this year.

That just gave the teams more plays to work on their skills Thursday at the NISH practice field. Though temperatures again soared into triple digits, it was actually a little cooler than the previous day, said New Iberia Senior High head coach Rick Hutson.

Coaching changes at Westgate, West St. Mary, Northside and Vermilion Catholic within the last couple of weeks left the camp, sponsored by the Sugarland Optimist Club, a few teams short of its usual numbers. Brian Fine resigned at Westgate last month and was replaced this week by Ryan Antoine, who moved from West St. Mary back to the place he’d spent the years prior to his taking over in Baldwin as the Tigers’ defensive coordinator. Northside coach Vincent DeRouen was relieved of his duties last month, and replaced by VC coach Trev Faulk.

“Considering the way the situation was so fluid with all the coaching changes, it worked out pretty well,” said Hutson. “We probably got more plays in than I wanted to in this heat. We actually played the J.V. a lot the last couple of games.”

Loreauville coach Trent Delahoussaye said his team got in some good work, despite being thin in numbers compared to the larger schools they faced — Class 3A Franklin, 4A Breaux Bridge and St. Thomas More and 5A New Iberia.

“Any time we can go against competition like Breaux Bridge and NISH and STM, it’s good for us,” said Delahoussaye. “Very seldom do we go against competition like that in 2A. We got a great work out.”

A number of younger players got time on the field, he said, which should help once the season starts because the Tigers don’t have the same kind of depth they had last year.

“We’ve got to get some young kids ready because we don’t have a lot of depth,” he said. “I think we were the only team who had kids going both ways (on offense and defense).”

Despite the heat, though, he felt the Tigers’ last game against Franklin was their best one of the tournament.

“It just shows the kind of guts our kids have,” said Delahoussaye.

Franklin coach J Ina was pleased to see his team go 3-1, losing only to Breaux Bridge, which went unbeaten on the day.

“I think we have turned the corner in our program,” said Ina. “What that means, only the future will tell. But as far as attitude and work ethic and the kids buying into what we’re doing, we’ve turned the corner. When I first got here we played a lot of freshmen. Now we’ve got juniors and sophomores who have played for me a while. It’s all on them (how successful the season will be). It’s not talent, it’s their deciding to have the right mindset.”

The great competition in the camp is one of the big draws for Franklin, the coach said.

“It’s a good deal coming here,” said Ina. “We got a lot of reps in.  It’s a different kind of format than other camps, too. You have to be a little more strategic and creative. It’s good for the coaches, too.”

Hutson said the camp is a good deal in more ways than just the competition. The Sugarland Optimist Club ensures that there is no fee charged because of sponsors like Dauterive Hospital, Teche Federal Bank, Phil Haney Community Projects, Uncle’s Barbeque Sauce, First National Bank of Jeanerette, Bunkfest and the Gilbert “Doc” Thomas Allstate Agency.

“Normally (7-on-7 camps) charge $30 a player,” said Hutson. “You bring 30 players, and by the time you pay for the bus, it’s over $1,000. You come here, and it’s completely free, and the Sugarland Optimist Club feeds all the kids. It’s the best deal in the state.”

Plus the teams get in some good work.

“Quarterbacks and receivers get a little timing going,” said Hutson. “It’s not football, it’s 7-on-7. But a lot of things translate to football.”