LUMBERTON — It can be tricky to tell how quick a team can be based on a 7-on-7 drill in a spring practice session less than three months out from opening kickoff.

While team speed is hard to assess, the Lumberton football team has athletes that showcased glimpses of the speed that coach Mike Setzer wants to see from his team this fall at Tuesday’s spring game, featuring challenges for the lineman along with passing in the 7-on-7 scrimmages.

“We want to be a threat and put people on their heels,” Setzer said of his team’s deep passing game that was shown several times on Tuesday. “We want people on their heels so we can open up the playbook more.

“Defense has been ahead of the game (during spring practice), but the offense has caught back up. The offense is looking good and has weapons and they’re starting to find ways to get them the ball.”

During the 7-on-7, the offense showcased the speed on the outside with receivers like Tyreik McCallum and Brandon Norris getting a step on the secondary and coming through with long touchdown tosses from quarterback Braylan Grice.

The lineman on both sides of the ball exhibited speed traversing the relay of physical challenges.

McCallum being one of the 15 rising seniors listed on the roster knows what he has to do come next fall to lead the offense and the defensive secondary at times, especially with his speed.

He has also seen the progression of Grice at quarterback and the two have forged a connection on the field that was shown when McCallum hauled in an 80-yard touchdown from Grice on the first play from scrimmage as he used his speed to get around the cornerback and open downfield.

“He can really put it on me,” McCallum said of his young quarterback. “He can throw it far, he can throw it short and he’s very accurate.”

The speed he showcased during the spring game is something that Setzer wants to see out of one of his top returning receivers.

“He (Setzer) said when they (defensive backs) play close that he wants me to blow past them because I’m so fast off the line,” McCallum said.

Another weapon on the outside for the Pirtates that showed upside in the spring game was Stephon Lloyd, whose first football practice came this spring. Lloyd makes the move over from the basketball court and feels that Setzer putting him at wideout and in the defensive backfield best exhibits his speed.

“It’s my first time, but I’m looking pretty good right now,” Lloyd said. “When I first came out here it was hard, but I’ve gotten really better.”

He had an interception on defense and several grabs down the sideline, including one for a touchdown.

“We didn’t really want him to go both ways but he is really stepping up and learning because he is a smart athlete,” Setzer said.

Rising seniors Aubrey Savannah and Shadix Ralston took a seat while the 7-on-7 drills went on after competing in the lineman challenge. While speed is oftentimes seen as an weapon for the positions outside of the trenches, both see where speed plays into their positions on the outside and the interior of the defensive line.

“I think we can do it because we have big guys up here and the way coach made us practice, trained us and put us in situations with double teams, I feel like we can handle all that,” Savannah said.

Ralston added: “I think it works out well because if the inside guys do what they’re supposed to do then it’s going to bounce the play outside and the speed’s going to meet the play at the line of scrimmage.”

The defensive line returns three of its four starters from last season.

“Everything goes through the defensive front where we are totally faster,” Setzer said. “Some of our speed doesn’t know where to go yet. Once they know where to go, then we’re going to be alright.”

Tuesday marked the final practice of the spring for Lumberton, who opens with Hunt on Aug. 19.

“We accomplished what we wanted to accomplish, which was teaching,” Setzer said.

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By Jonathan Bym

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Jonathan Bym can be reached at 910-816-1977. Follow him on Twitter @Jonathan_Bym.