CHATTANOOGA — The LaFayette High School football team went through its paces and endured some searing temperatures this past Thursday during a 15-team 7-on-7 passing league held at Hixson High School.

Teams from both North Georgia and Southeast Tennessee were on hand. It was the Ramblers’ second day of passing league games, having participated in a recent scrimmage day in Calhoun.

“We out here today hoping to create some timing,” said new LaFayette head coach Tab Gable, shortly before his team took the field against Chattanooga Class 6A stalwart, Soddy-Daisy. “Without a pass rush, you can sometimes look a little bit better than you really are, but we’re just trying to get our quarterbacks and receivers on the same page and go up against someone other than ourselves.

“We don’t put a lot of stock into it, as far as wins and losses go, but we’ve had some good outings. We’ve competed, and one thing that we pride ourselves on is being able to compete against good football teams.”

The Hixson scrimmages were one of the final events of the summer for the Ramblers, who along with the rest of the state of Georgia, will officially begin the start of preseason drills next week.

“The summer has gone pretty well, but we still have a long way to go,” said Gable. “We’re still not as consistent as we have to be to get where we want to be, but that takes time and you can’t rush it when you come into a new program. The core majority of our kids have done really well, but we’ve got a few that we need to get with us so we can be as good as we need to be.”

LaFayette will play at preseason scrimmage game at Chattanooga private school power McCallie on Tuesday, Aug, 17 at 7 p.m., in preparation for their season opener Aug. 27 at Chattooga.