By WESLEY HALLMAN / Sports Editor

Briarwood Christian School coach Fred Yancey passed on a few words of wisdom to all players involved from the eight teams gathered at the Lions’ passing camp on the school’s practice fields off Cahaba Valley Road.

“If you’ve got a chance to lay somebody out, this is not the time to do it,” Yancey said.

Hard-hitting football can wait. For now, quarterbacks and receivers from Briarwood Christian and Oak Mountain took advantage of the camp to work on pre-snap communication and timing routes on offense and defensive backs worked on pass coverage schemes in 7-on-7 contests against teams from across the state in the two-day camp June 29-30.

The Lions and Eagles were joined by Oxford, Clay-Chalkville, Gardendale, John Carroll Catholic, Sylacauga and Restoration Academy in the passing camp.

The 7-on-7 games, which last only 30 minutes, allowed Briarwood Christian quarterback Ben Craft to get more work in with his receivers. Cole Pearson, Matthew Furuto and tight end Canon Smith, who will be counted on as Craft’s top targets this fall, saw plenty of passes thrown their way in the camp.

Briarwood Christian defensive backs faced a few different offensive schemes in the camp. Rising senior Kalan Reed, who was injured early in the 2010 season and missed a majority of the Lions’ run to the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 5A championship game, joined his counterparts and saw extensive action in the camp.

Oak Mountain quarterback Mickey Forrest, in his first offseason as the Eagles’ starting quarterback, used the camp to get on the same page with his receiving core. Several receivers saw action, including running back Bradley Bostick and Chase Tourney, who will play a big role in the Eagles’ offensive plans this fall.

The camp also allowed the Oak Mountain defense to work on its pass coverage. The Eagles defense shined in their spring scrimmage against Briarwood Christian and remained sharp in the passing camp.