The Griffin Christian High Crusaders football team started its first day of fall practice Tuesday evening at the school with 22 players dressed out in blue “GCHS Football” shirts, shorts and helmets. GCHS has dropped out of the GISA in football only and will be playing in the Independent Christian Schools of Georgia and Alabama Athletic Association’s (ICSGA) 11-man football league. GCHS will be in the ICSGA South Division, along with Creekside Christian, Calvary, Community Christian and New Creation.

“I believe we’ll be much better than last year. I think we have a good setup this season and we have a real good bunch of guys,” Crusaders head coach Bobby Brogdon said. “We even have at least 6 new skill players this year; some have transferred in from other schools.”

A few of the transfers to GCHS include Rusty Duffee and Donovan Adams from Griffin High and Sean Montgomery from Spalding High. Duffee, a rising senior, will be playing fullback, punter and middle linebacker and Adams looks to play at defensive back. Montgomery, a rising junior, will join rising sophomore C.J. Lewis at the tailback position.

“We have new backs, receivers and middle linebackers and our offensive and defensive lines will be bigger than last year,” Brogdon said. “We should have 25 guys this year, which was much more than 2011. I’m thinking we’ll be competitive this season.”

Crusaders defensive coordinator Randy Wilson returned to the coaching staff this season and he liked what he saw Tuesday for a first day of practice.

“The guys on this team have the best attitude I’ve seen around here in a long time. They’re positive and they work hard in the weight room,” Wilson said. “It’s the best scenario I could’ve hoped for here at Griffin Christian.”

The best scenario for the Crusaders as a whole would be to get a win, as the team hasn’t won since a 34-12 victory over Dominion on the road on Nov. 5, 2010 to end the regular season. The Crusaders coaching staff believes the team has a great chance to improve on its 0-10 campaign from last year, noting the toughest teams for GCHS this year — at this point — are a non-division game at Loganville Christian and a division game against Community Christian.

Community Christian defeated both local football teams Faith Christian Academy and Skipstone Academy last season.