During the final stages of the Southeastern Defensive Camp at the University of West Georgia on Wednesday morning, the Haralson County football team played an 11-on-11 scrimmage against Camden County, the back-to-back Class AAAAA state champions.

The players wore shorts. There was some light tackling. Coaches quickly blew plays dead to prevent injuries.

It was a routine summer exercise, something many of the participants from the more than 20 teams at the four-day camp have gone through dozens of times.

But Haralson County went 0-10 last season. The Rebels have a new coaching staff. They have a new mindset, a new sense of direction.

Nothing was insignificant about Haralson County’s experience at this week’s camp.

“Every rep is important. Every single rep,” Rebel offensive coordinator Alan Lane said. “This camp is more important than our first two games.”

Other more advanced teams at West Georgia, such as Camden County, have well-established game plans and traditions. Haralson County has had just two winning seasons in the previous 17 years. The coaching staff saw this week as the first step in its rebuilding effort.

“We got some of the best teams in the state, and we’re competing,” said first-year HC head coach Davis Harvey, who was previously the defensive coordinator at Woodstock. “We haven’t historically been one of the powerhouses. But that’s our plan. We’re gonna get there.”

Harvey took his Woodstock teams to the camp in years past, and knew of its competitiveness. He saw this year’s proceedings as a way to teach toughness, even if his coaches haven’t finished installing offensive and defensive schemes.

Defense was the focus of the camp — defensive linemen, linebackers and defensive backs got individual coaching in drills. Then, the teams came together and faced each other in an 8-on-8 inside period, 7-on-7 passing period and, finally, the 11-on-11 scrimmage.

The hitting was intense, especially between offensive and defensive linemen.

“You see all the collisions going on. I don’t think there’s another camp in the nation that does that,” Harvey said. “This doesn’t give you a lot of teach time. But it gives us time as coaches to evaluate their toughness. The best thing for the players is they’re coming together and bonding as a team.”

Harvey and defensive coordinator Jason Bates were pleased with the defense’s improvement by the final day of camp.

Defensive tackle Hunter Davis, who also stars on the offensive line, and linebacker Avery Kight were able to get to Camden County running backs in the backfield. The coaches and players cheered each positive play as a small, but important sign of improvement.

“Until this last session, I didn’t know if we could compete with anybody,” Bates said. “I think for the coaches, it’s given us a lot of confidence that our kids have confidence. They’ve gotten a lot more self worth out of this camp. And that’s a big thing.”

It helped the coaches learn about each other, too. Harvey has a staff of 12 new coaches, many from different places. Bates was the defensive coordinator at Fairfield High School in Alabama last year, while Lane was the offensive coordinator at Cherokee High School in Canton.

“We need to know, basically, what each other is thinking all the time,” said running backs coach Brandon Chester, who played under and later coached with Harvey at Woodstock. “After sessions are over, we go in there, we meet. Coaches are rooming together, so you get a good idea. Everybody’s gotta know what everybody’s doing at all times. That way, everybody’s on the same page, and the kids know it.”

Coaches pointed out each missed block or missed assignment. They also congratulated players when they came through with a big play. It was all a part of the process — and every detail mattered.

“Our kids are playing hard. They don’t have a chance to do anything but play hard because the coaches are getting after them,” Harvey said. “Our kids have a lot of drive.”