With temperatures already well into the low 90s early last Saturday morning, it certainly didn't feel like fall as players and coaches from the East Providence High School football team welcomed their young counterparts from the East Providence Junior Townies to campus for a one-day clinic inside Townie Stadium.

But make no mistake, the 2024 seasons for the respective programs are a lot closer than one might think still in the first full week of the August.

In the past, as a way of creating interest in both the sport and his squad, EPHS head coach Jon Stringfellow would hold  multi-day camps in the middle of the summer when football isn't quite yet on the mind. This year, he and his staff conjured up the idea to do something a bit different by getting the entire Junior Townie program involved rather than just a random group of youngsters.

If Saturday's attendance was any indication, it was a hit. Dozens of Junior Townies were scattered about the field scurrying about.

"We've had youth camps in the past where 40 or 50 of the younger kids, but we've never really done much with the older ones," Stringfellow explained. "So we figured instead of the camps, why not do a one-day clinic when it was closer to the start of their season and we could get ."

The Junior Townies are actually two weeks into the start practice in anticipation of their upcoming 2024 American Youth Football league schedule. The organization is expected to field teams in Flag, 8U, 9U, 10U, 11U, 12U and 13U divisions.

Stringfellow was aided in his effort by one of his assistant coaches, John Flamand, who also serves on the Junior Townies board of directors along with long-time youth football coach in the city Scott Winters, who is the organization's vice president.

Last Saturday, the aspiring football players took part in a host of position specific skills and drills. Stringfellow worked mostly with the quarterbacks and running backs. Linemen were instructed on the intricacies at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Linebackers worked on reading and covering running and passing plays. Defensive backs and wide receivers tested each other in the passing game.

"We were just trying to look for better ways to connect with the Junior Townies, the younger kids who play football in the city," Stringfellow added of the day. "It was a chance for me and the rest of our coaches to develop a bit of a relationship with them before they get to high school."

7v7 tournament

The annual EPHS 7v7 freshmen/sophomore passing tournament is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 10, at Townie Stadium. Weather permitting, the Townies will welcome a handful of competitors from around the area to compete in the third playing of the event. Last year, Hendricken defeated Central for the title.

Stringfellow said if rains from Tropical Storm Debby make conditions unplayable, the tourney will be cancelled because the start of high school pre-season practice for all programs starts next Thursday.

More EPHS notes

The beginning of Rhode Island Interscholastic League-sanctioned practices for the upcoming 2024 season is the aforementioned August 15. Stringfellow said players must participate in multiple days of non-contact conditioning before the pads can be put on in about two weeks' time.

Once that happens, the work for the Townies comes fast and furious. They'll welcome Cranston East to campus on August 24 for a joint practice. On August 31, Portsmouth makes a visit to the city for a scrimmage. Then on Friday, Sept. 6, renowned former EPHS head coach Sandy Gorham brings his Barrington team to Townie Stadium for the teams' annual Injury Fund game.