By Chris Sokoloski

csokoloski@gtowntimes.com

At midnight on Friday, as much of the city slept, Georgetown High School's football team was practicing behind the school.

With only three weeks before the Bulldogs' first game at Conway, coach Bradley Adams is using every minute allotted to him under S.C. High School League rules to get his team ready.

But it's a "push" to get everything in, Adams said.

"It's not good at all. This puts coaches in a bad situation to get their team ready."

Friday was the first day football teams could practice and Adams brought his players together in the early evening and then kept them through the early hours of Saturday morning.

The coaching staff took about 60 Bulldogs to Loris for camp this week.

"We feel like if were going to be a successful football team then we've got to be together," Adams said.

It's the most players Adams has had in his three years at Georgetown.

After camp Georgetown has two scrimmages and a jamboree before the season starts.

"The biggest thing is to keep all the kids healthy and safe," Adams said. "They've got to get in playing shape and taking a hit or two. It's also about giving them some live action against someone besides themselves."

Georgetown finished 7-4 in 2011.

The Bulldogs missed two field goals in the closing minutes of the final game against Wilson that cost them a victory and a home playoff game.

"We were that close to being 8-2 and hosting a home playoff game," Adams said. "It seems to have made the kids more hungry."

Although 2012 is the beginning of a two-year region realignment period, Region VII did not change. Georgetown remains with Myrtle Beach, St. James, Socastee, Wilson and North Myrtle Beach.

"Myrtle Beach is the team to beat until somebody beats them or even competes with them," Adams said.

The Bulldogs are 12-9 in two seasons under Adams.

Georgetown's 2012 schedule is: Aug. 17, at Conway; Aug. 24, bye; Aug. 31, hosting Andrews; Sept. 7, hosting James Island; Sept. 14, at Carvers Bay; Sept. 21, hosting Loris; Sept. 28, hosting St. James; Oct. 5, at North Myrtle Beach; Oct. 12, at Socastee; Oct. 19, hosting Myrtle Beach; Oct. 26, at Wilson.