Chemistry has been a test outside the classroom since last season to Wednesday's preseason practice for the Yellow Jackets football team.

"Last year we had a whiny team," Junior running-back Josh Peck said.

Injured nose guard Jordan Keaton, who twisted his ankle last Monday, claims the reason for the Jackets' disconnection had been because they have a young team. Junior quarterback, wide receiver and running back Josh Gist said the team has only 13 seniors.

"For the most part we're a young team. [This season] will be a good test," Keaton said.

Whether it's Head Coach Eddie Susi yelling out to his players that, before starting a play, they need to watch and perform as a team or the boys focusing on individual weaknesses, Jacket football is aiming to enhance their game.

"Our main focus has been to revamp the offense to our personnel and to solidify our defense with younger players and to make our special teams as good as they can be, because we do have a great kicker in Chris Larsen," Susi said.

"I'm improving on consistency and improvement on footwork," Keaton said. And he's not alone.

"Most the guys have been here all summer," he said.

"We pick the younger guys up. We're conditioning a lot better," Peck stated.

"The summer was hard! Everyone was hurt a lot. [However] most of the young guys bonded pretty tight," Gist said.

With such a young team, the players admit the 2008 season will be challenging running the ball against opponents such as the 2007 4A State Champions, Clover High School. For the Yellow Jackets, quarterback Danny Till, linebacker Dustin Smith, and cornerback Kyle Simmons Jr. are among the expected powerhouse performances, according to Gist.

"Hopefully we'll pull some scholarships," he said.

It seems, for now, players hope they can tighten the chemistry so that they can turn-up the heat on defense and crown the end zone with Jacket touchdown glory. Before that happens, they'll need to get a little healthier this week.

"Some players are banged up right now, but we expect to be at full strength for our opener at Chesterfield," Susi said.

When Fort Mill has the ball, there are several weapons the offense will have at its disposal.

For example, "Devin Brazil has the ability to take a pass route and score," Susi said.

The team may be younger than last year, when the Jackets were just edged out of a playoff berth because of the seeding formula, but Susi thinks that could work to its advantage.

"Because we lost so many seniors, the kids feel like people are disregarding them, which is a good thing because we want them to play with a chip on their shoulder," he said.

• Aug. 29 at Chesterfield, 7:30 p.m.

• Sept. 5 vs. Lancaster, 7:30 p.m.