A different training opportunity awaits the Washington Demon football team today. Friday marks the unofficial beginning of the inaugural Southeast Iowa Football Camp, a weekend filled with drills and scrimmages involving eight teams across Southeast Iowa, including the Demons.

Washington head football coach Garrison Carter says he is opening the camp today with a unique opportunity for his players, “We are inviting seven Army drill sergeants down here to conduct Leadership Bootcamp for our kids and try to simulate what it is like to be a part of an Army Bootcamp.” Carter said, “We are hoping to teach some good life lessons along the way like responsibility, accountability, things we are hoping that will translate over to the football field.”

Carter adds members of the Alburnett football team will join the bootcamp, and the two teams will hold a scrimmage after the conclusion of the training. In all, Washington is scheduled to scrimmage three different teams over the next three days during the camp, something Carter says will help in preparation for the upcoming season. “What’s nice about playing three games in July with pads on is you come out of that and go into camp with an idea of where you sit with the depth chart and a really strong idea of where you are at because you played games.” Carter said, “We would like to leave this camp with our depth chart formed and know what we can do well as a football team.”

Washington is scheduled to scrimmage Ottumwa Saturday afternoon, Central Lee Sunday afternoon, and will participate in an overtime tournament with all eight teams involved in the camp Sunday evening. Among the team set to participate in the camp include: Alburnett, Central Lee, Colfax-Mingo, Iowa City West, Mediapolis, Mount Pleasant, and Ottumwa.

Tonight’s scrimmage with Alburnett is schedule for 7 p.m. at Case Field.

The Demons open the 2015 football season on August 28, traveling to Pella to face the defending state champions the Little Dutch.