GROVE CITY — Welcome to Camp Bell, but it's one unlike any other.

With a team long on youth and short on experience, Grove City High coach Jeff Bell is conducting a crash course on Football 101, with emphasis on the crashing part — as in crashing into each other over and over again.

Contact drills are the norm, even on days when it usually isn't. On Friday, a day before a scheduled scrimmage, Bell planned to have his team in full pads, thumping each other repeatedly.

"I never do that," Bell said. "Usually on Friday, practice is in helmets and shorts. But not this time. I need these kids to understand the concept that you can't play half speed."

Full speed is the plan these days at Forker Field. The young Eagles might need to hit the field running to survive a difficult early schedule that features two of the first three games played on Saturday, including one with defending Class AA state champion Wilmington.

If Grove City can survive the first part of the season without a catastrophic start, the Eagles could put themselves in a position for a return trip to the playoffs.

"If we can come out of our early schedule .500, we will be OK," Bell said. "But if we start 0-3 or 0-4, we could easily see that turn into 0-9, 0-10. High school football is all about the conception your players have about themselves and the team.

"If they are confident, they can overcome some things. But, hey, we'll coach 'em up."

There are plenty of holes to fill.

Gone is all-everything Dwayne Martin, who led the team in touchdowns with 13, receptions and receiving yards, was the second-leading rusher and also a force on defense at a variety of positions.

Gone, too, are most of the offensive and defensive lines and leading rusher Casey Shay.

In the wake is some talent, but inexperienced talent.

One position where the Eagles figure to be strong is at quarterback.

An injury to Mike Burk last season opened the door for a pair of freshmen to get significant playing time. Now sophomores, Tyler Dagres and Mason DePeal are locked in a quarterback battle that might produce no clear winner.

That's not problem, Bell said.

"Both will play. They both do certain things better than the other. The DePeal kid has really improved," Bell said.

The Eagles always have used plenty of running backs, and this season will be no different.

Senior Marty Phipps will get carries, as well as Nick Reddick and Wesley Phipps.

The defense will be a bit different in 2009. Instead of a 3-4, Grove City will run a 3-5 with its linebackers becoming more active and blitzing more, Bell said.

His only concern is his undersized offensive and defensive lines.

One area that won't be a concern is at kicker, where Bell and his staff stumbled upon a gem.

Basketball player Jeff Hershberger will punt and kick for the Eagles. He has boomed punts in excess of 50 yards during the first week of camp and can boot field goals from outside of 40 yards regularly. His kickoffs also find the end zone more often than not, Bell said.

"The first time I saw him kick, boy, I was sold," Bell said.

Hershberger's punting form is unorthodox, resembling a rugby kick rather than a traditional football punt.

But it works.

"I thought about changing it, but the more I thought about it, the more I thought it would just mess him up," Bell said.