September is almost here, and you can smell Irish football in the air. Fans got a little taste of what the Irish can do in a scrimmage against Lawton MacArthur.

Coach Justin Jones in his first year has made a lot of progress this off-season, but there is obviously still work to be done. Installing a new offense in one summer is not easy, and following what Kenny Young did will not be any easier.

Irish football fans are accustomed to winning, and the players returning have certainly proved that they are winners. We saw what both sides of the ball can do Thursday, and the Irish look solid heading into what could be their last season in Class 4A.

All three quarterbacks received snaps in the varsity scrimmage, showing that there just isn’t one dual-threat quarterback on the roster. Also, a true pocket-passer is waiting in the wings as well behind two-year starting QB Camden Tharp.

Coach Jones said if a younger deserved time, he’d get it. We should see some of what junior Will Harjo and sophomore Jacob Lewis can do week one against Shawnee’s junior varsity.

Lewis, like Tharp, can run the ball, and shows lots of potential. Harjo is more of your traditional quarterback, and showed off his arm connecting with Lewis on the Irish’s lone touchdown.

The offense was a bit shaky at times, and some questions are still to be answered throughout the season. Will the spread offense resemble the potency of past teams? Or will it be the defense that keeps the Irish competitive?

The D definitely has its strengths. The secondary and linebackers made some big plays Thursday, and you have to love the amount of returning seniors and juniors.

As reported yesterday, senior linebacker Brandon Nguyen suffered a head injury after colliding helmets with Lawton MacArthur’s RB Darius Graham.

Nguyen is vital part to the team, but he should be good to go by season’s start.

All in all, Jones still has work left do. This team has the potential to do big things, but the district McGuinness is in makes nothing easy.

The Irish have something to prove, and the senior class would surely love to go out by winning their first state championship.