ORANGEFIELD — Josh Smalley has blew the whistle for quite some time now.

However, Monday morning was the first time he ever blew one as a head coach.

Football practice started up for all Orange County schools Monday and Smalley, the new Athletic Director and head football coach for the Bobcats, was enjoying every second of it.

“It was exciting for everyone this morning as soon as we arrived,” said Smalley, who was the offensive coordinator at Bridge City before replacing Brian Huckabay at Orangefield. Smalley was also offensive coordinator at Orangefield before going to Bridge City. “As a coaching staff, some of us have known each other for quite some time and we’ve brought in some new faces as well. The kids, we’re trying to build good relationships there. I remember a lot of the faces, this senior class was in seventh grade the last time I was here.”

The Bobcats picked up their equipment at 7 a.m. Monday and hit the field about 8 a.m., mainly working on conditioning drills. They hit the weightroom about 10:30 a.m. and then went to the field again at about 11:30 a.m. and closed their first practice of the year around noon.

“We really liked the hop in the kids’ step as soon as they arrived,” said Smalley. “Most of them really kept themselves in shape and most of them were up here busting it all summer.

The Bobcats will be practicing from 4 p.m.-6:30 p.m. today through Thursday and will have a Orange-White scrimmage Saturday around 10 a.m.

Smalley was really impressed with the number of kids that came out for the first day.

“We’ve got about 75 kids and that’s a great number for us,” said Smalley. “We look forward to having a little more depth. This first week, it’s really all about conditioning and there is some teaching involved. We have some kids that haven’t played in a couple years or never at all. We don’t want to throw everything at them at once.”

The Bobcats will have their first scrimmage at Vidor Aug. 17 with the freshmen starting at 4 p.m. followed by the JV (5 p.m.) and varsity (6 p.m.). Orangefield will visit Hardin Aug. 24 for its second scrimmage with times still to be determined.

Meet the Bobcats Night will be held Aug. 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the new high school gym.

The Bobcats will open their 2012 season on the road Aug. 31 in Winnie against East Chambers.

All of the Orange County teams have their scrimmage schedules mapped out.

Little Cypress-Mauriceville will play host to Goose Creek Memorial in its first scrimmage Aug. 17 with the freshmen starting at 5 p.m. followed by the junior varsity (6 p.m.) and varsity (7 p.m.). The Bears will travel to Sour Lake Aug. 24 for a tri-scrimmage with Hardin-Jefferson and Beaumont Kelly. The scrimmage will likely be in the morning as the teams are still working out details.

There will be a Meet the Bears Night Aug. 27 at 8 p.m. at Battlin’ Bear Stadium.

The Bears will kickoff their 2012 campaign Aug. 31 on the road at West Orange-Stark.

Vidor will host Orangefield in a scrimmage Aug. 17 with the freshmen starting at 4 p.m. followed by the JV (5 p.m.) and the varsity (6 p.m.). Vidor will visit West Orange-Stark in their second scrimmage Aug. 23 with the freshmen starting at 5 p.m. followed by the JV (6 p.m.) and the varsity (7 p.m.).

The Pirates open up their season at home Aug. 31 against Santa Fe.

WO-S will have scrimmages against Nederland and Vidor.

The Mustangs will travel to Nederland Aug. 17 with the freshmen starting at 5 p.m. followed by the junior varsity (6 p.m.) and the varsity (7 p.m.). The Mustangs will host Vidor Aug. 23 with the freshmen starting at 5 p.m. followed by the junior varsity (6 p.m.) and varsity (7 p.m.).

WO-S is also planning a Midnight Madness practice Aug. 11 at 12:01 a.m.

WO-S will open its campaign Aug. 31 at home against LC-M.

Bridge City will scrimmage Lumberton and Woodville. The Cardinals host Lumberton Aug. 17 with the varsity starting at 7 p.m. while the freshmen and JV play right before it. The Cardinals will visit Woodville Aug. 23 with the times yet to be determined.

The Cardinals will start their regular season Aug. 31 with a road trip to Newton.