ORANGE PARK - New Orange Park High football coach Tom Macpherson, hence the "Big Mac" attack, was happy with his Raiders' new attitude after Friday's intrasquad scrimmage showed off some speed, some efficiency and some high-energy football.

"We were looking for some game-like energy and passion and I think we got some of that," said Macpherson, who puts his newest squad to test with Mandarin coming to town Thursday night. "Communication of plays; I think offense did not have much problem with the fluidity of the game. Defense had some neutral zone flags, but other than that, I was impressed with the efforts."

Macpherson liked Demarae Byrd at quarterback running the offense with Marquise Brown, Devin Jones and Melvin Perry all prime time targets in the offensive attack. Kameron Thomas, a 6-2 wideout, was named also as a big play athlete.

"I know what kind of athletes we have here and we made a lot of big plays from the skill positions on offense," said Macpherson, who put Perry in at quarterback at times. "We were kind of hodge podging the O-Line with guys who have never played O-Line before, but they stepped up. We had some good looking broken plays that look better because of the athletes we have handling the ball."

Two of the key possible two-way players for Macpherson will be gigantic Shawn Bizzell and 339-pounder Anthony Westery on the line of scrimmage as a guard on offense and a defensive lineman.

"It's a rugged pace and exhausting, but I'm going to get in better shape to be able to execute," said Bizzell, a 6-foot-3, 300 pound prospect. "The pace is going to be rough to defend against, I know that."

On the defensive side, Anthony "Rock" Westery got praise from Macpherson with linebackers Kris Thomas, Twain Newton and Mike Oakley three names with power backing up the defensive line.

"We're going to be hard to run against," said Thomas, who has returned with the same fire as last year before a knee injury ended his season. "Shawn and Zion (Jones) and Rock are going to hold them up and us three are going to take them out."

Thomas noted interceptions in the scrimmage from Jordan Bundy, Antwaun Cooper and Cole Moynihan.

Macpherson sees Thursday's Mandarin game as the next step to playing football in "Mac" style.

"Defensively, I want to see us stop the run," said Macpherson. "With a new staff and new players, I want to see how guys react to a bad play. Some guys stay mad about a bad play and can't communicate how to correct it. I've been a hollerer for 20 years on the sidelines and that will take some getting used to for them. I'm not yelling at players more than trying to get to the answer. We have to be able to take a breath and settle in."