Fresh off a 4-6 season last year, there is a sense of excitement surrounding the North Putnam football team this offseason.
The Cougars opened the season 0-4 under coach Scott Moore, who is in his second season, before winning four of their last six games. During the process, North Putnam showed an ability to roll up points, scoring or surpassing 50 points three times.
Moore admits things are good for his team currently.
"The offseason has been going really well for our team. We have a good, core group of kids who have bought in and are working hard to improve for the upcoming season. We are getting stronger and faster and look for some younger guys to have great seasons. Our spring practices went really well and it has been beneficial to be in year two of the new system because we already have a foundation set of what we are about and what we want to accomplish. Our team is ready for summer to start and Friday nights in the fall will be here before we know it," Moore told The Putnam County Post.
Moore said last year's record was the byproduct of a new staff and new system.
"We had a great senior class that bought in and did everything they were asked of. They will be tough to replace, but we have a lot of young guys that now know what it takes to be successful and we are confident in them. We knew that we had a tough schedule to start the year and even though we were in each game at certain points and competitive, we let some get away from us on the scoreboard. We played a lot of guys that were not able to have any JV experience in the years prior and now that they have had a year of Friday nights we are looking for them to be leaders on and off the field. We finished the season strong going 4-1 in our last 5 regular season games and played a tough Sullivan team to a 4 quarter game in the sectional. Our JV team went undefeated last season and some of those guys will have to step into new roles, but we also started several freshmen on Friday nights, so they will have to be leaders as sophomores with the experience they have," Moore admitted.
Moore said the Cougars will feature some young linemen, who have gotten stronger in the weight room, as well as some young skill players that he is looking forward to seeing.
"We have some young receivers/defensive backs and a couple of running backs/linebackers that are looking to take over every down roles and had a great spring catching and knowing the offense and defense. Our quarterback had a great offseason attending camps and throwing well this spring, as he has also gotten a lot stronger this offseason," Moore said.
And, as the clock continues to count down to the season opener at North Montgomery on Aug. 18, Moore has a good feeling about his Cougars.
"If we continue to buy in as a team and do things the right way in all aspects, I am confident that we can put ourselves in positions to be successful this upcoming season," Moore said.
