It may have taken three weeks for Dave Stephens to get his first win, but that didn't diminish the feelings the first year Greencastle head football coach had when he began celebrating last week after watching his team knock off West Vigo, 56-18.

"Getting that win was really special. Being able to be back in my hometown and get that win with my son playing quarterback, guys I went to high school with on the staff, guys I coached being on the staff, it was something that I had dreamt of since I was a teenager," Stephens told The Putnam County Post. 

At 1-2, Greencastle enters Friday's clash at South Putnam averaging just over 30 points per game and surrendering just over 27 points per game. 
Despite the sub .500 record, Stephens admits he is "really happy" with his squad. 

"I'm really happy with where we are at considering the level of competition that we have played in the circumstances we have faced," Stephens said.

One constant for the Tiger Cubs has been freshman quarterback Cole Stephens.

"Cole is doing a great job. He has thrown for over 600 yards and six touchdowns so far this season. Our other freshman that starts at middle linebacker, Parker Welker, had 11 tackles and a fumble recovery for a touchdown last week. The future is bright at Greencastle with our young players," Stephens said. 

This Friday, Greencastle will need their younger players to continue making gains, as the Tiger Cubs travel to take on a formidable opponent in the South Putnam Eagles. 
Chuck Sorrel's team is 3-0 on the year and have already knocked off county foes Cloverdale (69-0) and North Putnam (28-6). 
On the season, South Putnam is averaging almost 48 points per game and is surrending only four points a contest. 

According to Stephens, the rivalry between the two schools is something both communities look forward to. 

"The rivalry is absolutely huge in Putnam County. Generations of players have played for the county bucket even when teams have the most successful seasons in program history like when South Putnam won the state title in 1986. It's nice for Greencastle to remind that even though they were state champs, they were not county champs. South Putnam is a rural school that plays with a chip on its shoulder and has used that energy to foster themselves into a really good high school football program. Stakes are usually high when these teams meet and right now in this season, it's no different. The WIC Green Division goes through Greencastle and South Putnam," Stephens said. 

As for the Eagles, they come rolling in with a solid quarterback of their own in Wyatt Mullin, who is 19-of-25 for 369 yards and five touchdowns passing and has rushed for 126 more yards and two touchdowns this season. 

According to South Putnam coach Chuck Sorrel, Mullin's hard work in the weight room during the offseason has paid off. 

"He has put on 15 pounds in the weight room. He went to multiple quarterback camps to really become a great thrower of the football, but his strength is he is really fast and that is hard to see when you scout us. He is able to fly around on defense and has three interceptions in three games and multiple long runs," Sorrel said. 

Both coaches are complimentary of the other's program coming into Friday. 

"They are well coached and have a very good, senior driven offense. Their young quarterback, Stephens, makes really good throws for a freshman," Sorrel said. 

As for what he thinks it will take for the Eagles to pick up the win, Sorrell said, "We have to establish and dominate the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. We have to stop their run and make them one dimensional, and then we must be able to run power and counter." 

Stephens said South Putnam looks "phenomenal on both sides of the ball."

"They are physical and fast. They are a proud group that has goals of a deep run in the playoffs. What it will take to beat the Eagles this week is for us to focus on us and the things that we can control. We can't beat ourselves by making poor football decisions. If we play for our brothers next to us and have enough discipline to execute our techniques and schemes, I love our chances," Stephens said.