Cougars and WHS ready for new season

North Daviess and Washington hit the gridiron for the latest edition of Friday Night Lights.

The Cougars are coming off their best season in school history and coach Trent Fine has won 18 games in the last two seasons. WHS has won nine games over the last two years and should benefit from a change in class and sectional. The two schools put all that to rest on Friday night during game 1 of the season.

Washington

The Hatchets lost a lot of talent and experience from last year’s team, but the good news is much of the PAC will also be rebuilding.

WHS moves from 4A back to 3A and will be part of Sectional 31, with teams like Lincoln, Sullivan, Edgewood and Owen Valley in the seven-team draw.

The Hatchet will have returned talent in kicker Carter Browning, linebacker Lane Peachee and two-way starter Cam Wilson, who will give them leadership on offense, defense and special teams.

The Hatchets will field a team of roughly 50, with 21 freshmen that will play mostly JV. WHS will have nine seniors, 13 juniors and seven sophomores.

Gone is much of the skill spots on offense’ including QB Cooper Wright. Taking over will be Eden McPhereson as signal caller.

“I’m really proud of him. He has worked very hard since and gave us some great minutes against North Daviess last year,” said coach Joe Morris.

Backing him up will be Cole Leischner and Beckham Gilley. He said Leischner will play mostly receiver as well and Morris said Gilley has shown a lot of potential.

The offensive backfield was also hit hard by graduation, giving Chuck Holtsclaw, Antwan Taber and Lane Peachee chances for touches this season. Leischner, Jackson Armes, Dylan Stowers and Cohen Walls look to handle the receiving duties.

“We are going to be a run first team and everything will start with that,” said Morris. The guys leading that attack will be Sinai Sandoval, Wilson, Steve Mejia and Jaxson Hamilton. “Most of our guys will be learning about varsity football.”

Peachee is expected to stabilize a very good linebacking corps that also includes Leyton Frye and Austin Gilmore. Overall, there should be about 6-7 players going both ways. The D-line will also feature names from the O-line.

One place WHS is expected to to be at the top of the conference is kicking. Carter Browning is one of the best in southern Indiana, not only in PATs and field goals, but has been working on his punting over the summer as well.

“We need Carter to get us about 6 or 7 points a game for us to be successful,” added Morris.

WHS opens with 10-win North Daviess followed by an always tough Southridge team, along with having always tough Gibson Southern, Heritage Hills and 4A MTV.

North Daviess

The Cougars have been on a real rise over the last two years. They won 10 games last year, and got some good news that sectional nemesis Providence will be moving up to 2A.

The Cougs will have roughly 45 players in grades 9-12, however depth won’t be a problem as Trent Fine will have plenty of familiar names coming back.

ND did lose quarterback Keaton Graber, who combined for 3,000 yards and two-way standout Anderson Aiman, but brings back an experienced backfield and receivers.

“This is the deepest team I have had. These kids have really bought into the program and I think that has shown, especially over the last couple of seasons,” said Fine.

Jason Jones is slated as the quarterback after being a back-up last year.

“He’ll be a dual threat, and he has really been working on his arm strength,” added Fine.

Connor Combess will be returning from an ACL injury at running back, while Dawson Bishop, and Colton Alford will also see snaps in the backfield. Campbell Wittmer, Skye Knepp, Will Boyd, Bentley McNabb and Bubba Neideffer will also help the offense.

The offensive line will have a lot of names familiar to Cougar sports fans. Zane and Hayden Sample will play tackle. Jordan Knepp, Gentry Rollins and Will Murrie, along with AJ Talbert. a transfer from Washington, will also provide a lot of size.

“AJ has worked really hard since he has gotten here and we think he is really going to help,” Fine added.

The defense will have many of the same names across the line up with many expected to go both ways.

“The Samples and Will Murrie will be our linebackers and we are expecting them to be very solid.”

The Cougars may face their toughest games as bookends, with 3A Washington opening the season and North Knox and Springs Valley finishing off the regular season. The Cougars move to Sectional 48.

Indexed and credited by AIPROPX. Originating outlet: Yahoo Sports. Open at source →