Eagles welcome Cougars for Homecoming

Friday, September 12, 2014

It's been pretty rare of the last few seasons to see the South Putnam football team on the losing end of the scoreboard more than three times in a season.

Three losses in three games, including a 46-12 loss last week to Monrovia, might have more than a few people wondering if the Eagles are fading into the background of the Class A football scene.

South Putnam head coach Nathan Aker does not see it that way and said that the play of the squad was not nearly as bad as the score might have indicated a week ago.

"To the casual observer, the score was not indicative of the game that was played," Aker said. "There were a couple of key moments where we had a chance to make a play and put ourselves in a good position and we failed to do so.

"Last week, against a team like Monrovia, if you miss a tackle they are going to go. Monrovia is good at capitalizing on mistakes and we gave up a long run before halftime.

"We still felt good at that time and the kids had bought in to that," Aker added. "We were able to slow them down but we could not prevent the big play at key times."

Having been gashed for 281 yards on the ground against the Bulldogs and watching Tri-West go over-the-top for 360 yards through the air, Aker pointed out that the team has been prepared for what other squads bring to the table but have not executed well enough to stop them.

"You have to go off of what you see as the other teams' strength," Aker said. "For Monrovia, it was pretty obvious but it was a very tough task to stop. We knew what they were going to do and when they were going to do it.

"It was different for Tri-West. We knew they were going to pass and Monrovia was going to run. We just need to continue to focus on our responsibilities.

"It's going to be the same thing this week," Aker added. "North Putnam has a few things that they do very, very well.

"Coach (Greg) Barrett has a couple of staples in his offense and that's what you have to prepare for. I think we're becoming harder to game plan for as we're able to do more things now than we were at the beginning of the season."

At the same time, Aker believes the squad is starting to become harder for opponents to game plan against.

"On offense, there is a lot of attention being paid to Lucas Lorian and it's opened up a few things for us," Aker said. "We still want to get the running game going.

"We're working with a young offensive line and things are coming along after another good week of practice. Our pass protection has been excellent and our play action has looked really good.

"Against Monrovia, they were giving us opportunities to pass," Aker said. "They were bound and determined to take away the run."

With North Putnam being the opponent Friday, Aker noted the mutual respect both programs share with one another after several thrilling games between the two teams.

"We preach about being concerned with today," Aker said. "I love the quote,'The most important day is today.' It's the next practice, the next game, the next rep, all of those things.

"We know that North Putnam circles us on the calender and we circle them on the calender. It's a great rivalry. They have respect for us and we have respect for them.

"Coach Barrett and his staff do a great job of getting prepared," Aker noted. "They've got a group of well-coached kids and they have some talent up there.

"As everyone says, throw the records out because it will be a great football game on Friday night."

South Putnam's offense was and is still centered around the running of tailback Lucas Lorian but Aker said that the group blocking for him are still getting used to being linemen.

"We've got some guys on offense that are really making strides," Aker said. "Guys like Josh Tubbs, Cody Wyatt, Brandon Gierke and Trevor Long are either all converted linemen or have never had a varsity snap before this season.

"All four guys volunteered to move this offseason from different positions. They saw where our need was and stepped up to the challenge. They've all got three games experience under their belts now and that bodes well for us for the rest of the season.

"For an offensive line coach like myself, it's kind of odd to feel that our pass protection is better than our run blocking, but that's part of it," Aker mused. "Pass blocking has been the strength of this group.

"They've had a great week of practice and they're starting to come together as a unit, one anchored by Joey Masters."

Defensively, the Eagles were hit hard by graduation, though Aker said the group is starting to get a better understanding of what is expected in order to win ballgames.

"Looking back through some things the other day, we realized, without dwelling on it, that we only returned three starters from last season," Aker noted. "Most of the time we think about that on offense but our defense went through the same transition.

"We've got some inexperience in the secondary, a group that is getting better, though that was hard to show against a run-heavy Monrovia offense. We should see some of that work this week.

"Our linebacker group is strong," Aker added. "We've been working on getting off blocks, getting to the football and continue to work on tackling.

"Without the number, I know that we missed half as many tackles against Monrovia as we did against Tri-West and we'd like to keep reducing that number as we move through the season."

"We've got capable guys across the defensive line as well," Aker said. "Masters is a load in the middle while Chris Migliano has really stepped up and transformed himself into a Friday night football player. He's really come a long way in that regard."

Three straight losses might send most teams into a funk but Aker said that success among the older players has helped keep everyone moving forward as a united group.

"The upperclassmen are really setting a good example for the young kids," Aker said. "They don't want to be sitting in this position but that's the up-and-downs of small school football.

"We talk about the first three games and while we don't want to be 0-3 right now, we want to play good football teams and we've played three teams that are going to have plenty of regular and postseason success.

"This is part of the growing pains," Aker added. "We know this is going to pay off and we're sticking together.

"We're ignoring the noise and as things get tough, we're staying together and ready to show that we can overcome adversity. We know the kids can hear the grumbling out there because people don't like it or understand what the team is going through but these kids need supports and we're getting it.

"This has been a great homecoming week," Aker pointed out. "The kids are excited about the game Friday night between decorating hallways and dressing up.

There's a lot of support out there and these kids are staying tight to support one another. That is going to be the strength of this unit."

Aker said that Friday was a chance to prove that all the work being done was going to pay off.

"We all want to see improvement from week to week and we're going to show that Friday night," Aker said. "The kids are prepared, they've had a great week of practice and we're ready to get out here and play another game out on Mark Wildman Field.

"There's no bigger game than your next one but when it's homecoming, when North Putnam is coming down, that's a big game for us. The kids are excited and we're going to see some Eagle football out here Friday night."

South Putnam hosts North Putnam at 7 p.m. Friday evening.

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