High school football action kicks off

Saturday, August 11, 2012
South Putnam's Brandon Smith (8) and Morgan Grundlock (76) sandwich Indianapolis Lutheran receiver Caleb Zoeller Friday night.

Three of four county high schools kicked off their 2012 football season with in-county scrimmages Friday night. The lone exception was North Putnam who traveled to Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter.

Cloverdale

For head coach John Butler and crew, the 2012 season began with a scrimmage against Linton-Stockton. The Miners are the defending Class A regional champions.

Greencastle running back Mac Shuee (5) paired with Nate Christy to power an aggressive rushing attack during the Tiger Cubs' preseason scrimmage against Southmont on Friday.

Cloverdale returns from a 3-8 season and its first sectional win, a 53-0 romp over Riverton Parke, since the 1996 season.

Greencastle

Greencastle is coming off a 7-3 season that saw its offense explode for a 35.5 point per game average.

Cloverdale receiver Wade Warren battles for a pass against a Miner defender.

The GHS defense also stepped up and went from allowing close to 20 points per game in 2011 to giving up just shy of 14 points (13.7) per contest last year.

The Tiger Cubs enjoyed their first winning season since 1996 and look poised to make another strong run in 2012.

GHS faced off against Southmont for its scrimmage.

North Putnam

A familiar face will be stalking the sidelines this season for the Cougars.

After a successful 11-1 season, the Cougars welcome back head coach Greg Barrett.

Barrett, who led North Putnam to its only state championship appearance, has his work cut out for him.

The Cougars lost some talent in key spots, but if history has taught us anything, North Putnam will be up for the challenge.

South Putnam

Defending sectional champion South Putnam Eagles. It has a certain ring to it, doesn't it?

South Putnam soared into North Putnam last season and came away with a hard-fought 40-22 win to capture its first sectional title since the 2002 season.

South Putnam ran its way to a 10-3 record a year ago and look to be just a strong in 2012.

The Eagles and head coach Troy Burgess begin their quest to repeat as sectional champs with a scrimmage against Indianapolis Lutheran.

Next week the teams will begin the regular season.

Cloverdale will host Brown County, while South Putnam hosts Owen Valley. Both games will begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Greencastle and North Putnam's seasons begin Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. 

Greencastle will face off against Monrovia in the first game at 11 a.m. North Putnam follows with a matchup against Edgewood at approximately 1:05 p.m.