The New Prairie Cougar football team returned home with the jug for the second year in a row.
The defensive backs coach for the Cougars is Jim Schwingendorf. He feels good about taking the jug home for the second year in a row.
“As coaches, we are good friends with some of the other coaches that coach for Laporte, so it is always nice to walk across the field at the end of the game to shake hands with a win, and it is nice to see the hard work of the staff and the players pay off in a rivalry game,”Schwingendorf explained.
Even though they enjoyed the win Schwingendorf thinks that the players need to get better at reacting and completing their job.
“Our schemes for our defense and offense are very team oriented. Each player has one and only one individual job to do on each. We need to get better at knowing and reacting to our jobs and doing the fundamentals,” he said.
Hunter Whitenack, a varsity defensive tackle feels the team leadership is much stronger this year.
“ I feel like we have a lot more senior leadership this year starting with Chase Ketterer and Evan Foerg,” Whitenack stated.
Whitenack also thinks that they could improve much more as long as they don’t let the first win get in the way.
“ We need to get even better. We have to stay disciplined and not get a big head. I feel like if everyone does their job and continue to grind we will be perfect,” he added.
All the players and coaches were very excited about the season opener win, especially against the Cougars’ rivals. Coach Schwingendorf also revealed their big goal this year.
“I could see us having a GREAT season this year. Our offensive potential is off the charts, and our defense is only going to get stronger week after week. We just have to play and practice smart and take care of ourselves physically and mentally for the long haul of the season, we could see some great results and possibly the ultimate prize of a trip to Lucas Oil Stadium.”
Coach also explains what the Cougars’ strong suits on offensive and the defensive game which clutched them the win and the Cougars’ having a better season.
“I wouldn’t say we did anything different in that game or for that week. We just have a slightly different team this year. Our offense is BIG and experienced in the backfield, and our defense is a little young, but we are faster then in years past.”
Micheal Rodriguez plays full back and defensive back for the Cougars. Rodriguez said that he and several others have been taking practice a lot more serious this year.
“I have taken practice a lot more seriously and started to actually learn a lot of stuff,”Rodriguez
Overall, the Cougars are expecting a very successful season this year. The team is hoping for the some big wins this year, and even reaching their big goal for the year which is to play in Lucas Oil Stadium for the IHSSA championship.
