Published: August 04, 2008 09:05 am            

All Smiles

North Laurel hoping to improve on last season’s 1-9 record

By Jimbo Collins / Staff Writer

North Laurel finished last season with a win on the road over Leslie County, but it was the Jaguars’ lone win of the season. Head coach David Abbott said that last year is a thing of the past and the Jaguars have plenty of players who still believe in the team.

“Conditioning has been going well,” Abbott said. “The kids came in during June and have been working hard. Optimism is high and the kids are working hard and we have good numbers. We have 85 players and a good crew of 85. They have been pushing more and more to get better and better.”

Abbott said the Jaguars are going to be an improved team beginning with team speed.

“Our overall team speed is better than last year,” Abbott said. “We had a wonderful group of players last season, but we were not that fast. We just didn’t have much breakaway speed.

“In six of our nine losses last year, we led or were tied in the fourth quarter,” he added. “Part of that is because we didn’t have break away speed. We just didn’t finish off teams last year.”

Abbott believes that team speed may be the difference in a 20-yard gain and a 50-yard touchdown play.

“We are happy to have the improved team speed,” Abbott said. “It allows us to, hopefully, pull away a little bit more than last year. Take some of those 10 to 15-yard gains and turn them into bigger plays — maybe even take them to the house.”

Adrian Wardrup is one of the returning starters. The junior signal caller will step under center as the starter for the third consecutive year.

“Adrian is a fine athlete and this is his third year as the starter,” Abbott said. “He has got experience on his side along with some added size this year. He has good speed and he will be making some better decisions this season with the added experience.

“He also has more kids to get the ball to,” he added. “Overall, we are faster as a team. We are going to be a running team, but we will throw it our fair share. Adrian will get to run the ball as well, and he will be ready when his number is called.”

One concern the Jaguars have heading into the season is experience. The loss of 12 seniors combined with 28 freshman doesn’t add up to a lot of experience. Abbott said the team is working hard and he expects positive results as a result.

“We have 28 freshmen and we are replacing 12 seniors from last year’s team,” Abbott said. “Ryan Brandenburg is gone and he was a very good and strong full back. Sean Nelson was a good defensive end to replace as well.

“Our secondary is completely brand new across the board,” he added. “We have three new starters in the secondary and that is something we are working on with high priority.”

North Laurel will rely on strength in numbers and hard work to improve on last year’s 1-9 finish. Abbott believes his team has the work ethic and attitude to do just that.

“Our attitude and work ethic has always been good,” Abbott said. “These kids have always worked hard to get better and better. This year the kids are working hard to do get better every day. We have 85 kids working hard and encouraging each other. That says a lot about these kids.”

        

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