Ownership the key word to NorthWood season

NAPPANEE — A lot of returning talent gives the fans at NorthWood some optimism about the coming season.

“My gut feeling is that this team has the potential to be good,” said NorthWood head coach Nate Andrews of this year’s squad. “We could make a run but it will take a lot of ownership of our senior group and we have to come together as a team.”

“Guys are going to have to create a brotherhood that’s really strong,” he said. “If we can do those things and stay true to the process and make good decisions we could have a fun season.”

“It becomes more evident every year. The coaches that are playing in state championship games aren’t telling you that this is the best team they ever had, or they had division one players all over the place,” said Andrews. “They tell you that it was a group that loved each other and was fun to coach. That’s the most important thing in this day and age is to connect and communicate with each other.”

“It’s not just overcoming adversity they face on the field but what they have as they go through life and school and learn to overcome them. Hopefully, we use football to help them with those things.”

Some of that adversity hits early in the schedule with an opening night game against Jimtown followed by a week two match with East Noble.

“It’s tough,” said Andrews of the Panther ’s opening schedule. “The biggest thing is maintaining level-headedness, staying true to the process, and understanding the big scheme of things. Progressing and developing as we move forward.

Last year’s team finished 5-5 on the year but returns some key pieces, especially on offense.

PHOTO/DAT C.J. Kuhn and J.J. Payne team up for a tackle. Payne will also be an impact player at receiver for the Panthers.