STUARTS DRAFT: A whole new look

STUARTS DRAFT
Stuarts Draft looks a lot different.
After the Cougars romped their way to the Region III, Division 3 championship game, 14 players — half the team — handed the keys to the next generation. Most of the players that graduated in June were four-year starters, a gift given to the no-so-new coach on the block Rod Bowers. Starting tonight, Draft will feature underclassman with a spattering of experience that will look to repeat last year’s Cinderella season.
“It was a concern that we graduated so many people,” Bowers said. “We told the kids that tradition never graduates. If you want to continue to be successful as the world views it, people have to step up.”
With the exception of a couple key players, the entire line will be new and Ryan Moore will be the only familiar name in the backfield. 
“They are all doing really well,” Moore said. “I’m really surprised. I didn’t expect the sophomores to come out like this.”
Despite the exodus of seniors, Draft’s sideline will be at capacity tonight — 36 players survived the preseason drag and will suit up against Broadway. There were only 28 players on last year’s squad.
“The good thing is we have 36 guys that are working their tails off,” Bowers said.
Bowers is impressed with the way his young team has turned around.
“I’ve been very pleased up to this point, Friday might be a different story, but now I’m very pleased,” he said. “I think we have more in now then we did last year by the first game.”
Still coming together is the identity of the Cougars. Bowers’ coaches a hard-nosed style of football, and will go a game never attempting a pass..
This season Draft will use the option, adding the only thing that can be seen as a flashy play in Bowers’ old-school Wing-T.
“We are still trying to find our MO,” Bowers said. “The thing that surprised me the other night against Buffalo Gap [in a scrimmage] was as soon as we get in our double package and start powering the football, the whole team’s mentality changes.
“We are going to be similar to last year, and our offensive line is coming around nicely. We’ve gained a couple of pounds up front from last year. We’ve got some option worked in and I think that adds another element.”
There is still room for improvement, however.
“We’ve been fortunate that kids that didn’t play last year are stepping up this year. I’m excited about where we are. We are not where we should be or where we can be, but we are in a good place. I think some question marks have been answered, but there are still some question marks,” Bowers said.
Draft opens its season tonight against Broadway before taking a two-game stint against the smaller Shenandoah District (Wilson and Riverheads). In Week 4 Draft will host the Battle For The Ball against Waynesboro. After opening its Southern Valley schedule against Waynesboro, Draft will play Harrisonburg — the football powerhouse that Stuarts Draft upset last year.
For Moore, the season couldn’t come soon enough.
“I can’t wait,” he said. “They are calling for rain, I’ve been praying that it holds off because I can’t wait another week.”