Putnam County will get one of its biggest tests of the preseason Friday when it hosts West Laurens in a scrimmage.
For head coach Joel Harvin and his team, the matchup is about much more than simply getting back on the field. With the regular season approaching, the War Eagles are looking to see how they measure up physically against a larger, more experienced opponent.
“We’re still acclimating,” Harvin said. “We know you get the five heat acclimation days, but we practice in the afternoon. And when you do that, you take so many chances with the heat and lightning, and you’re just at the mercy of the wet bulb a lot of those days when you’re practicing in the afternoon.”
Despite the challenges of practicing in Georgia’s summer heat and occasional rain, Putnam County has managed to get some valuable work done over the past couple of weeks.
“It’s been a good couple of weeks here,” Harvin said. “We’ve been able to work on everything from special teams to offense and create a good two-deep on both sides of the ball.”
West Laurens will provide a significant challenge.
The Raiders are a larger program with considerably more depth, with Harvin expecting roughly 105 players to dress for Friday’s scrimmage.
West Laurens also returns players from a team that reached the semifinals last season, allowing the War Eagles to test themselves against an experienced opponent.
“They have a lot of experience. They made a semifinal run, and a lot of these guys played on that team,” Harvin said. “So, they’ve seen what it takes to be able to make it that far.”
Harvin also praised West Laurens head coach Kip Burdette for the program he has built and the depth surrounding the Raiders. For Putnam County, that depth will make Friday a valuable measuring stick.
The War Eagles are a young team and will have several players asked to contribute on both sides of the ball. Facing a bigger opponent that can keep players fresh should give Putnam County an idea of where it needs to improve before the regular season opens.
“We’ve got a lot of guys that play both ways just to see how in shape we are,” Harvin said. “That’s one of the things we can work on to be where we can put our kids in a successful spot.”
One of the biggest areas Harvin wants to evaluate is his team's physicality, particularly in the trenches.
Putnam County lost some size and experience from last year’s team and will need younger players to step into important roles.
“The biggest thing is probably to see how physical we are on both sides of the ball, especially up front,” Harvin said. “We’ve got a lot of young guys playing. We’re not overly big.”
The scrimmage will also allow younger players to experience Friday night football. Putnam County has designated a full quarter for its younger players, many of whom could see meaningful varsity snaps during the regular season.
With the heat expected to be another factor Friday, Harvin will also be watching how his players handle the physical demands of playing against a deeper opponent.
Ultimately, the result of the scrimmage won’t be the primary concern. Harvin wants to leave the night with a better understanding of what his team does well, where it needs to improve, and what must be fixed before the games start counting.
“It’s a challenge; it’s going to be hot, but we’re looking forward to seeing how our guys do,” Harvin said.