Jon Carpenter hopes for a smoother ride in the second season of his second stint as Capital’s coach.
Carpenter, who led the Cougars to nine playoff berths in 11 years during his first run (2010-20) -- including the 2014 Class AAA championship -- returned last fall and endured some bumps during a 3-7 season.
“When you get older and have done it for a while,’’ Carpenter said, “it’s easy to get back into it. But it was hard [last year] – like jumping on a moving merry-go-round.’’
This time around, Capital’s journey is bolstered by the return of players such as running back David Robinson Jr., a first-team AAA all-state selection last season, fourth-year quarterback Fernando Valdivia and top lineman Tomas Cintron.
“I feel a little more at ease trying to do the job again,’’ Carpenter said. “We’re tickled to death with the community. That’s what makes you go; when they’re behind you, it makes it a lot easier.
“I think the kids have bought into it and are working extremely hard, and the community’s behind us. When you’ve been there for a while, you have relationships with everybody. It’s like going into a time machine from seven, eight years ago. It’s been fun. The real people you want behind you have been behind us.’’
The Cougars’ offense will likely center around Robinson (6-foot, 185 pounds), a junior who ran for 1,322 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. Carpenter said Robinson received scholarship offers from Marshall, Eastern Michigan and Akron this summer.
Valdivia (5-9, 165) is back under center after splitting time between quarterback and wideout last year. The transition went well, as he earned second-team honors on the All-Mountain State Athletic Conference team at receiver.
Carpenter said he won’t necessarily ask more from Valdivia -- owing to his long tenure as the Cougars' quarterback.
“Nah,’’ Carpenter said. “We throw a lot at anybody that plays quarterback. He’s played a lot of football, and he’s one of the toughest kids I’ve been around.’’
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Elusive freshman Da’Sean Isabell (5-10, 155) could also figure into some playing time at quarterback.
Other possibilities at running back include seniors Cam Harris (5-10, 185) and Damian Johnson (5-9, 168) and sophomore Trevaun Tyson (6-1, 195).
Carpenter said Capital sports a bevy of receivers, many of them underclassmen, who could all see playing time – senior Jojo Greene (6-4, 200), junior DJ Spencer (5-10, 175) and sophomores Turay Rush (6-1, 175), Jordan Whitehead (5-9, 160), Eli Davis (6-1, 180) and Darius Thomas (5-9, 150).
“We’re tickled to death with all the receivers,’’ Carpenter said. “It’s starting to look like the old days.’’
Cintron (5-11, 250) returns for his senior season and will be asked to lead a passel of offensive linemen full of potential but light on experience. That group includes sophomores Jason Martin (6-2, 280), Nasir Jeffries (6-0, 265) and Caleb Prindle (6-4, 285) and the promising freshman trio of Zion Pitts (6-1, 270), Cartier Smith (5-10, 260) and Timmy McIntyre (6-1, 250).
“We’ve got three freshmen who are going to be special,’’ Carpenter said. “[Cintron’s] a good one, but after that, with those young linemen, the key will be how fast we can get back to normal [on offensive efficiency].’’
Senior Jakori Clark (6-1, 220) returns at tight end, with freshman Cam Bulger (6-3, 190) pushing him for playing time.
On the defensive line, Tomas and Clark return, with other possibilities being senior Corey Harvey (5-9, 220), juniors Silas Cavender (5-10, 190) and Jarvis Newman (6-1, 185) and sophomores Josh Thompson (5-10, 220), Tyler Crouse (5-10, 250) and Prindle.
Candidates at outside linebacker are senior Christian Robinson (5-10, 172), Tyson and sizable freshman Tramel Musgrove (6-3, 190). Inside backers include Harris and senior Dylan Fink (6-0, 180).
A pair of senior defensive backs – each of whom were selected to the All-MSAC second team -- return in Johnson and Jamal Dotson (6-0, 180). They’ll be joined in the secondary by a group that includes sophomore Darius “Deuce’’ Thomas, along with Spencer, Davis, Robinson, Rush and perhaps some of the receivers.
