ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä

The Cougars recorded their first win of the season last Friday against Riverside, 38-14.

Capital coach Jon Carpenter wants to use last week’s victory as a boost moving into the second half of the season, especially playing the Red Dragons at Joe Crawford Field.

“Any time you go get momentum going your way, you have to keep chasing it, then keep going,� Carpenter said. “You need to have those kids have some feel-good about themselves.

“I tell them that the first thing you have to do to be good is feel like you can be good. Hopefully, that keeps going.�

Capital is starting to feel the positives of its offseason work.

However, as they enter the second half of the season, the Cougars want to continue to grow and not be content.

“The feeling in the locker room, weight room and around town is that we are on our way,� Carpenter said. “We have started the journey to be what we’re supposed to be again. I preach to them all the time that they have to keep hitting and working in practice.

“The harder you work, the luckier you get. They’ve done it thus far. You want to see if they’ll maintain it.�

St. Albans is still trying to find its way, 0-3 as it enters Week 4.

The Red Dragons have been tested through their first three games against teams that sit in the top 10 in their respective classes.

“They’re in a position where they have to do everything,� SA coach Derek Stotts said. “We’ve suffered some injuries at a catastrophic rate. It’s thrust a lot of guys into positions they didn’t practice or play in. They’re still fighting and giving it their all.�

Stotts doesn’t see St. Albans’ schedule getting any easier against Capital.

“Capital is in the same boat that we are by having a group of kids that are trying to put it back together and trying to buy into what their cultures and programs are,� Stotts said. “They run off [David Robinson Jr.]. He may be the best back in the city.�

Robinson has had an impressive start to his sophomore season.

The Cougars running back has posted 29 carries for 287 yards and four touchdowns.

“I just holler at him and ask him how he wants to run it,� Carpenter said. “This coaching stuff is kind of overrated. It’s kind of like working at McDonald’s. He just comes in and orders. We try to give him the ball, whichever way he wants it.

“There’s two things we can do with him: We can throw it or hand it to him.�

The Red Dragons’ schedule doesn’t get any easier following Week 4.

St. Albans still has matchups against Hurricane, Parkersburg and Spring Valley remaining.

Stotts sees this difficult schedule as a mental test to see where the Red Dragons are moving forward.

“It gives you an early barometer of where you need to get better,� Stotts said. “It also shows how you need to play the game and intense you need to be. A lot of people don’t understand the three teams that we played are all playoff teams, all coming on the road.

“So, the outside noise can try and creep in, and it can get to a young group of kids. We’re playing teams that are already experienced.�

Capital leads the all-time series 21-2. The Cougars and Red Dragons have split the last four games, with Capital winning the last two.