Stuarts Draft Football Preseason Snapshot

Head coach: Nathan Floyd, 12th season (79-46-1 .632)

2024 season: 7-4, 4-2 Shenandoah District

2024 postseason: Lost to Riverheads in Region 2B first round, 29-28

Key players to watch: Derrick Moore, Baylor Graber, James Diggs, Landon Shifflett, Brandon Pritchett.

2025 Overview: The Cougars lost a bevy of talent to graduation but return enough firepower to be dangerous. Among the losses was QB Landon Graber. Draft has moved all-district wideout Derrick Moore behind center this season. “Derrick’s a quick learner. We’re going to gear our offense to his strengths.” Expect the Cougars to once again lean on the ground game with bruising back Baylor Graber returning. “We have some guys in the backfield who can run the football, and we have guys who can catch it. I think we have a little more speed this year. We want to spread the ball around so defenses can’t key on Baylor,” said Floyd. The Cougars will be young on defense. “We’ll probably start just three seniors on defense. We’re a little faster, but not quite as big.”

Thoughts on district expansion of Alleghany, Rockbridge County: “We used to scrimmage Alleghany all the time so we’re familiar with them. When they combined with Covington, I thought that was going to be the making a very good football program,” said Floyd. “I know Rockbridge has struggled lately, but they have had some pretty good football teams in the past. I think you’re going to see them get better. Adding those two teams makes a tough Shenandoah District even stronger. Every Friday night you better bring you’re A game.”