Madison County head football coach Matt Putnam wants his Tigers to improve on their 2022 record and advance in the Class 4A state playoffs, but he has other goals in mind.

“It’s easy to say we want to go 15-0 and win a state championship, but I want to know my kids are a better football team and better players at the end of the season than when we started,” Putnam said. “I always tell them – and I believe it – if you take care of the things God gave you that you can control, your attitude and your effort, the scoreboard will take care of itself.”

Madison County has made the playoffs the past four years – two under Putnam and the two years before under coach Scott Sharp. Putnam is 9-13 headed into Year 3 after a 4-7 finish last season and 73-67 in 13 years with previous stints at Hazel Green and Sylvania. The Tigers are 13-15 all-time in the postseason with two visits to the semifinals, four to the quarterfinals and seven second-round trips.

Putnam said he believes this year’s team has bought into his leadership more than in the first two seasons that he hopes will yield better results.

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The Tigers return seven starters on offense, including senior quarterback Lucas Putnam – the coach’s son – who missed most of last season with injuries. “I know we are going to run the ball a lot, but whenever my number gets called to throw the ball I just want to be ready to execute,” the 5-foot-11, 160-pounder said.

Senior Turner Henshaw (6-0, 275) anchors the offensive front. “I’ve really been working on my blocking in keeping my hands inside to help me win more blocks,” Henshaw said.

The coach said he expects the offense to be run-heavy, possibly 70-30 run, and should get a boost from speedy sophomore Keonte Hill. The Tigers’ fastest offensive threat is senior receiver Landen Duval.

The Tigers scored 21.3 points a game, but gave up 32.8 per outing.

Putnam said he believes the defense will be a better tackling unit that should make a huge difference regardless of the style of team they are playing.

“We keep stats on missed tackles and if we’re missing 40 tackles a game, we just gave up a lot of points,” he said. “But when we only miss five tackles in a game we usually won’t give up many points.” “We’re going to play teams like Westminster’s quarterback [All-State pick Brandon Musch] who seems like he’s been starting since he was 7 years old who likes to throw it around and then our defense will have to line up against a team like Priceville with two tight ends, two wings and a fullback that just want to smashmouth you.”

Priceville finished 11-1 and 7-0 in Region 8 last season, followed by Randolph at 10-3, 6-1 and Westminster at 6-5, 5-2. The Tigers were 4-3 in region play and fell to Deshler in the playoffs.

Madison County opens the season on Aug. 25 at home against Class 6A Buckhorn and travels to 6A Lee-Huntsville the following week.