Their overall record didn’t show it (3-7), but the Putnam Kingsmen got a lot better over the 2011 season. The addition of Head Coach Brad Lewman is something so big it can’t fully be appreciated right now. Lewman where’s his heart on his sleeve and the players love him for it.. “I could see that the kids bought in to what we were doing and I think we got a good thing going”, Lewman says.
The Kingsmen have a young line that is all coming back and will be the key to making this work. Putnam returns maybe the most explosive kid in the entire northwest in Deshawn Cannoy-Stephens. If you have not seen his video stop what you are doing right now and watch it at http://www.hudl.com/athlete/535028/ or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXhelkS6YoQ. You don’t see too many kids with his size and speed. Lewman says, “He could be Dennis Dixon he is that good”.
The problem lies with off the field question marks as academics are an issue. He is a multi sport kid who’s ceiling is limitless. Stephens accounted for 25 + Tds doing it on all ends. He projects as a wide receiver, but filled in as the quarterback and can do things most kids can’t. He is an outstanding safety and one of the top basketball players in the area all the more solidifying how talented of an athlete that he is. Both of his parents were state track champions back in the day so he knows where his speed came from. Deshawn and coach Lewman will be traveling to the Army All American Combine in San Antonio the first week of January where he will get to really test himself against the nations best.
The perimeter is solid with returning QB Max Bailey (6-1 180 Jr) and Slot back Eli Skiles (5-9 155 Jr) coming back. Bailey did a good job of throwing the ball earlier in the year as he was one of the state leaders in passing Tds before going down with an injury. With Bailey back you can get Cannoy- Stephens back to his natural position where he will beat you all day. Mix in Skiles and you have what Coach Lewman calls, “one of the toughest kids he has ever coached”. This is a solid nucleus that you know will put points on the board.
Putnam reached the playoffs for the first time since 1986 last season. It’s long been considered a baseball school with not much of a football program to speak of. If the school has done one thing right it would be the hire of Lewman. He cares about the kids first and makes sure things are done the right way. Putnam has the pieces to the puzzle in place, and we will be following this program into 2012 and beyond.
