A year ago, Rod Cooper took the reins of the Pendleton Co. football team from longtime head coach Gary Smith. When the dust settled from the season, the Wildcats were tamed with a 1-8 record.

Now, headed in to his second season as head coach, Cooper says he feels more prepared for the job, and since he's better prepared, his team is better prepared. On offense, the Wildcats are planning to remain in the Spread formation, but if they struggle, aren't opposed to moving to a traditional I-formation. Defensively, Pendleton Co. will use the 5-3.

The Wildcats expect to be tested up front, with a new, smaller set of linemen. Their strengths will likely come at the skill positions where Cooper expects their speed, to cause problems for opponents. They return 6 starters on offense, and 5 on defense.

Pendleton County's 2012 schedule looks like this:

8/24 – TYGARTS VALLEY
8/31 – @PETERSBURG
9/7 – POCAHONTAS CO.
9/14 – FISHBURNE MILITARY ACADEMY, VA
9/21 – @MEADOW BRIDGE
9/28 – @EAST HARDY
10/5 – @VALLEY (FAYETTE)
10/12 – OPEN
10/19 – TUCKER CO.
10/26 – MOOREFIELD
11/4 – BATH CO., VA