RAYMOND — In July and August, Todd Montgomery heard the hype.

This was the year his Central Hinds team was going to be great. With 11 seniors returning — most of them two- and three-year starters — how could it not?

In September and October, he started hearing the buzz as the Cougars began living up to their potential. A single regular-season loss to the defending state champion was their only misstep, and most of the other games were blowouts in their favor.