Panthers looking to regroup
by
Adam Turner
Senior
Colby Davis knows what it’s
like to win, being on two previous
Panthers teams that reached the second
round of the playoffs (2007, 2008).
But in 2009 the Panthers took a step
backwards going 4-6 and finishing
sixth in their region, the worst finish
since 2003 when Davis was just a fifth
grader.
"Last year was very disappointing,
I thought we had the talent to do
a lot better than we did," he
said. "I
hate that we had to be the team that
broke the streak of most consecutive
winning seasons in school history."
2010 gives last year’s juniors
one last chance to set the record
straight.
The Panthers are returning eight starters
on offense and five on defense and
have six more players who saw significant
playing time toward the end of last
season.
Offensively,
the Panthers will have many more options
this season. Davis will be relied
on in many different aspects but will
mainly line up at receiver.
Senior
Wesley Powell will be a huge factor
in the Panther’s air attack
at receiver/tight end. "This
off season has been a complete 180
from last season; we have become a
big family," he said.
Also
returning at the wide-out position
are seniors Trey Worthington and Garret
Falk. The o-line could be the biggest
improvement from a year ago with juniors
Jonathan and Jacob Waite returning.
Chad Rankin is back for his junior
year. Quarterback
Truman Franklin is also returning.
He will be the every down guy unlike
the two-quarterback system they ran
last year.
Defensive
Coordinator Hunter Adams believes
his guys have gotten remarkably better.
"We have a group of kids who
have worked hard this off season and
really learned a lot about the game
of football," he said. "We
won’t be huge or overwhelmingly
athletic, but we will be capable and
sound. Our defensive coaching staff
is phenomenal; Coach Buchanon, Coach
Carpenter, and Coach Worthy have done
a tremendous job working with our
guys on their side of the football."
The Panthers will return their leading
tackler from a year ago, sophomore
linebacker Sawyer Hauk. Hauk recorded
over 120 tackles last season as a
freshman. "Sawyer played far
beyond expectations for an average
freshman last year,” Adams said
of his starting middle linebacker.
"He has tremendous instincts.
He plays downhill, but most of all
he is extremely coachable. To be a
freshman in 4A football and finish
the season with over 120 tackles and
as many interceptions as he had is
a tremendous feat. He will be one
of the key leaders on our team this
season as only a sophomore,"
Adams added.
Joining
Hauk at the linebacker spot will be
juniors Brandon Smirnoff, J.J. Robertson
and senior Ed Hart. Aaron Smith and
Daniel Neighbors return to anchor
the defensive line. In the secondary,
seniors Dakota Freeman and Jeremy
Head are back from last season.
Elmore
County hosts Alabama Christian on
Friday, August 27 at 7:00.
Send
Comments
|
