[tps_title] William Tennent Panthers [/tps_title]
Gene Walsh Digital First Media
William Tennents Sean Bragen at practice August 10, 2017.
Tennent hopes to channel experience into wins
WARMINSTER >> Sean Bragen will not give up on a run until every inch possible is gained.
“I feel like my running style is really a mirror image of what my personality is — somebody who’s determined and wants to do what he has to do in order to get the extra yards,” he said. 
Bragen thinks the same is true with this year’s William Tennent team, which drags a 17-game losing streak into 2017 but is determined to put an end to it.
“The players on our team aren’t quitters,” he said. “We have a junior and senior class that are both committed to the process that it takes. We’ve been here under coach (Leo) Plenski now for three years. Now there’s a lot of cohesion there with the coaching staff and the players we all complement each other well. And everyone just wants to get a win. We want to go one game at a time and every time we’re striving for that.”
The Panthers’ last win came in Week 3 of the 2015 season over Oxford. Tennent ended last year with a 0-10 mark, with three single-digit losses in its first three games before taking some lumps in Suburban One League Continental Conference play. And while the victories did not come, Plenski definitely saw progress in his third season at the helm.
“Two years ago when we took over, we started out 3-0 but once we hit league play we were getting blown out before the first quarter was over. Last season, once we hit league play we were in almost every game besides I want to say two,” he said. “Even with North Penn, it was 10-6 with two minutes left in the second quarter. There’s a lot of positivity. A lot of those guys that are seniors now started as sophomores my first year so they’re experienced.”
“We have an experienced quarterback coming back … an all-league running back. We’ve got some athletes out here.”
Mitch Vierling returns as Tennent’s starting QB. The senior is confident the Panthers have the players to improve on last year’s offensive output — Tennent averaged just 9.3 points per game in 2016 and hit double-digit scoring just three times.
“Our offense is going to be special, I can say that,” Vierling said. “We’ve got a lot of guys everywhere, especially at running back.”
Bragen earned all All-SOL Continental second-team honors at running back in 2016 and led a backfield that also included junior Tom Santiago — an Archbishop Ryan transfer and junior Eddie North.
“We have the athletes. We’re just going to have find a way to share the ball,” Plenski said. “If our offensive line plays how I think and know we should play, we’re going to be pretty good on offense. And many teams see the 17 consecutive losses now and the 0-10 season last year and you can doubt us all you want, We’re going to be there.”
On defense, what the Panthers may lack in size they should make up for in speed. Sophomore Quame Brown started at middle linebacker as a freshman while senior Yusuf Aladinof has been moved to defensive end after playing tackle last season.
“We’re going to be more athletic,” Plenski said. “Up front we might be a little smaller we’re not sure yet. We’re trying to wiggle that out but we’re looking at a 4-2-5 defense, we’re going to use our speed where we can.”
Needless to point out, it has been a while since Tennent earned a victory. But for Bragen, it is a different season and a different team. And the Panthers are ready to show it — their first chance coming at home against Upper Moreland.
“We want to prove that we’re not that team,” Bragen said. “We’re capable of many great things. And I think that we showed it in games, there’s games that we were competing and we had some moments, some great moments and we just couldn’t finish it. This year, hopefully, that can be a big difference.”
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