[tps_title] William Tennent Panthers [/tps_title]
Tennent hopes to channel experience into wins
William Tennent will be mixing it up a bit on offense.
“It’s gonna be a different mash-up of a couple different things,” coach Richard Clemens said of his squad. “We’re gonna be using some different concepts from option and power, and maybe some Wing-T stuff sprinkled in.”
The Panthers definitely have the weapons to plug in, and go into the season with some added momentum.
“There’s a lot of good energy and the kids are working hard,” Clemens said. “We’ll just see how it all works out. We have one or two transfers and we have a lot of returners. Once again, numbers will be an issue, as they always are, but we’re happy with the work we did in the offseason and so we’re optimistic coming into this year.”
Defensively, Tennent will also be giving its opponents a variety of looks.
“We’re still a multi-look defense,” Clemens said. “We’re still a 3-5 base and we run some four front. We try to mix it up to get as many good matchups as we can. It’s really personnel-driven with us, how many guys we have that are able to play the spots.”
Numbers are again an obstacle for the Panthers, but the roster has grown from where it was in 2018.
“We’re building the program,” Clemens said. “We focus on what we can do better, on how we can get better and how we can grow the program: offseason weight lifting four days a week, protein to our guys, so we’re doing all the things we need to do to get better.
“We’re just hoping that it translates on the field.”
Dominic Chillot gives the Panthers some versatility along both lines.
“I think this team has a lot of special players,” he said. “I think we’re gonna make a deep run. We have the talent and the hard work going. So I think it’s gonna be a good year for us.
“With our new players coming in, there’s a lot of good, hard-working talent. We’re working hard every single day in the summer, trying to get better, and I’m excited for our first scrimmage. It’s been a long time waiting, almost a whole year waiting to get back on the field. It’s time to bang.”
OFFENSIVE PLAYER TO WATCH
Lukas Banks, Guard >> The 320-pound senior gives the Panthers a lot of size on their lines and is a key piece as they operate from different sets. Banks stabilizes things for Tennent up front.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER TO WATCH
Drew Forr, Linebacker >> The senior gives the Panthers speed in the linebacking corp and can get to the ball carrier in a hurry. He also provides leadership to a growing roster.
By Kev Hunter, khunter@21st-centurymedia.com
