Panther football seeing mix of size and speed

Posted 8/25/16

And though they won’t be on their home field, the Powell Panthers will be joining in the annual onset of Friday night lights across state lines as they travel to their “Zero-Week Game” at Custer County in Miles City, Montana.

It will be a …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Panther football seeing mix of size and speed

Posted

It’s that time of year again, when the temperatures begin to cool down, leaves will soon start to change colors and the Friday night clashing of pads and helmets on high school football fields across the nation will fill the autumn night’s ambience.

And though they won’t be on their home field, the Powell Panthers will be joining in the annual onset of Friday night lights across state lines as they travel to their “Zero-Week Game” at Custer County in Miles City, Montana.

It will be a contest that doesn’t affect the regular season record, but will tell a lot about how the regular season may go for the program that is just two seasons removed from a state championship three-peat.

And heading in, third-year head coach Chanler Buck sees the positives, some even within perceived weaknesses.

“We lost 10 letter-winners to graduation,” Buck said. “Four on defense and six on offense, mostly along the line, so we won’t have a lot of experience there. But we have more size up front than we’ve had in a while, which is something that can really help us.”

Where Powell does have returning experience is among the skill position players, specifically in last year’s backfield of quarterback Mason Olsen and the thunder and lightning running back tandem of Zach Easum and T.J. Abraham — though Easum will be moved to another skill position that Buck sees as helping the offense.

“We’re moving him out to tight end this year,” he said. “I think that can make us a lot more dynamic on offense and be able to mix the run and pass more.”

Easum did snare a long touchdown pass from his new position in the intra-squad game last Friday, lending credence to Buck’s vision.

Abraham also scored on a long touchdown run, showcasing his combination of speed and change-of-direction ability, ala Barry Sanders.

“We have a lot of experience and ability in the backfield with T.J. and Mason, and we need to have that composure,” Buck said. “We’ll also mix in A.J. Lewis, who got some playing time last year and he was one of the most consistent guys in the weight room during the offseason. He can really be a spark plug for us.”

The Panther defense will be somewhat inexperienced along the front line, as on offense, but will also see the potential that size can bring.

And though the linebacking core may be lacking in size, Buck sees it as allowing him to shake things up at times.

“We traditionally run a 4–3 defense, and we’ll have size up front, but our linebackers, while experienced, are on the small side,” he said. “But they have a lot of speed and are intelligent, and it’s important to be able to mold your schemes to the personnel you have, and that will allow us to put in a nickel package, with an added safety, at times.”

As for the competition during the regular season, Buck sees challenges from a host of teams.

“Star Valley is the defending champion, so they’ll come in as the favorite,” he said. “But any number of teams could have a big game and take off running.

“The key is consistency, which Powell has had in the six years I’ve been with the program,” Buck continued. “Powell is rich in football tradition and has been consistent in how we go about things and what we expect as far as effort. And whether it’s Riverton, Cody or us, with a little luck and a good game, we can build up that enthusiasm and let it snowball from there.”

After the Custer County contest, the Panthers will be on the road for the first two games of the regular season, at Douglas on Sept. 2 and at Buffalo on Sept. 9, before hosting their home opener on Friday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m. versus Riverton.

Comments