Panthers want to open up offense to reach season goals
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
EBER — Getting back atop the South Central Ohio League is the goal each season for the Miami Trace Panthers, and this year is no different. With at least 20 seniors on this year's squad, this could be the year for the Panthers to add their 21st league title to their school trophy case.
But to do that, they have to take out defending four-time SCOL champion Clinton-Massie.
Miami Trace is coming off a year where they continued their winning streak against Fayette County rival Washington, which currently sits at seven games since the SCOL reformed in 2003.
But in 2010, the Panthers have the majority of experience returning to the program, and for the first time in recent memory, return a quarterback for a second straight season.
Quarterback Tucker Hughes will start his season with a bit of a different look in the MT offense. Known for their rushing attack, third-year head coach (21 years in the program) Mike Bernard wants to have more of a balanced attack this year.
Last season, Hughes was 53-for-144, passing for 544 yards. His two best games in '09 came against Washington (9-of-16 for 119 yards and vs. McClain: 12-of-16 for 160 yards, two TDs.
"We want to gain more yards," Bernard said. "At times we were OK, but there were games when we could have been better. We want to be more balanced this year, and we have set goals of gaining more yards in games. With a returning quarterback, we feel more comfortable.
"If we can increase the yards per play, that will increase yards per game, and that will help us move the sticks and put the ball into the endzone."
Returning players for the Miami Trace offense will include seniors Hughes (QB), Ethan Snyder (RB), Trey Anderson (RB), Travis McIntosh (RB), Deskins Campbell (WR), Adam Hoover (OL), Trevor Keller (OL), Clark Melvin (WR) and Cody Snyder (RB). Mark Girton returns as kicker.
Ty Leach had 17 receptions for 148 yards and four TDs as wide receiver last year to lead the Panthers.
For 2009, MT scored 122 points, averaging 12.2 ppg. They had 79 first downs (50 rushing) and ran 507 total offensive plays. As a team, they tallied 2,056 total yards, with 1,278 net rushing yards. Gone is Grant Jones, who led MT with 654 net rushing yards. Jones led MT in six offensive categories in '09.
Snyder returns with 318 yards on the ground, and McIntosh had 150 yards on 45 carries last year.
The scheme of the Panthers will be a little different as well. To become a more balanced offense, formations and plays will change as the Panthers finished 5-5 one year ago.
"There will be a little more shotgun, and we want to use more motion," Bernard said. "We want to get our opponents’ defense moving around, getting them out of position. What we will do on offense will be a little different from what people have seen in the past."
On defense, Bernard is looking to return 10 senior players who took snaps for MT. Those players include: Trey Anderson (ILB), Tyler Fraley (DE), Brandon Frederick (S), Keller (DL), Hoover (DT), Leach (CB), McIntosh (ILB), Melvin (CB), Aaron Neers (DT) and Kyle Lower (DT).
"On any given Friday night, we will rotate 17 players each side, and a lot of our guys will play both ways. It is usually between 15-18 kids, and it helps to keep players fresh and helps build depth."
The multiple front, base 4-4 defense is a staple of Miami Trace football.
"We don't stack the outside linebackers. We like to use the multiple formations and mix up coverages, using zone or man both equally. I don't like to sit in one defense the whole game," Bernard said.
Three players last season led with two interceptions for MT (Nick Pitakos, Jones and Leach).
MT's defense last year gave up 227 points (22.7 ppg.) and 32 touchdowns. They were in a total of 524 plays allowing an overall total of 2,793 yards, with 1,540 net rushing yards.
"Our defense was a strong suit for us last season," Bernard said. "They kept us in a lot of games, and we need to step up and pick up where we left off. We aren't switching schemes, and we want to pick up as we were in week 10 last year. With the kids we have back, we can achieve that goal."
The special teams for Miami Trace is a big deal for Bernard as he coaches the squad.
In '09 MT had 1,955 punting yards, averaging 30 yards per punt with a net gain of 31.5 yards. The average kickoff last season was 46.7 yards.
"Mark (Girton) is back as kicker, and we also have our long snapper (Kurt Helsel) and our holder (Leach) back," Bernard said. "All three are very important to the success of our special teams. Our new punter this season should be (Clark) Melvin.
"We have a lot of seniors with experience, juniors ready to step up, and we have sophomores ready to step in. Our sophomore class is a big group, and some will have the opportunity to play."
The goals of the team never change: 1, win league title; 2, make playoffs; and 3, go undefeated.
"We try to those things in that order," Bernard said. "It is a matter of those three goals, and we never change the order."
MT will open the 2010 season at home vs. Circleville on Aug. 27.[[In-content Ad]]
But to do that, they have to take out defending four-time SCOL champion Clinton-Massie.
Miami Trace is coming off a year where they continued their winning streak against Fayette County rival Washington, which currently sits at seven games since the SCOL reformed in 2003.
But in 2010, the Panthers have the majority of experience returning to the program, and for the first time in recent memory, return a quarterback for a second straight season.
Quarterback Tucker Hughes will start his season with a bit of a different look in the MT offense. Known for their rushing attack, third-year head coach (21 years in the program) Mike Bernard wants to have more of a balanced attack this year.
Last season, Hughes was 53-for-144, passing for 544 yards. His two best games in '09 came against Washington (9-of-16 for 119 yards and vs. McClain: 12-of-16 for 160 yards, two TDs.
"We want to gain more yards," Bernard said. "At times we were OK, but there were games when we could have been better. We want to be more balanced this year, and we have set goals of gaining more yards in games. With a returning quarterback, we feel more comfortable.
"If we can increase the yards per play, that will increase yards per game, and that will help us move the sticks and put the ball into the endzone."
Returning players for the Miami Trace offense will include seniors Hughes (QB), Ethan Snyder (RB), Trey Anderson (RB), Travis McIntosh (RB), Deskins Campbell (WR), Adam Hoover (OL), Trevor Keller (OL), Clark Melvin (WR) and Cody Snyder (RB). Mark Girton returns as kicker.
Ty Leach had 17 receptions for 148 yards and four TDs as wide receiver last year to lead the Panthers.
For 2009, MT scored 122 points, averaging 12.2 ppg. They had 79 first downs (50 rushing) and ran 507 total offensive plays. As a team, they tallied 2,056 total yards, with 1,278 net rushing yards. Gone is Grant Jones, who led MT with 654 net rushing yards. Jones led MT in six offensive categories in '09.
Snyder returns with 318 yards on the ground, and McIntosh had 150 yards on 45 carries last year.
The scheme of the Panthers will be a little different as well. To become a more balanced offense, formations and plays will change as the Panthers finished 5-5 one year ago.
"There will be a little more shotgun, and we want to use more motion," Bernard said. "We want to get our opponents’ defense moving around, getting them out of position. What we will do on offense will be a little different from what people have seen in the past."
On defense, Bernard is looking to return 10 senior players who took snaps for MT. Those players include: Trey Anderson (ILB), Tyler Fraley (DE), Brandon Frederick (S), Keller (DL), Hoover (DT), Leach (CB), McIntosh (ILB), Melvin (CB), Aaron Neers (DT) and Kyle Lower (DT).
"On any given Friday night, we will rotate 17 players each side, and a lot of our guys will play both ways. It is usually between 15-18 kids, and it helps to keep players fresh and helps build depth."
The multiple front, base 4-4 defense is a staple of Miami Trace football.
"We don't stack the outside linebackers. We like to use the multiple formations and mix up coverages, using zone or man both equally. I don't like to sit in one defense the whole game," Bernard said.
Three players last season led with two interceptions for MT (Nick Pitakos, Jones and Leach).
MT's defense last year gave up 227 points (22.7 ppg.) and 32 touchdowns. They were in a total of 524 plays allowing an overall total of 2,793 yards, with 1,540 net rushing yards.
"Our defense was a strong suit for us last season," Bernard said. "They kept us in a lot of games, and we need to step up and pick up where we left off. We aren't switching schemes, and we want to pick up as we were in week 10 last year. With the kids we have back, we can achieve that goal."
The special teams for Miami Trace is a big deal for Bernard as he coaches the squad.
In '09 MT had 1,955 punting yards, averaging 30 yards per punt with a net gain of 31.5 yards. The average kickoff last season was 46.7 yards.
"Mark (Girton) is back as kicker, and we also have our long snapper (Kurt Helsel) and our holder (Leach) back," Bernard said. "All three are very important to the success of our special teams. Our new punter this season should be (Clark) Melvin.
"We have a lot of seniors with experience, juniors ready to step up, and we have sophomores ready to step in. Our sophomore class is a big group, and some will have the opportunity to play."
The goals of the team never change: 1, win league title; 2, make playoffs; and 3, go undefeated.
"We try to those things in that order," Bernard said. "It is a matter of those three goals, and we never change the order."
MT will open the 2010 season at home vs. Circleville on Aug. 27.[[In-content Ad]]