After an 0-2 start last season, PikeView found a rhythm with a pair of shutout wins. The Panthers ultimately stumbled to a 4-6 record, but it was progress in Jason Spears’ fourth year at the helm.
This year he’s hoping to continue that upward trend after posting the most wins in any of his seasons leading the Panthers, but to do so he’ll have to keep fighting a plague that’s hung over his program for five years.
“We’re at around 25 kids,” Spears said. “A lot of kids struggled with eligibility so we’re at around 25 players.”
The small turnout isn’t new for Spears who finished his first season with less than 20 players on the roster. But it does complicate what he can do. Many players will be expected to play both ways a year after the program lost key starters Peyton Greer (QB), Brian Huggins (LB) and Nate Riffe (WR) to graduation and Kalum Kiser (RB) to Princeton. Starting tight end Zach Rose also elected to sit out his senior year.
Still Spears is optimistic about the skill players he has back and the roles they’ll take on.
“I’ve got a really good backfield,” Spears said. “I’ve got a team full of sophomores and freshmen but we’re really excited about Brayden Mullens. He’s my quarterback who runs and can throw the ball really well. Logan Cook is good strong power back and he’ll get a lot of touches. Peyton Mounts is returning for the backfield and he started almost all the games after the Liberty game. I’m pretty excited about that and you throw Peyton’s brother Chase in the middle of that and he’s one of my two seniors. He’s great on both sides of the ball and he’ll run the ball quite a bit but he’s more of a defensive weapon.”
Blocking for those skill players is a group of linemen that Spears is excited about as well. It features several young players and newcomers.
“We started having a few more big guys come out,” Spears said. “I’ve got about 10-12 players who can play on the line. We’re going to be young though. We did have a kid who lives in district, Gage Thompson, and went to Mercer Christian and he’s been phenomenal and is so coachable. He hasn’t been able to play football since eighth grade because Mercer Christian doesn’t have a football team but having him now is pretty exciting. I have another freshman in Bryson Thompson who’s learning the offense. Andrew Phillips is playing tackle and Eli Horton at center. They’ve got to be in great shape because with the lower numbers we need them.”
The roster numbers require Spears and Co. to be more focused. They field multiples two-way starters thus they must prioritize health and stamina. As such they won’t get caught looking ahead on their schedule.
“The big thing we’re focusing on is staying healthy and being ready for that game, that week,” Spears said. “Right now we’ve got Summers County coming up and all we’re focused on is that game. We’re going to play it one game at a time. We don’t want to look past anyone or think of anything else. We’re going to fully concentrate on who we’re playing that week.”
Previously the offensive philosophy was to spread and throw the ball but the Panthers found success last year when they moved to an offense that prioritized running the ball. Spears expects that to be the Panthers’ bread and butter once again with the strength of the offense resting in the backfield.
“We’re pretty much the same like we were halfway through the season,” Spears said. “We’re not afraid to throw the ball when needed but I’m relying on our backfield because I have a lot of confidence in them with all the running backs we have. Having a steady ground and if we can establish that first other things will fall in place.”
PikeView will open its season Thursday, Aug. 24 at Summers County.
