Outlook- First year head coach Ross Brown had a marvelous first season with the Panthers in 2020 with a veteran senior squad running the table all the way up to the Class 3-A Championship game. Year two didn’t quite go as planned with plenty of younger players, the team struggled at times and finished 5-6 after a first-round playoff loss to LaRue County. Year three could be a bit smoother with plenty of returning skill players on both sides of the ball.
Offense- Going into his senior year, Ryder Gregory will be the guy under center after completing 60-of-131 for 1,216-yards and 14-TDs. He was also the team’s third leading runner with 525-yards and 7-TDs. Junior Trey Durbin will be back after leading the Panthers with 928-yards and 7-TDS. Along with senior Drew Camon. Gregory will have everyone back to throw to starting with Evan Shelton (22-catches for 419-yds and 4-TDs), Junior Trey Durbin (9-catches for 253-yds and 4-TDs) and junior Carter Moberly (7-catches for 191-yds and 1-TD). The offensive Line will return almost everybody other than Quentin Lepora. Seniors Jackson Ford and Jayden Evans, along with senior Zach Presthus, center Gavin Young and Logan Rockwell.
Kicking Game- With Mary Bell gone, Brown will have to replace the placekicker.
Defense- After allowing just 211-points in 13-games, the Panther Defense bent some for 283-points in eleven games but should rebound this season with plenty of returning starters which sacked the quarterback 20-times and created 10-turnovers. With Chad Doggs and Brock Lepord gone, Brock Catlett, Jackson Ford, Jayden Evans and Dontay Doctor will man the D Line. The Linebackers will return Trey Durbin, Carter Moberly, Nolan Maggard and Aiden Smith. The Defensive secondary also will be loaded with Ryder Gregory, Drew Camon, Greyson Hainer and Sam Kessinger.
Summation- After a rough second season, this Elizabethtown team should rebound quickly thanks to a more cooperative schedule and an experienced squad on both sides of the ball.
Schedule Breakdown- The Panthers will start the season off on August 19 @North Bullitt (2-9), and then back home against Meade County (2-9) and then John Hardin (7-6) the following Friday. Then a tough road game against District rival Bardstown (12-1) with a home game with Nelson County (4-7) and then a rare Saturday night game @ Ashland Blazer (7-5). A home game with Russell County (2-9) and then two straight road games the end the regular season first @LaRue County (5-7) and then @Owensboro Catholic. In all, Elizabethtown will face four teams with winning records last season and only one with double digit wins.
