2024 Record – 4-7
Head Coach – Tyler Mattingly
2024: After a successful run starting with the 2020 State Final appearance, the Panthers were really starting over first with Alfredo Siva taking over in 2023, then Tyler Mattingly taking the reins in 2024. After a successful run as an assistant at South Warren, Mattingly ran a more explosive offensive set which put more points on the board, but like the previous years version struggled to stop the run. This year, Elizabethtown will have a different team and a different district as well moving up to Class 4-A.
Offense: In it’s first season under Mattingly, the offense scored more points and did have a habit of producing big plays, but there were several key graduations that coach will have to fill starting with Quarterback as Ryan Bowen is gone and s is his 1,917-yds and 17-TDs. Sophomore Ethan Shelton will be the next man up and he will three of his top four receivers are also gone, but Jace Hagy, Lex Bratcher and Antonio Kinzer will pick up the slack. Leading runner Conner Johnson is also gone, but Kinzer will get most of the carries along with Darion Bryant. The Offensive Line only returns Dakotah Grisham and Noah Smith, so Mattingly will look for replacements.
Kicking: Ryan Bowen was not only the QB, but the kicker and punter as well so they will need a replacement
Defense: The defense did allow just 400-points, but in one less game (407 in 12-games in 2023) and also were hit hard by graduation. The Defensive line that was overrun allowing 2,785 (compared to 2,501 in 2023) will return Gage Elkins, Chance McCarty and Logan Meredith and should be better with some experience. The Linebackers will return Antonio Kinzer and Darian Bryant and will look for depth. The secondary will lose TaQuan Townsend, Walt Brown and Hunter Miller, but will return Jace Hagy and safety Lex Bratcher. The Panther defense produced 12-QB sacks, fell on 12-fumbles and picked off five passes.
Summation: Last season would be a transition year regardless who took over and Mattingly seems to have won over the program, but the loss of so many skill players could hurt. It does help that they did move up to Class 4-A and into a more manageable district and that should make 2025 much easier for an above .500 record.