The Jackson County Panthers are pumped up for the fall.
They wrapped up spring practice on Saturday with their annual scrimmage game. The team, split into two groups, had a strong showing, with the white team winning 32-14.
As the team moves into the summer, coach Billy Kirk says they take 91 kids with them out of 93 that originally came out.
Jalen Banks sends the ball on its way during last week’s spring practice. Photo by Brandon Reed
Panthers wrap up spring practice
“We got a ton of participation and excitement for our football program,” Kirk said. “During Saturday night’s scrimmage, we had a bunch of kids make some great plays. It is really good to see some kids step up. We lost that senior leadership from last year, so to see some of these other kids step in and make some plays is great.”
Kirk said that overall, offensively, he thought Saturday’s scrimmage was a great effort on both sides.
“We put up a lot of points, completed a lot of balls, and threw a lot of balls. It was great to see.”
Kirk said the defense also played well Saturday.
“We were looking for depth, and we’re two and three deep in places and not much of a drop-off when the second group goes in, or the third group, in places,” Kirk said.
If there’s one place that the Panthers are a little short on, Kirk added, it’s linemen.
“We’ve had a couple of move-ins that are going to help us on the offensive line,” he said. “Overall, we’re so much further ahead than we were last year. I think we’re more athletic than we were last year in some places. I think that translates into nothing more than having a lot of summer to work and get ready for the fall. It’s a great, great start to the 2010 season.
Now the focus turns to the summer months, and working to keep that excitement and enthusiasm level up until the start of the season.
“I think one of the things we try to do is transition spring to summer,” Kirk said. “The kids understand that they are now kind of in charge of the team. Up until spring started, we didn’t know who our leaders were going to be. We try to hand the team over to those leaders. We’ve had an accountability program here for the past four years. We’ve had 90-plus percent participation in those four years.”
Kirk said another aspect to the excitement level for the Panthers is the move to 8-AA this coming season.
“Our kids are excited about playing some of those teams we’re going to be playing,” he said. “We’re going to line them up and play them one at a time. Right now, our focus is on Johnson High School. We can’t worry about Jefferson, East Jackson or Hart. We have to worry about Johnson right now. That’s what we’re going to focus on over the summer.”
For more on this story, see Wednesday's edition of The Jackson Herald or The Braselton News.
Kirk said that overall, offensively, he thought Saturday’s scrimmage was a great effort on both sides.
“We put up a lot of points, completed a lot of balls, and threw a lot of balls. It was great to see.”
Kirk said the defense also played well Saturday.
“We were looking for depth, and we’re two and three deep in places and not much of a drop-off when the second group goes in, or the third group, in places,” Kirk said.
If there’s one place that the Panthers are a little short on, Kirk added, it’s linemen.
“We’ve had a couple of move-ins that are going to help us on the offensive line,” he said. “Overall, we’re so much further ahead than we were last year. I think we’re more athletic than we were last year in some places. I think that translates into nothing more than having a lot of summer to work and get ready for the fall. It’s a great, great start to the 2010 season.
Now the focus turns to the summer months, and working to keep that excitement and enthusiasm level up until the start of the season.
“I think one of the things we try to do is transition spring to summer,” Kirk said. “The kids understand that they are now kind of in charge of the team. Up until spring started, we didn’t know who our leaders were going to be. We try to hand the team over to those leaders. We’ve had an accountability program here for the past four years. We’ve had 90-plus percent participation in those four years.”
Kirk said another aspect to the excitement level for the Panthers is the move to 8-AA this coming season.
“Our kids are excited about playing some of those teams we’re going to be playing,” he said. “We’re going to line them up and play them one at a time. Right now, our focus is on Johnson High School. We can’t worry about Jefferson, East Jackson or Hart. We have to worry about Johnson right now. That’s what we’re going to focus on over the summer.”
For more on this story, see Wednesday's edition of The Jackson Herald or The Braselton News.
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