Replacing 13 seniors tall task for Panthers

(Sentinel Photo by Brian Schekirke) The Kingsley-Pierson Panthers work on running plays out of their I-formation as they prepare for Friday's opener at Clay Central Everly. [Click to enlarge]

Friday's game at Clay Central Everly won't just be Kingsley-Pierson's first test of the year, it will also be the start of a new era for the Panthers.

The team lost 13 seniors off of last year's 4-5 (4-4 in the district) record including offensive studs quarterback Jeff Engle and running backs Isaiah Corbin and Dexter Mahrt.

Engle had 37 completions for 548 yards and eight touchdowns and eight interceptions. Corbin was a 1000-yard rusher after rushing 197 times for 1055 times and eight scores. Mahrt rushed 110 times for 720 yards and scored five times.

(Sentinel photo by Brian Schekirke) The Kingsley-Pierson Panthers work on a running play from a split back set during a recent practice. The Panthers open at Clay Central Everly on Friday. [Click to enlarge]

Graduated senior Jordan Bird led the team in receiving with 16 grabs for 310 yards and pulled in four of Engle's eight passing touchdowns.

Leading the race to replace Engle is senior Chris Olson who is coming off of a spectacular baseball season. Olson is leading junior Matt Young, fellow senior Cody Boden and sophomore Ryan Mercer for the starting job.

K-P coach Bart Boustead said that the race is still tight but "it was a pretty close race until last week. Chris had a pretty decent performance in the scrimmage last Friday and has been really stepping it up this week."

Lining up behind Olson will be senior Paul Peterson who will spearhead the Panthers' rushing attack. Boustead describes Peterson as a "big kid who has been waiting in the wings for a few years now. He's about 5'10, 185 and he just runs really hard."

With the Panthers lining up primarily in the I-formation - with an occasional split back set - to accentuate their run-oriented offense, Peterson will have help from sophomore Tyler Campbell and freshman Tate Rodhe.

When Olson and the other quarterbacks are in a passing situation, 5'8 senior Eric Anstine and 5'10 junior Evan Klingenmsith will line up out wide for K-P. Boustead describes the pair as a duo of possession receivers.

"Both have really stepped it up from last year," said Boustead. "With Eric being a senior and Evan a junior, both have some experience for us."

The offensive line looks to be a line by committee but one thing is for certain, 5'10, 233 pound Mike Weaver will anchor the line. The senior will be joined by Todd Bottorf and Taylor Plendl at guard with tackle Tyler Bose on the line. The other tackle position has yet to be decided by juniors Ryan Bottjen, Andy Bainbridge and Dustin Slota are competing with sophomore Alex Olson for the final position.

Junior Tyler Sudbeck will help both the line and receiving corps from his tight end spot this season.

The defensive line will feature many of the same faces as their offensive counterparts. Leading the way again will be Weaver at the nose-guard spot as K-P will sport a 5-3 base defense.

The bright spot for the Panthers' defensive will be linebackers Ross McNaughton and Bottorf. Bottorf played at the safety position last year but looks to help hold down the position this fall.

"We expect Ross and Todd to do some good things on defensive for us," said Boustead. "The rest of the kids had time last year but were not full-time players."

Lastly, the secondary will also be very young and inexperienced. With Bottorf moving up to linebacker, Klingensmith, Campbell and senior Andrew Johnson will be expected to shut down opposing wide receivers this fall.

After losing 13 seniors and returning just 12 letter winners, Boustead is confident in his team's ability to compete this fall.

"It's just high school football - you go through rotations with kids," said Boustead. "We have a new team this year and we're working with them. We're just going to try to win football games and they'll get some experience, it's just a matter of how fast they can adapt."

"If we can keep everyone healthy and on the field, I think we can build something very nice."

The Panther will travel to Clay Central Everly on Friday before traveling to Odebolt to face Battle Creek - Ida Grove - Odebolt/Arthur next week.

While being placed in a tough district, Boustead said, "Alta is a pretty solid ball-club and Gehlen and Woodbury Central will both be tough. I think it'll be a tough district for us."