Panthers expect tough battle in opener

By: Rip Donovan
Journal sports correspondent
08-27-2008

Jeffrey Hammond Enthusiasm for the 2008 football season has been building at Spring Garden since the Panthers closed the 2007 season 5-5. Thursday evening’s performance at the Cedar Bluff jamboree added to the feeling that 2008 could be a history-making year for football at Spring Garden. Friday’s season-opener will be a home game against coach Ernie Willingham’s Appalachian Eagles. Spring Garden coach Jason Howard said he understands that Willingham views his current team as one of the best he has had. Howard anticipates Appalachian will present a spread offense and speed to make it go. “They will probably win that Region (1A, Region 5). It should be a good test for us right off the bat,” Howard said. “I look for us to have a big crowd. I think everybody is excited.” The Panthers began their part of the Cedar Bluff jamboree with two quarters against 1A, Region 6 foe Gaylesville. Spring Garden’s first offensive unit scored on the opening possession and the first defense forced Gaylesville to punt the first time the Trojans had the football. After that, Howard spent the remainder of the two quarters giving reserves the opportunity to play and earn positions on the depth chart. The final score was 6-6. “I had told (the starters) going into that game that they were going to play one series on offense and one series on defense,” said Howard. Two more quarters with Class 3A Glencoe immediately followed the Gaylesville encounter. Howard gave his starters more time on the field against the Yellow Jackets. Spring Garden put together two scoring drives and took a 13-0 lead before the younger Panthers got more playing time. At the horn, Spring Garden led 13-7. Overall, Howard said he felt the offensive line was more productive against Glencoe than against Gaylesville.

Tyler Williams He was pleased with the defense but one aspect of the game was notably deficient. “Our special teams kicking game was terrible,” Howard said. “Our punts, field goals and extra points – we had one that was clean and that was with no rush.” Individuals who caught the coach’s eye were junior running back and defensive end Trey Littlefield, sophomore quarterback Reece Johnson and sophomore wide receiver Tyler Williams. “Trey Littlefield, I thought, had a good game on both sides of the football. Reece Johnson did what we asked him to do. He was two for two passing and he ran the offense well. Tyler Williams showed that he is going to be able to step in and help us as the season goes on.” Howard said mental mistakes during the Gaylesville contest, a concern for both the players and the coaching staff, were discussed before meeting Glencoe. “I felt like they responded by coming out focused against Glencoe,” Howard noted. “I think they thought the effort was there and I thought so, too.” Neither fullback-linebacker Tyler Messer nor defensive end Jeffrey Hammond, both seniors and both starters last year, played during the jamboree. “You want to play your starters to get our timing down by going good on good but at the same time you can’t afford to get anybody hurt,” reasoned Howard. “We lost Messer last year and it took us four games before he was back at even 60 to 70 percent.”

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