Backs will carry load for the Panthers
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, August 3, 2005
Most high school coaches believe a balanced offense is the only way to win.
But most coaches don't have a backfield like Georgiana coach Greg Ennis.
When you have a 2,000-plus running back returning with an experienced fullback and quarterback, you got with what got you to the playoffs.
And that is exactly the plan for Ennis.
"We'll try to be as two-dimensional as possible," Ennis said. "But it will be hard given we have two excellent backs."
Zane Stackhouse rushed for more than 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns, while William Langham returns to his fullback spot.
The Panthers opened with more than 30 players on the practice field on Monday.
In his first practice as coach at Georgiana, Ennis said that he put his team through drills to get his players acclimated to his system.
"We put the guys through the basic plays so that once we start running them in pads, they become automatic to them," Ennis said. "I want them to react out of habit than to think about what they are doing."
Even during the early going of fall drills, Ennis has concerns.
The new Panthers coach said it will be crucial for his offensive line to gel as a unit.
"We need to find out who can play where on the offensive line, " he said. "The offensive line is a team within a team, so they need to mesh as a unit and develop team chemistry."