[LeeCoUKFan]

2013 WYMT Pigskin Preview: Pikeville Panthers

Pikeville, Ky. (WYMT) -- The Pikeville Panthers started 2012 with one win in the first six games of the season, making an already-tough offseason even more intense.

A 21-touchdown, 1,500 yard rusher and a quarterback who threw for more than 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns a season ago return.

"My main goal is to get a state championship,” running back Chase Hall said. ”I don't really have any individual goals."

Despite two playoff wins and a runner-up finish in the region, this season is about getting to the next level.

"We worked so hard this summer,” senior left tackle Gage Morrison said. “We all got up and we weight lifted every day as a team. Since December, we just weight lift, weight lift, weight lift."

The experience returning for the Panthers excites head coach Chris McNamee.

"We've noticed already that we're further ahead at this point than we were last year, but we still have a long way to go,” McNamee, who played at Pikeville High School, said. “It always takes us a little while to get going, but we scheduled a tough schedule to get us ready for where want to be.”

Last year’s 36-14 loss in the regional final versus Fairview gave hope.

"It's the last chance,” senior lineman Larry Kenne said. “This is it. No more. You don't get another chance, so you have to leave it all out on the field."

"I feel like we have a lot of expectations but I feel like we can meet those expectations this year," Hall said.

Pikeville opens the season up against Prestonsburg August 23.

http://www.wkyt.com/wymt/sports/sportsov...31641.html