[Buffs19]

Offensively, I think the Panthers will open up the playbook a little more this year to try and keep Anthony healthy. He's "the guy" on both sides of the ball, so keeping him fresh will be a priority. I look for the passing game to mirror the Isaac McNamee years as opposed to last year. There's plenty of talent at the WR position with Hall, Hager, Muncy, Slone, and Warren. I've also heard the Panthers have developed one of their defensive players into one heck of a weapon on the offensive side. Bottom line: anything the offense can do to keep teams from stacking the box to stop that run game will pay dividends in the playoffs.

Defensively, the question is up front. Will Pikeville have enough depth to keep the DL fresh for 4 quarters? If the answer to that is yes, then I think they have a real good chance to win their 4th straight title. If the answer to that is no, then there could be an unexpected loss here or there that forces the Panthers on the road in the playoffs, and anything can happen then. The LBs should be the strength of that D. Pikeville returns all 4 LBs that started last year's state title game. The group of Anthony, Stanley, Anderson and Justice is ridiculously talented; they can stop the run and defend the pass. And those dudes are physical, they love to hit. As for the secondary, Stevens and Hall return. Stevens may have the highest potential of any player on the team. The kid has D1 talent. Hall might be the fastest player on the team, and everyone knows speed kills in the secondary. If the Panthers can develop Hager, Muncy, Slone and/or Warren into legit defenders, then look out. Personally, the thought of Muncy and Slone at the corners would terrify me offensively. Those dudes are tall and athletic, good luck throwing on them.

I think everyone will have Pikeville picked as the preseason favorite in Class A. If the Panthers can develop some of the young guys, keep a fresh rotation on the DL, and open up the passing game, then those projections might be right. But with those first 6 games, anything can happen. History tells us that McNamee's teams get stronger as the season progresses. If history repeats itself this year, title #9 may be coming home to the mountains in 2024.