PANORA — Second-year head coach Mike Kazlaurich eyes the 2019 season with an air of optimism, and for good reason.
Panorama will return a bevy of starters and others will plenty of varsity playing experience, even if the Panther gridders will be snapping the ball to a new quarterback, one whose chief receivers have departed.
“We want to be dangerous throwing the ball, of course, but this is high school football, and if you can’t run the ball you are going to struggle,” Kazlaurich said. “That will be the key for us — can we move the ball on the ground, maintain possession, and then put it in the end zone? If we can I think our lineup is going to give us a season better than last year.”
Panorama was 5-4 overall in 2018 and 2-3 in 1A District 8 play. The team lost, 28-27, to Clarinda in week five and 21-13 to Mt. Ayr in week six, a pair of losses Kazlaurich hopes to flip.
“We probably should have won both of those games,” he said. “Our other two losses were to Van Meter (11-1) and I-35 (10-1), and I believe we will be more competitive in those games this year. It is all about doing what we do well, about playing the game our way instead of having the flow dictated to us.”
Senior Luke South will be found in several spots for the Panthers. He has 3,321 career passing yard and 28 aerial TDs while rushing for 1,174 yards and 18 total TDs. After spending the summer in boot camp for the military he will step in at running back, where he gained 627 yards on 128 carries while scoring nine touchdowns last season.
South was 71-of-127 for 987 yards and eight TDs while being intercepted five times in 2018, and he caught four balls for 117 yards and a score.
“Luke can help us wherever we put him,” Kazlaurich said, “but he is not our only weapon.”
Dominic Walker will step in as quarterback and has the full confidence of his head coach. Kade Kemble will line up in the backfield as fullback to complete the set while Zac Rizzuti returns at receiver after pulling in 20 passes for 329 yards and four TDs last year. Jackson Carstens, Jack Weinkoetz and Lucas Leiferman will also serve in various receiver spots. with Weinkoetz possibly at tight end.
Kyle Cogil and Jared Wasson will start at tackle and Trent Hambleton and Colten Boatman at guard, with Jared Henderson moving to center.
Hambleton is the leading returning tackler with 47 stops, including three sacks and six for a loss of yardage. Walker had 37.5 tackles and South 27.5 for the Panther defense.
Cooper Anderson and Brice Taylor will start at defensive tackle and Kade Arganbright at nose guard. Hambleton and Wyatt Appleseth will play at inside linebacker, with Drew and Evan Taylor at the outside backer spot.
Both Dominic and Preston Walker are the likely starters at the safety positions, with Leiferman and Rizzuti opening at cornerback.
Panorama hosts Fort Dodge St. Edmond Friday, a team the Panthers topped, 41-14, to open the 2018 campaign. The Panthers visit NW Webster Sept. 6 before entertaining I-35 Sept. 13. Homecoming is scheduled for Oct. 4 against Mt. Ayr.
