Football teams around the state will hit the field Friday as the 2020 fall season gets underway.
This is our second story in a series previewing the upcoming football season. Over the next several days, each local football will be highlighted. The Daviess County Panthers are the next story in the series.
The Daviess County Panthers won three of their last four games to end 2019 and fell to Henderson County in the first round of the KHSAA Class 6A State Playoffs but coach Matt Brannon will look to turn around his first losing season since he took over the Panthers in 2015.
DC graduated standout running back Shane Riley and his nearly 1,500 rushing yards but the Panthers do have junior quarterback Joe Humphreys returning. Humphreys threw for 1,388 yards with 11 touchdowns and eight picks a year ago.
Jon Nalley will lead the Panther offensive line as Bryson Parm will try to be the go-to running back for Brannon and Daviess County.
The Panthers also return its top tackled in Gunnar Evans as he racked up 142 total tackles last season.
Daviess County Panthers
Head coach: Matt Brannon
2019 record: 5-6
2020 schedule
Sept. 11: v Ohio County
Sept. 18: @ Owensboro
Sept. 25: @ Marshall County
Oct. 2: v McCracken County
Oct. 9: v Allen County-Scottsville
Oct. 16: @ Henderson County
Oct. 23: v Apollo
Oct. 30: at Warren East
Nov. 6: at Owensboro Catholic
What’s your outlook for the season?
We are very excited to get this group back on the field. We lost a few key spots from last year, but the bulk of the team, especially up front are returning. We were having an excellent offseason before the shutdown. Our guys did an excellent job of staying in shape on their own and when we were able to return we have had very consistent sessions that have allowed us to be ready for practice. Returning almost every skill player on offense, and the core of the defense, we are excited to see what this group can do.
Who are your key returners?
Offense
QB: Joe Humphreys (JR)
WR: Decker Renfrow (SO), Isaiah Tomes (JR), Carter Hamilton (JR), Max Dees (JR)
RB: Bryson Parm (SO)
OL: Jon Nalley (SR), Blake Henry (SR), Isaac Blue (SO)
Defense
LB: Parker Crews (JR) and Gunnar Evans (JR)
DL: Blake Henry (SR), Isaac Blue (SO)
DB: Isaiah Tomes (JR), Max Dees (JR), Decker Renfrow (SO), Mason Boswell (JR)
Any newcomers that could make an impact?
There are several new players that could make an impact for the Panthers this seasons. Brylee Best (RB/LB), Alex Floyd (TE/LB), Zach Head (TE/DL) and Brandon Shepard will all see time on the field for DC this season.
What is something you’ve noticed your team needs to work on?
Obviously, with the shortened pre-season and lack of 7v7, there are lots of things that still need polishing. We have done a lot of work “On-Air” so bringing in the competition and contact has disrupted some of the timing that our quarterback and wide receivers have developed over the summer. There are still several positions up for grabs so we need contact to make those determinations. We have been able to slow down and take our time, but now we need to work on timing and rhythm at a fast pace. It will take time, but we will get there.
What do you need to do to be successful?
One of the ideas that we instill in our player’s mindset is success is measured in your worthy pursuit of a goal. Coming to work every day with a great attitude, learning mindset, and the ability to be the best version of yourself on a daily basis is how we measure success. Winning games is a byproduct of our work ethic and preparation.
How has COVID-19 changed the way you prepared for the season?
It absolutely has. We are mindful of groupings and have to be more diligent in our behaviors outside of practice. The idea that we could lose a starting player or a group of players at any point during the season is always looming in my mind. We have to have plans in place to adjust at a moment’s notice. Football has always had certain inherent risks that players, parents and coaches are aware of, but this pandemic has brought about an entirely new set of challenges that we may have to face.
There will be no time during this season that we can relax our expectations or behaviors, and that is going to create an entirely new level of stress for the coaches and hopefully for the parents. We all want to see our season through to the end, and it will take everyone in the program doing their part. Our buzz words this year in our first-day meeting were commitment and sacrifice. These are things that will be paramount if we want to play each week.
