The GHSA class A state championship trophy is back in Homerville, and if head coach Jim Dickerson and company have anything to say about it, the hardware could stay down south for longer than just one year.
The Panthers absolutely tore through their schedule a season ago, capping a 13-1 season by avenging the team’s only loss to Irwin County in the Georgia Dome to claim a state championship. The 2015 Panthers lived up to the standard that Clinch County faithful have come to expect, but now that burden is passed to the 2016 squad.
“We have high expectations for these kids and they know that the community has high expectations for them,” Dickerson said. “We have really pushed them hard this summer to prepare them, and they’ve pushed themselves. While it’s tough to get on top, it’s even tougher to stay on top.”
This season, unfortunately for opposing defenses, Clinch County’s talented group of ball carriers will return in hopes of lighting up the scoreboard on the way back to the Dome.
Shannon Young, Charles McClelland, and Trezman Marshall will all return for the Panthers, giving the team a realistic shot at having three rushers eclipse the 1,000-yard mark. However, Dickerson has cause for concern surrounding his offensive attack.
“The main difference from last season, unfortunately, is that last year we had a big offensive line,” Dickerson lamented. “We are having to replace four offensive linemen, and instead of averaging about 280 pounds across the front five, we are probably going to average about 190 or 200 pounds. And as anyone that really knows football can tell you, that’s where the game is won and lost.”
Of the 32 players on Clinch’s roster last season, only nine were seniors, but the linemen took the biggest hit.
“You hear about all of our skill guys and people think, ‘Y’all are going to be even better than last year,’ but we need to put eleven on the field and get to where we don’t have to hide the eleven around those four. But the good thing about youth and inexperience is that they are very excited and eager to prove themselves.”
With that said, Clinch County has more than enough talent, both from the coaching staff and the players, to be just as dangerous in 2016 as they were in 2015. The enthusiasm, support, and winning tradition is enough to make them constant title contenders, yet the roster is still fully equipped to fortify that position.
The loss of Chauncey Manac will undoubtedly hurt the Clinch defense, but the Panthers’ still have plenty of firepower in Octavius Morris and John Mincey coming off of the edges to threaten opposing offenses.
The state championship rematch against Irwin County will occur on September 16th in Homerville, just one week after the Panthers take on the always-tough Brooks County Trojans. That two-week stretch could prove to be the most difficult of the season for Clinch.
Then, the Panthers will participate in the Swamp War with archrival Charlton in Folkston on October 28th.
“Once we get in our region, you’ve got us, Irwin, Charlton, and even Turner County came up last year with as much talent as anybody we play,” Dickerson stated. “It’s going to be a tough game every Friday night, so we have to be prepared.”
Clinch County Panthers
Young, Marshall Attempt To Bring Panthers Back-To-Back State Titles
Written by Jacob Dennis
Photo by Sheena Hill, The Clinch County News
