Experience is vital is any sport, but in the game of football it’s paramount.

This season, Panther Valley returns experience at arguably the two most important units on a football team - the quarterback and offensive line.

“I think that will be the strength of our team; our quarterback and our guys up front,” said Panther Valley head coach Rick Jones. “All of those guys have worked hard and have gotten stronger and our quarterback Michael Pascoe looks good. He has nice size and impressive athleticism.

“We’re going to be a better football team this year; I believe that. We had a great offseason and we have nine or so guys who can squat over 400 pounds now; we’re definitely stronger, which means we can play more physical and more aggressively.”

Junior Michael Pascoe returns after a full year under his belt as signalcaller last season. Pascoe, a physical kid at 6-3, 217 pounds, had success running the football from behind center last season, rushing for 544 yards and six touchdowns.

However, PV will need to be better through the air as it threw for just 388 yards a season ago. Although Pascoe has an inexperienced group of wide receivers, the talent and athleticism is certainly there. He will have big targets in Mergim Bushati (6-2, 173) and Logan Haines (6-1, 173), who can stretch the field vertically as well as Trey McAndrew, who will serve as the Panthers’ possession receiver and showcases the best hands on the squad.

There’s no denying the Panthers’ passing game must be better in 2021, but playing a physical brand of football will be their mantra. PV returns four starters up front in Brady Jones (C), Riley Hoben (G), Austin Hadley (G) and Richard Zabroski (T), with junior Matt Engler (T) joining the starting group.

“I don’t think you’re going to see us get pushed around with the group we have up front,” said Jones. “We want to play physical and run the ball with physicality. We have two backs in De’Antay Alston and Shy Ervine that can run hard in between the tackles.

“But for us, we just want to play to our potential, play physical and play disciplined. We want to look up at the scoreboard in the fourth quarter and it be a competitive ballgame, and I think we can accomplish that if we stay healthy.”

For the Panthers to accomplish any of their goals this season, they must improve their play on the defensive side of the ball. PV struggled at times defensively last season, giving up 38.8 points per game and almost 360 yards per game of total offense. The Panthers will need to be better against the run, where they allowed over 210 rushing yards a contest.

“We made some changes defensively that I think will really help us,” said Jones. “We went to a 3-3-5, which I think will allow us to get more athletes on the field, which will make us a faster defense that can be more aggressive and really flies to the football

“I really like what I’m seeing from our linebackers, especially Austin Hadley and Brady Jones. I think those two can both have a really good year for us.”

Panther Valley has not had a winning campaign since the 2009 season (9-3). Entering a new division in 2021, consisting of all schools with similar school populations, coupled with key returnees at important positions, the potential is there for that streak to be broken.

The Panthers will be competing in the Blue Division of the Colonial-Schuylkill merger, which also consists of Marian, Nativity, Shenandoah Valley, Tri-Valley and Williams Valley.

“I don’t think there’s an easy schedule out there for any of our teams throughout the entire league,” said Jones. “There are a lot of tough football teams in every one of these divisions. Again, our goal is just to play with physicality and discipline and compete whenever we’re out there.

“This group of kids have really been great; they’ve bought in and have worked hard. When you’re seeing the difference in the strength of our kids; that means you’re working. They’ve been a pleasure to coach all offseason and we’re just looking forward to getting it going.”

QUARTERBACKS

Junior Mike Pascoe returns as starting signal caller and possesses good size at 6-3, 217 pounds to give opposing defenses issues. Mergim Bushati will back up Pascoe.

RUNNING BACKS

De’Antay Alston and Shy Ervine will split carries and will look to run with physicality between the tackles. Lamar Easley and Nas Irvine will also see some time and provide depth in the backfield.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Trey McAndrew will serve as the Panthers’ receiver to move the sticks, while Bushati and Logan Haines provide good size and speed at 6-2 and 6-1 to stretch the field vertically. Eli Maynard will get the nod at tight end.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Four out of five starters return for the Panthers up front. Brady Jones (C), Riley Hoben (G), Austin Hadley (T), Richard Zabroski (T) and Matt Engler (T) are expected to be the starters.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Making up the Panthers three man front will be Shy Ervine, Alston and Hoben. Zabroski, Engler, Sincere Flamer and Matt Juracka will also fortify the defensive front.

LINEBACKERS

Jones, Hadley and Maynard will anchor the middle of the Panther’s defense and are expected to be one of their strongest position groups on the team.

SECONDARY

PV will mix in a ton of players at both safety and cornerback. Players expected to see significant time are Haynes, Easley, Pascoe, McAndrew, Bushati, Nas Ervine, Brennan Kunkel, Ethan Gardiner and Frank Shubeck.