Strengths
Buckeye will be able to lean on experience, thanks to only losing seven seniors to graduation. The team returns nine starters on offense and nine on defense, including everyone in their offensive backfield.
Depth issues forced a number of underclassmen to start for the Panthers last season and it will pay off for them this year. Senior quarterback/safety Tory Carman will make life easier for coach Jonathan Landry and the coaching staff, as he’s not only a returning starter on both sides of the ball, but also the unquestioned leader of the team.
“He is an overall great kid,” said Landry. “He works hard, he is smart, and the other players seem to rally around him, so I am happy to have him back.”
The Panthers are in a new district but are familiar with some of the teams. Landry is a former assistant at Tioga, and they have played Grant and Leesville during his tenure in Deville.
Question Marks
Atypical to what is expected at Buckeye, the Panther offensive and defensive lines are a big question mark.
The line is one of the smallest in the Landry era and there is not a lot of depth at that position group. Moving up to Class 4A could create some growing pains for Buckeye in the fourth quarter and in shootouts, when depth comes into play.
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