After a rare down year, Erie/Prophetstown football coach Chuck Milem expects the Panthers to get back in position to challenge for a berth in the Illinois playoffs this season.
“On the big-school side, we should be right in the race,” he said when looking at the Three Rivers Conference Mississippi Division.
After three consecutive years of getting into the postseason followed by a 4-5 season, the Panthers slid to 2-7 last year. But there was a reason for that, and the situation is different this fall.
“After starting a very inexperienced group last year, we are returning a nice core of experienced players this year,” Milem, entering his 10th season as head coach, said. “We have six returning starters on both sides of the ball and a nice senior-led group.”
One of those returning seniors is Garrett Passmore, who is entering his third year as a starter, is a two-time state placewinner on the wrestling mat and an Illinois steer-wrestling state champion. Passmore (5-foot-9, 175 pounds) was a first-team all-conference and second-team Herald All-Area linebacker who doubles as a running back.
The Panthers also have returning talent on the outside in senior receivers Kade Kovarik and Logan Henriken.”Kade was one of our leading receivers last year and will be a big part of the offense this year,” Milem said. “Logan brings the triple threat to our offense with his quickness on the perimeter.”
Directing the triple-option offense is 6-3, 180-pound senior quarterback Dillin Tegeler, and among those providing protection for him are senior Justice Youngberg (6-4, 210), junior Travis Coleman (5-8, 200) and senior Dylan Hollenbach (5-8, 210).
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