Panthers begin prep for May 19 scrimmage

Coming off a second straight state playoff appearance and the program’s fifth region championship since 2008, the Ridgeland Panthers began their annual spring practice last week in preparation for the build-up to the 2017 season.

Approximately 25 (rising) freshmen, who are practicing separately, and 7075 returning varsity players were suited up for the first day in pads this past Wednesday at Bowers and Painter Field.

“The kids are getting after it,” head coach Wesley Tankersley during a water break. “They are doing their drills well and really listening to what’s going on and that’s good to see.”

Tankersley, who will begin his third full season with the Panthers this upcoming season, said finding linemen is one of the top priorities this spring.

“Probably the biggest areas right now are our offensive and defensive lines,” he explained. “We’ve got some guys to replace on both sides, so we’re trying to solidify spots there as much as we can. We’ve got a lot of kids coming back at the skill spots, so there’s a lot of competition there.”

The Panthers, and their fans, have been counting down the days to May 19 when Ridgeland is slated to host the McMinn County Cherokees in a scrimmage game.

McMinn County, a Class AAAAA school in Athens, Tenn., went 7-4 last season, losing to No. 2-ranked Farragut, 40-21, in the first round of the state playoffs. All four of the Cherokees’ losses last season came to teams ranked in the top eight of the state polls.

This is the first season that the GHSA is allowing its programs to scrimmage other teams in the spring.

“One thing we tried to do when scheduling the scrimmage was to find someone that was similar to us so we could work on some fundamental things and not just have to focus on that one team and that one game,” Tankersley said. “There will be a little more at stake and we’re going to take the scrimmage more seriously in using it to evaluate our players for the summer and for next season, based on how they compete with somebody else.”

While the scrimmage will be new, a Ridgeland football tradition is continuing this spring as coaches and scouts from major and midmajor college programs have already paid several visits to Happy Valley.

Coaches from places like Arkansas State, Appalachian State, CarsonNewman, Georgia Tech, Georgia are among the numerous college programs that have made a stop at Ridgeland this spring.

“It’s always good to have coaches come by to look at our kids,” Tankersley added.