FALL PREVIEW: Park Hill South Football

A 3-1 start in 2011 put the Panthers on the path towards reaching a second straight playoff appearance. However, a perfect storm of injuries coupled with an inexperienced group of young starters caused Park Hill South to stumble to a 1-5 finish, leaving them without a postseason berth at the end of the season. Learning from that experience with a majority of those same players returning in 2012 is something head coach Mark Simcox believes will yield positive results.

“At various times last year we started seven sophomores, so we have a lot of guys that played a lot of games,” Simcox said. “We’re not teaching anymore. The players know how we do things, so we can focus more on the football stuff. Everyone is more comfortable.”

The Panthers have a strong defensive lineup comprised of seven returning starters including two of its key pieces coming in the form of Robert Lane and Cody Kildow, athletes who can at times act as either linemen or linebackers, giving a high degree of flexibility to adjust to opposing offenses. Joining them will be core inside linebackers Austin Miller and Kenrick Cook.

While the experience and strength may be on the defense, Park Hill South will have a number of talented options on the offensive side of the ball to present a dangerously balanced attack. Splitting time equally at quarterback last year were junior Carson Reid and sophomore Shaefer Schuetz, but in 2012 Simcox says the Panthers will have one quarterback leading them with the other in ready reserve.

“We’re going to ask them both to do more than they did last year,” Simcox said. “Doesn’t matter who it is coming into week one, we’ll always try to have our back-up get a series or two a game.”

Whoever wins the quarterback job will be handing off to the versatile senior running back Miles Hammonds who, when healthy, last year provided Park Hill South with the speed and power for a strong running game. Leading the way for him will be an offensive line featuring Cletus Gilmore, Seth Cline, Cody Kildow, Isaiah Jones, and Cody Batton. Simcox says his linemen on both sides of the ball bring more size than they had available last year, which when combined with their other weapons, puts them in a position to match-up well with top competition.

“With our players being in the program long enough, our size, and our strength, we look like a big Class 5 team,” Simcox said. “We don’t have Division One players all over the place, but as a real solid high school football team, I think we’re in a good place.”

One of those weapons will be senior wide receiver Craig Scott who pulled in 50 catches and 11 touchdowns last season. His athleticism will give the Panthers a deep threat as well as keep secondaries honest in regards to the run. Complimenting him on the other sideline is junior receiver Nick Griffith who will allow the entire field to be used.

“With the kids we have, we will definitely be able to be more wide open,” Simcox said. “We hope to be able to control the ball with both our passing game and running game.”

Park Hill South will be led onto the field by 22 seniors in their first game of the season, a rematch of last year’s district finale 28-0 loss to state quarterfinalist Fort Osage. The game will be broadcast live on television as Metro Sports Game of the Week.