MEMPHIS, Tenn. — They say the sequel is never as good as the original. But the Bartlett Panthers know their second season with Chris Smith at the helm has the potential for a movie like finish.
“We gonna work out a road to state," Senior running back Geron Johnson said. "That’s how it goes this year."
“This team got a lot of potential I feel like we’ve got a state championship in us," Senior outside linebacker/tight end Austin Howard said. "I really feel like we can do it.”
The Panthers went 8-4 in 2023 and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. That experience coupled with 34 seniors, 14 starters returning and a full offseason under Smith, sets the scene for 2024.
“I think they feel way more comfortable with the systems on both sides of the ball which I think allows them to play faster and with more confidence," Smith said. "If you don’t know what you’re doing real well, you play a little more slower and when you play the teams we do and the schedule we do that can be not very good for your football team.”
Nobody is embracing that new level of comfort more than second year starting QB Kam Alexander.
“We just want to make sure that this year we go into every game with the mindset that we can’t be stopped," Alexander said. "I think last year we were kind of timid knowing that it was kind of a short offseason we didn't really get all the time that we wanted. But this year we're a lot more confident."
“Experience is the best teacher, you get the test first and the lesson later, which is a tough deal but for him it’s been invaluable so far," Smith said. "We’ve seen growth definitely from year one to year two.”
The Panthers lineup is headlined by a pair of Mississippi State commits in two-player Austin Howard and all-state running back Geron Johnson who rushed for 1,882 yards and 25 touchdowns last season.
“It’s going to wake college football up, yeah they better wake up," Johnson said.
But make no mistake the future Bulldogs are ready to be dawgs for the Panthers this season.
“I think the stats tell the story, he’s an explosive football player, he’s worked really hard," Smith said. "There’s some really talented players in Memphis but I do think Geron is really special and he’s going to have a phenomenal senior season.”
The Panthers kickoff their season on Friday at home against MUS who demolished them 37-0 in round one last year. Bartlett isn't calling it a revenge game but they are ready to show out.
