Football: it's a passionate game

By Rex Kirts

After the first scrimmage under new coach Kirk Kennedy Friday afternoon, one Panther asked another if he was going to do something that night.
"No. I'm too tired."
That's a good sign. It means they're working hard under the brouiling sun.
The scrimmage wrapped up camp week for the 50-plus member team. Highlights included hard running by the small but quick and strong backs like Keith Bunton, Nolan Rogers, Derek Murphy and Trae Washington. Another highlight was occasional bursts of enthusiasm, first by the defense and later by the offense.
"We're well prepared, and everybody is in better shape," said senior inside linebacker-guard Alex Sarpa. I think we're starting to get together.
"COACH KENNEDY HAS great intensity. He never lets up. That's great for us - it makes us work harder and together more."
Not surprising, Kennedy saw some good things and some that needed worked on.
"First, they've got to find some passion, some enthusiasm for the game," Kennedy said. "This game is rough, so the way you survive is through passion."
He's installing a new offense and defense, and it will naturally take a while until the Panthers run them smoothly and quickly, until they just react instead of taking time to thing about everything.
"They've got to pick up the pace, pick up the tempo," Kennedy said. "They've got to fly around and have fun.
"Our practice habits have to improve. The heat and newness were adversities this week."
He was impressed by the play of Reilly Flynn, the 6-5, 260-pound senior, who is playing defensive tackle as well as offensive tackle this year. Like Flynn, several people will be playing both ways this season.
Junior quarterback Michael Bower and Murphy, a senior outside linebacker and running back, impressed Kennedy. So has senior offensive tackle David Tiwari, who missed the scrimmage but performed well during the week.
"TRAE WASHINGTON (junior running back-wide receiver-cornerback) has a great attitude and great work ethic," Kennedy said. "I like Jon Campbell (senior fullback-inside linebacker) and Nolan Rogers (sophomore running back-safety).
"There's kids who we can win with. They've just got to get together. They've got to believe in themselves and have passion. That's got to be the key.
"This is a team that it's a not a matter of if but when."
The Panthers are halfway through Phase II of the pre-season workouts. Two-a-days begin Aug. 2. The Purple and White scrimmage will combine with Alumni Day Aug. 7. The scrimmage against Center Grove is Aug. 13 and the regular season opener Aug. 20 at home against Bedford North Lawrence.