It's 'find out' time for South with Bedford coming

By Rex Kirts

The scrimmage with Center Grove last week was revealing. Now it's time for South's rebuilt program to begin anew in the season opener under coach Kirk Kennedy.
When Bedford North Lawrence visits Fred Huff Memorial Field Friday night at 7 it will be "find out" time for the Panthers. It's a fact they aren't real big and not real deep, so success will have to come from such things as quickness and execution and desire.
Kennedy, who had one state champion and two state runnersup at Lowell, arrives in Bloomington having won seven straight sectionals. In a short time he has begun to change the culture around the football program. Not everyone survived the pre-season demands, accountability and expectations.
The scrimmage with potent Center Grove showed the Panthers' shortcomings in size, strength and savvy. But Kennedy saw enough good things in the area of effort to believe the Panthers can compete reasonably well.
"We have people we think we can win with," Kennedy said. "We've just got to peel the layers off the onion."
HE HAS INSTALLED a run-oriented I formation offense to take the place of the spread, pass-heavy attack run for six years by Drew Wood. His defense is a four-man front in place of a five.
After looking at the Center Grove tape Kennedy reiterated the demands for more consistency from his ball club.
"We expected that," he said. "The effort both mentally and physically has to be more consistent, which in time I'm sure it will be. I liked our effort in a game-like situation."
He wants a good start, not only against BNL but every opponent.
"It will be vital this year to get a fast start to the games and the season," he said. "That will help our confidence, if we can make things happen early."
The play of the all-senior offensive line had its solid moments against Center Grove.
"I liked some of the things the offensive line did," Kennedy said. "They'll have the flame thrown at them all year. All are seniors who are making the transformation from pass blocking to run blocking, and that's hard. They're working at it, and they're going to get better."
REILLY FLYNN is the biggest Panther at 6-5 and 268. He'll start at left tackle. Zach Bonnell (6-2, 255) starts at left guard and Jarred Mason (6-2, 230) at center. On the right side of the offensive line are Alex Sarpa (6-2, 218) at guard and David Tiwari (6-2, 255) at tackle. The tight end is Joey Todd (6-2, 190).
Behind them at quarterback is junior Michael Bower. He missed the Center Grove scrimmage with an illness but is ready to go. He was voted by teammates as one of the captains along with Sarpa and Flynn, and there will be a fourth game-day captain appointed.
The tailback is the featured performer in Kennedy's offense, and there has been a good battle there between senior Keith Bunton, junior Trae Washington and sophomore Nolan Rogers. At fullback will be senior Derek Murphy or senior Jon Campbell.
The wide receivers bring in the plays. Senior Lucas Franz will be one of them with Washington, sophomore Tyrae Murphy and sophomore Matt Henderson the others.
"We're getting there," Kennedy said of the new offense. "We haven't put the whole offense in yet."
THE DEFENSE WAS SHAKEN UP a little this week when senior starter Gabe Hull was dismissed for missing the scrimmage with Center Grove. Todd is at one end, and junior Jake Kelzer will take Hull's spot. The tackles are Tiwari and senior Cameron Hogue, who has earned the job even though he's just 5-7 and 186 pounds.
The Panthers will probably play a 4-3 defense this week because Bedford runs a spread offense. Sarpa is the middle linebacker with Campbell and either senior Ben Farmer, Murphy or junior Kyle Franklin outside. Farmer is starting in place of junior Cullen Flynn, who is injured but expected back next week.
In the secondary will be Washington at one corner and senior Adam Wylie or Henderson at the other. The safeties will be Rogers and Murphy with backup from senior Trevor Phipps. In a 4-4 defense, Murphy will be one of the outside linebackers with Farmer.
Kennedy hopes for improved play from the defense. He thought it played high against Center Grove, and there's lots of room to improve on reading keys and tackling.
"You have to keep your eyes on your keys (linemen) and not look into the backfield," Kennedy said. "Through repetition and teaching we'll get there."
BUNTON AND ROGERS will return kicks. Junior Drew Barlow will place kick, and he or Franz will punt. Washington is the holder and Mason the long snapper.
Bedford, Kennedy said, is young, hungry and confident.
"This is an important game for us," Kennedy added. "It's an opportunity to build some confidence in our program."
Bedford returns to the schedule and replaces Terre Haute South this year. Bedford was a fixture on the Panther schedule for many years until 2004.