Going forward starts with the new attitude

By Rex Kirts

Kirk Kennedy inherited a mess. Then it got worse.
When will the mess be cleansed, and when will South's football program go forward?
Well, in subtle ways not always recognized, it already has.
It starts with the new attitude Kennedy brought. It's an attitude of mental and physical toughness, combined with accountability and discipline and "doing things right."
Kennedy succeeded in establishing his beliefs in the way a program, both on and off the field, should be run. Everyone knows the expectations.
After the season ended the head coach and his staff didn't waste a minute sending the program in a forward direction. The team met as usual on Saturday and handed in the equipment, which was stored away properly. The house cleaning taken care of, the coaches were free to concentrate on the future.
Everyone knows the expectations for the immediate future. Within a couple of weeks, the weight room will get serious useage. Kennedy will have a command presence.
THE PANTHERS spiraled down from 3-7 last year to 2-8 this year. Watching them during the sprng and summer and pre-season practices, it looked as if they might not win a game. So maybe two wins is a bonus.
The squad was small in numbers and physical size, and there was very little speed. Defections didn't help matters, with several sure starters (as many as eight) either not coming out, quitting or getting kicked off.
The team picked up a nickname, The Dirty Thirty, although there were about 40 on the roster at the end.
Remember, this was at a school that had not so long ago been a powerhouse in the state.
But this team, which needed rebuilt except for the offensive line, had a lot of problems. Many, Kennedy said, were the result of having to learn a new system. Many of the problems, though, were just basic football. Basically, every single mental and physical phase of the game needs inproved.
Kennedy said he intends to remain at South and get the program back on top. His first ball club at Lowell won only two games, too, before heading upward.
This is not saying the Panthers will make a quick turnaround next year. Next year's team will be young in the lines and linebacking corps. It will be another rebuilding situation.
Kennedy "isn't discouraged" with what he faces at South. There are some players, and the freshman team showed promise.
"IT WAS A ROUGH SEASON for everybody, for the entire South family," Kennedy said. "But the tough times are going to produce results.
"As I've said, the only variable is time. It could produce some results next year, two years.
"The challenges presented this year gives me more resolve . . . to start solving the things that have plagued this product. I feel the challenge to get this program back on the right track."
Offensive returnees next year include three of the top four rushers - quarterback Michael Bower and tailbacks Nolan Rogers, along with Clayton Fiddler and Johnathan Winters. Back in the line is Jacob Brineger, backup center Tony Albanese and tight ends Jacob Canada and Jake Kelzer.
Returning on the defense next year are Rogers at safety, Matt Henderson at cornerback, Kelzer at end, Fiddler at linebacker, Trae Washington at corner and Bower at backup safety. Rogers, Henderson, Kelzer and Fiddler ranked second, third, fourth and fifth in defensive points, behind senior linebacker Alex Sarpa. Other returnees who saw some varsity action include Winters, Tyrae Murphy and Ethan Farmer at linebacker.
Also back is place kicker Drew Barlow, who was second in scoring to Bower.
"This season was a start," Kennedy said. "There's a great understanding now of what's to be expected. We'd like to have been more competitive, won more games. We made some progress.
"WE WANT TO get into the weight room now. They understand we've got to block, tackle, execute, out-work our opponents, be more physical than our opponents."
This is how South will win in Conference Indiana. It won't be able to match the bigger schools in the league in talent and speed.
"We can out-execute and out-hit our opponents. We can be tougher. That will be our niche," Kennedy said.
Twelve seniors finished their high school careers.
"I'm proud of the challenges the seniors accepted. I'm proud of the ones who stuck it out, who built the foundation."
The offense, Kennedy said, was inconsistent. At times it got the job done, at times it didn't. "We've got to improve the offensive line play. We've got to get more physical and attack the line of scrimmage. Our backs have to run lower. We've got to execute at a higher level of efficiency and cut down on the mistakes."
He felt the defense was the area of most improvement this season. "We got better at tackling, reading our keys and staying disciplined," he said.
The kicking game needs considerable work. Punts were blocked, field goals were blocked and coverage sprung a few leaks. "It's more than just kicking a football," Kennedy said.
THE AREAS THAT HURT South the most, he said, was the lack physical strength and lack of mental and physical toughness. "Those are all things we're going to get better at. And that takes time - you can't turn it around over night."
What Kennedy liked best about this team was the way the kids and coaches meshed.
"The kids banded together," he said. "They took great pride in the nickname Dirty Thirty. Their work ethic in practice became pretty good. We didn't tank the situation.
"And I liked the way the coaching staff banded together. I think we got a lot done."
Sticking together and getting a lot done are good foundations for the off-season that approaches.
"We'll have the weight class for football players, and for those not in the class we'll have weights Monday, Wednesday and Friday after school," Kennedy said. "We'll work on strength and speed and athletic development. We should be a lot more physically prepared for next season than we were for this season."
He looks forward for things to get better every year.

Season ended with a thud at Whiteland

By Rex Kirts

Whiteland is a new kid on the block in class 5A football, and Friday night it took on one of the division's former powers, South, and showed it how to play football.
Whiteland hit harder and ran faster. It excelled on offense, defense and special teams.
So once again South failed to make a big noise in the sectional, getting knocked out in the first round of the tournament, 37-14.
The difference in the performances was a shock, given South's history of success and Whiteland's lack of it. But Whiteland is clearly on the rise while South needs rejuvenated.
The Panthers are in a slide, from 3-7 last year to 2-8 this season. They have been especially ineffective in the tournament for several years, and Friday they exited the sectional with a long list of "things to do" to become competitive again.
TO A MAN, including head coach Kirk Kennedy, the South staff talks of getting stronger in the weight room. Whiteland completely manhandled the Panthers in every area.
Whiteland was also hurt less by penalties and played better on special teams. It's hard to imagine, but South had yet another punt blocked.
In total yards, Whiteland had 408 and South 208. On defense, Whiteland hit while South tried to arm tackle. South's tacklers would get dragged for several yards after contact, which has happened a lot this season, even by small running backs.
South has grown accustomed to being whipped good by such opponents as Center Grove and Columbus North, but to have up-start Whiteland do it is just a big shock.
"We have to get hungrier," Kennedy said. "We have a lot of work to do. There's no shortcut to success. We've got to be a lot more physically tougher and mentally tougher as well."
The Panthers played without fire in the second half in losing at Perry Meridian last week, and the disturbing trend continued at Whiteland.
"NO (WE WEREN'T READY)," Kennedy said. "We were very timid tonight on offense, and the defense wasn't attacking."
Whiteland's offense featured quick backs and a misdirection attack with a good ball-handling quarterback. That combination has hurt the Panthers all season. Whiteland ripped them inside and out.
"The defense needs to be disciplined and read their keys," Kennedy said. "They weren't getting off their blocks on the jet sweep. And the offense wasn't doing anything to help the defense."
South had one good drive of 73 yards in the second quarter to tie the game at 7-7 on a two-yard run by quarterback Michael Bower.
THE PANTHERS didn't have much offense after that. Their second TD was an eight-yard run by Bower in the fourth quarter, which was set up by a 49-yard keeper by Bower.
Although Whiteland wasn't very big on defense, there simply weren't any holes for the Panther backs to run through.
There is a lot of work to do, and Kennedy won't waste time on getting started for next year. Weight room work will probably start in two weeks.
There will be a lot of rebuilding next year. Players up from a solid freshman team are expected to contend for starting jobs.

Panthers, Whiteland meet for first time in sectional

By Rex Kirts

South and Whiteland have never met on the footbal field, a situation that will change when they tackle each other in the first round of the sectional at Whiteland.
Game time is 7 p.m.
South is looking for its first sectional championship since 2001. Kennedy won sectionals titles the last seven sectionals at Lowell.
Whiteland (7-2) is a growing-area school that moved up to class 5A in the past couple of years. Since little is known about the football program by South fans, Panther coach Kirk Kennedy offered up a comparison.
"They're like Bedford," he said. "They're very good."
South (2-7) has had outstanding success against Bedford historically, but in this season's opener Bedford shocked the Panthers in overtime, 29-27.
SOUTH AND WHITELAND have one common opponent this year, Martinsville. South was beaten soundly by the Artesians, but Whiteland won handily, 35-19.
"Whiteland is big, physical, powerful," Kennedy said. "They're basic in their scheme - they run a lot of wing-T with motion. They like to get the ball to the perimeter, and they'll also go up the middle.
"They like to establish the run. And they will lull you to sleep and throw play-action passes."
The offense Whiteland runs is similar to a couple of others the Panthers have seen and have had trouble with this season. They've had difficulty containing teams on the corners.
As he has all year, Kennedy is mostly concerned with how South plays. The concern rose after last week's loss at Perry Meridian, a 17-14 loss that came after the Panthers led 14-3 at halftime.
"We've got a shot (to beat Whiteland)," Kennedy said. "Our opponents are ourselves. We've got to get our offense and the kicking game going."
The Panthers played reasonably well on defense at Perry Meridian but gained only two first downs the second half and missed two makeable field goals.
PRACTICE THIS WEEK was good, Kennedy said. "Our attitude was still good. We had good tempo, good pace." And a game-like atmosphere surrounded kicking practice. Junior Drew Barlow has kicked well in practice all season and needs to transfer it to the game.
"I told Drew to focus on the process," Kennedy said. "The fundamentals, not worry about the results. Focus on the process."
The passing game has to improve, too. Quarterback Michael Bower excelled at the running game at Perry but completed just one of 11 passes. Getting into 3rd-and-long didn't help the overall scheme.
"We want to throw when we want to throw instead of when we have to throw," Kennedy said.
And they need to establish the ground game with a lot more authority than they did in the second half. There were few holes, and running backs were getting stuffed before they got started.
The winner of the game will play the winner of the Columbus East-Center Grove game in the second round.

Flat second half leads to loss at Perry Meridian

By Rex Kirts

The signs in recent weeks pointed toward a good finish to the regular season for South's football team. Then came a giant step backward in the second half at Perry Meridian.
In the regular season finale, the Panthers led 14-3 at the half and had control of the game. But they came out flat in the second half and stayed that way to absorb a 17-14 loss.
The Panthers take a 2-7 record into sectional play at Whiteland Friday. They finished 2-5 in Conference Indiana.
It was a disappointing loss for a couple of reasons. One, Perry Meridian had won only twice this year. Two, the Panthers had played better the previous two games, including beating Columbus North.
THEIR LACK OF FIRE in the second half was a shock. It started when Perry returned the second-half kickoff for a touchdown. It continued with a weak performance on offense, with only two first downs made the last half.
The running game worked well in the first half with junior quarterback Michael Bower gaining a lot of yards and one touchdowns on counter plays. Sophomore tailback Nolan Rogers scored the first TD on a 44-yard run in which he broke a tackle at the line of scrimmage.
In the second half, however, the Panthers managed only 22 net yards on the ground, the line unable to create any room to run. The passing game wasn't a help throughout as Bower completed only one of 11 passes.
The kicking game contributed to the defeat, too, when Drew Barlow missed two field goals inside 30 yards.
"We left a lot of opportunities on the field," coach Kirk Kennedy said. "We played decent the first half. The second half we had absolutely no sense of urgency."
IT WAS HARD to understand, Kennedy said, how a team with the opportunity to win would come out flat like that. This was a chance to win a game on a field that South hasn't had much success lately, playing Southport as well as Perry. It was a chance to continue the good vibes that had built up the last two weeks.
"Frustrating," Kennedy said.
"We had the key turnover (a fumble by Rogers)," he added. "On the kickoff they make one block. Now is that them or is that us? We had worked on it all week. We said they would take the kickoff to the hash.
"There was no sense of urgency. We didn't get excited. You don't just watch - you make things happen."
THOSE ARE ITEMS Kennedy has preached from his first day coaching.
"You think you're making progress. You think you've turned the corner . . . " he said. The turn was in the wrong direction.
This is the second straight year an undersized Perry team has taken the attack to South and won the game. Playing fired up is how the Falcons did it.
"With that 3-5 defense they get a lot of people to the ball," Kennedy said. "That's why our misdirection worked the first half.
"But you still have to block. That requires effort."

Panthers gaining confidence

By Rex Kirts

Three weeks ago it was like the switch was flipped and light filled the room.
Suddenly the Panthers started "getting it." Practices perked up as knowledge sunk in. There was spring in their steps, and plays were run with a crispness instead of a plod.
Practices became normal. No longer did coach Kirk Kennedy have to spend tons of minutes simply getting his team to respond. The base program was in, and now the Panthers could make some progress.
The Panthers lost at Pike but played better. Last week they didn't always play better, but they won a game, beating Columbus North.
Now on Friday they wind up the regular season at Perry Meridian, hoping for a couple of things. They want to continue to play better, they want to gain revenge for an embarrassing loss last year and they want to move up in the Conference Indiana standings.
SOUTH AND PERRY MERIDIAN are both 2-6 overall and tied for fifth in the conference at 2-4. The winner could wind up as high as tied for fourth. Lawrence Central and Pike lead the league at 5-1, followed by Southport at 4-2 and Columbus at 3-3. Franklin Central is also 2-4 and Bloomington North 1-5.
Other league games this week are Lawrence Central at Bloomington North, Pike at Franklin Central and Southport at Columbus.
"Perry is very fundamentally sound," Kennedy said. "They're not overly big, but they execute well. They don't try to trick anybody - they just try to play harder than their opponents.
"They run a lot of option and try to lull you to sleep with the fullback. By far the fullback and the quarterback have the most carries."
Last year Perry came to South winless and using several underclassmen but played inspired football and handed the Panthers a major defeat. So the Panthers realize Perry represents a program that needs respect and that the game is a challenge.
The style of football Kennedy coaches is beginning to settle in with his first Souoth team.
"OUR PRACTICE HABITS, our attitude are improving," Kennedy said. "We're gaining momentum. That showed at times at Pike and again against Columbus. They are taking responsibility and working hard."
Kennedy came in with the reputation of being basic with the running game. But he does have razzle-dazzle in the playbook, and a couple of those plays, halfback and wide receiver passes, were important in the wins over Bloomington North and Columbus North.
"The key is just getting good at something, something like the iso," Kennedy said. The iso is an inside run by the tailback with the fullback "isolating" (blocking) on the linebacker.
"I never said we were just going to run but were going to establish the run. That opens up the playbook."
Against Columbus, the Panthers controlled the ball, and that's something Kennedy loves. They had 13 first downs to eight for Columbus.
"WE RAN 62 PLAYS (15 were passes)," Kennedy said. Our defense was enhanced by what our offense was able to do. We ran a lot of clock, shortened the game, established field position.
"So there's things on offense we accomplished without points. But, we want points, we'll take 'em."
Asked what it is the Panthers have established with the running game so far, Kennedy said, "Nothing, really. But the power I is helping us. It's consistency is leading to confidence."
The important result of the late-season improvement, Kennedy said, is the kids are starting to believe in the system.
All the effort is starting to reap rewards. Practice is working the way it's supposed to. The program foundation is being laid.

Quickness the key on the defensive line for 186-pound Hogue

By Rex Kirts

All his football-playing life Cameron Hogue has been a defensive lineman.
Somewhere along the line it seems sensible that someone would have mentioned he's a might small for the position. Would have barked at him and told him to get over with the running backs or wide receivers or defensive backs and play with guys his own size.
No matter what was said, Hogue wound up in the defensive line.
And, after overcoming academic trouble last year, he earned a starting job on the South D-line as a senior this year. He started the season at tackle but was moved to end after a few games.
Hogue is 5-6 and 186 pounds. He lines up next to Joey Todd, who weighs only 185 pounds. Few class 5A schools, maybe none, have to line up with half their D-line that small.
Obviously, Hogue must be quick and have some strength to survive and be effective.
"I REALLY TRY to use my speed," Hogue said. "I'm pretty fast for a defensive lineman."
Coach Kirk Kennedy said Hogue is a high-energy guy who gives the team his best effort.
"He has a lot of enthusiasm," Kennedy said. "He's an undersized guy who with his attitude and effort makes a lot of plays for us."
Lack of size can be compensated for. It's a fact offensive linemen always say the guys they don't want to go against are the quick ones.
"As long as you are quick and when you are fundamental you can get by," Kennedy said. "It's being smart. You have to stay low and use your quickness to get off blocks and get to the football."
A cousin to recent Panther running backs Stefan and Jordan Hogue, Cameron said he will sometimes get handled. "But I try to stay perfect with my techniques that will help me get past the offensive linemen."
HE'S HAD PLENTY of opportunities to perfect those techniques. "I've always played the defensive line," he said. "It's been my only position."
When Kennedy was hired in April he had a meeting in the auditorium for anyone who wanted to come out for football. A lot attended the meeting but didn't come forth when the equipment was passed out.
"I decided to come out when we had that first meeting," Hogue said. "I thought we'd have a pretty good chance with him coaching.
"He's a good coach - I like him. He keeps us disciplined, works us hard. It's paying off - I think we're getting better."
The Panthers are 2-6 heading into Friday night's regular season finale at Perry Meridian.They have gotten better and last week knocked off a good Columbus North ball club for their first home field win in two years.
After high school hogue is thinking of attending Ivy Tech but isn't certain what he'll study. "I'm not sure. Maybe construction," he said.

Love of football boosts 5-4 Wisley

By Rex Kirts

What can be seen of John Wisley is obvious, that this is a football player who's just 5-feet-4 inches tall.
And it can be seen that he's hanging in there despite playing in the line with the distinct disadvantage that being 5-4 dictates. His legs barely reach the ground, but the 215-pound South junior guard keeps banging away on the jayvee and scout squads.
Wisley has asthma, which sometimes puts great stress on him when running wind sprints. And yet he's still out there swinging. He takes

John Wisley

great pride in not being last in the sprints.
He has endured the rigors that new coach Kirk Kennedy has demanded as the new standard of South football.
Why?
Why does John Wisley do it?
"I LIKE EVERYTHING ABOUT IT," he said with enthusiasm. "From the hitting to the excitement to the touchdowns. Everything!"
He has played football since the seventh grade, seeing it as an opportunity to succeed in a sport that his uncle, Jose, played. His father, Dennis, was a wrestler.
"I try to do well in everything I do. Whenever I'm out here, bigger people can motivate me," Wisley said.
They can, of course, knock him around a little bit, too. But Wisley rolls back up, adjusts his chin strap and lines up for the next play.
Like everyone who plays the game, he knows it can be difficult to keep coming back.
"Yes, it can," Wisley said, "especially after conditioning because I'm not much of a runner."
Offensive line coach Tyler Cabanaw said, "John never complains, but the running is hard on him because of his asthma."
Kennedy said Wisley is a fun kid to talk to, a fun kid to get to know.
"WE RAN 17 WIND SPRINTS (last Tuesday) because Monday was his 17th birthday," Kennedy smiled.
"John's a quiet kid," Kennedy added. "He just goes about his business. He gives you all he's got.
"If he takes those characteristics into life he'll be successful. You don't have to be a star to learn the lessons that football gives you."
The size situation is something Wisley hears about often.
"I get joked about it," he said. "Some people say I shouldn't play because i'm too short, but it doesn't bother me. I get good support from my family."
He said he really doesn't know how he compensates for the vertical shortcoming. It would be a fact, not a joke, to say he tries to stay low.
IN ADDITION to the size factor, this year Wisley had to overcome being sent to the brown team. The brown team is for players who get a little sideways of Kennedy's requirements, and Wisley slipped up a little during the summer workout period. For that, he had to pay penance.
"You have to miss a certain amount of practices, and I wasn't here a lot in the summer," Wisley said.
The penance mostly amounted to extra up-downs or extra running.
The coming off-season should see Wisley more attentive to improved attendance.
DIXON DOING HIS PART
Senior Colton Dixon was a starter on the defensive line last year, but knee surgery has kept him on the sidelines this season.
Despite not being able to play, Dixon continues to show up at practice and do what he can. He helps out wherever needed, and that includes taking water bottles to the players during breaks.
It's a pretty impressive example of how to operate.
"I just love the sport and the team," Dixon explained. "Love being with my brothers (teammates)."
CULLEN FLYNN RETURNS
Another example of sticking to the plan is junior linebacker Cullen Flynn, who had earned a starting job in the pre-season.
But he suffered a concussion before the season started and just returned to actice duty last week. During recuperation he, too, continued to show up at practice and do what he could. He was a regular water carrier like Dixon.
Also back after extended time on the sidelines with a high ankle sprain is junior center-guard Tony Albanese.

Panthers travel to Whiteland for sectional opener

By Rex Kirts

South will travel to Whiteland for the sectional opener next week. The teams have never met on the football field.
Also in the upper bracket, Center Grove will host Columbus East. In the lower bracket, Bloomington North will host Martinsville, and Columbus North will host Decatur Central.

The beauty was in the win

By Rex Kirts

The beauty was in the win for South in Friday's 13-9 Conference Indiana triumph over Columbus North.
It was a strange football game with lots of mistakes on both sides. But South will certainly take that victory.
The Panthers will accept it gladly because it came against a long-time rival and a good football program. They will take it because it snapped a two-year losing streak on Fred Huff Memorial Field. They will take it because it was Senior Night.
The Panthers will take it because, while everything wasn't smooth, they did make some plays.
And they will take it because they needed it.
This season has been a struggle, as foreseen long ago. Yet those who have stuck with coach Kirk Kennedy's program have continued to work hard and improve. Beating Columbus validated the struggle.
THE WIN GIVES SOUTH a 2-6 overall record and 2-4 conference record going into next Friday's regular season finale at Perry Meridian (2-6, 2-4).
The game plodded along for three quarters and erupted in major happenings in the fourth, when the Panthers scored all their points and made it scary for themselves at the finish.
Big-play people for South included Lucas Franz, Trae Washington, Michael Bower, Matt Henderson and Nolan Rogers. Also, Franz, Henderson and Clayton Fiddler had fumble recoveries.
Bower reversed himself for an eight-yard touchdown run and 6-3 Panther lead with 8:57 left in the game. Drew Barlow had a tough night kicking, starting with missing the PAT.
On Columbus' next series quarterback Keenan Noel was stopped for no gain on fourth-and-one from the Bull Dog 29-yard line, but he bounced outside and ran 71 yards for a TD and 9-6 Columbus lead.
Noel is Columbus' backup quarterback, playing for the injured starter. Noel did a couple of nice things but also fumbled the ball away twice and was intercepted late in the game.
ONE OF THOSE FUMBLES set the Panthers up on their 49-yard line with 4:04 left. Offensive coordinator Pat Cannon called for a flanker reverse with a pass, and Washington delivered the ball to Franz. It was a knuckleball of a throw, and Franz had to come back and wait on it. He made a nice catch and then stiff-armed his way to a 51-yard TD and 13-9 lead with 3;52 left.
"We just came off a turnover and thought we'd go for a big play," Washington said. "Lucas made an awesome play to get it into the end zone."
"We ran the reverse earlier in the game (with Washington carrying for a 12-yard gain)," Franz said. "We thought they might come up on it, and they did." The defensive backs came up, and this enabled Franz to get 10 yards behind the coverage.
Bower and Rogers combined for South's next big play.
Bower, who led the rushing with 26 carries for 79 yards from quarterback, plays in the "star" back in the nickle defense. Noel passed over the middle, and Bower delivered a crushing blow to the receiver. A few years ago, Panthers who made big hits like that got to wear black jerseys at practice the following week.
"I WAS JUST HOPING we could get this for the seniors," Bower said. "Coach D (Dean Walendzak the defensive coordinator) kept reminding us of last year (when Columbus won big), so it was nice to get the revenge."
When Bower hit the receiver the ball popped into the air and into the hands of Rogers, who returned it about 25 yards to the Columbus six-yard line.
The Panthers couldn't get the ball in, and Barlow missed a 22-yard field goal.
Noel completed a long pass to theSouth 24-yard line, but Henderson intercepted a pass at the South 29 with 1:39 remaining.
"I was on my man, but I saw another guy coming underneath, and I just broke on it," said Henderson, a sophomore.
The Panthers couldn't run out the clock, however, and Columbus blocked a "field goal" try by Barlow, recovering at the South 17-yard line with 0:04 left.
Columbus had time for one play. The receiver got open in the end zone, but the pass was incomplete.
THERE WAS an awful lot crammed into the final four minutes of the game.
"It wasn't a thing of beauty," Kennedy said. "This football team is still alive. We made a lot of plays and got over the hump.
"Coach Walendzak had a good defensive plan, and coach Cannon (offensive coordinator Pat Cannon) did a good job of being patient."
One thing Kennedy wasn't happy with was the punt protection. The Panthers have had punts blocked before, and Franz almost had another blocked in this game before scrambling for a 11-yard gain and a first down.
Instead of punting the rest of the game, Kennedy had Barlow kicking from the field goal formation. In either case, the ball is live.
The field goal style worked until Columbus came right up the gut and blocked one with 0:04 left.
"There was a mental error," Kennedy said. He thought about giving up a safety on Barlow's last kick attempt but didn't want to chance it since the Panthers hadn't practiced the situation.
"Some crazy things happened," Kennedy said. "Our kids hung in there and won the game. There was some hitting going on out there. Who knows what this team is capable of?"

Columbus its usual strong challenge

By Rex Kirts

Columbus North rose from football mediocrity to become a force in southern Indiana when Tim Bless assumed the coaching job a few years ago, and one of the teams that's felt the Bull Dogs' wrath is South.
The long-time rivals meet again Friday night in a Conference Indiana battle, and the Panthers will need one of their best games to avoid the short end of the score again.
Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Fred Huff Field. It's Senior Night for the Panthers.
This is a chance for South to maybe escape the Conference Indiana cellar. The Panthers are 1-6 overall and 1-4 in the conference. Bloomington North is also 1-4 in the conference and travels to Southport.
IT'S ALSO A CHANCE to avoid becoming only the second Panther team since 1936 to win just one game in a year. The 1936 team, then Bloomington High, was 1-9.
The Panthers switched from Bloomington High to South in 1972, and there's never been back-to-back losing seasons since then. Last year's team was 3-7.
Columbus visits with a 5-2 record overall and 3-2 conference record.
"They have good size," South coach Kirk Kennedy said of Columbus. "Maybe they're not as what we've faced the last couple of weeks (Lawrence Central and Pike), but they make up for that in strength and physicality. They're well coached, have a good, solid program. They don't make mistakes and don't beat themselves."
Kennedy has seen too many Panther mistakes this season.
"THE KEY FOR US is not to turn the ball over and give up big plays defensively," he said. "We've got to get to the point where we're not beating ourselves."
The Panthers played better last week at Pike but ended up with a 22-0 defeat. Pike scored one of its touchdowns on a fumble return that pushed its halftime lead to 15-0. It's second-half TD came on a well-executed hurry-up offense featuring a lot of passing.
South put together a solid ground attack at Pike but couldn't push the ball in. The offense featured the running of tailbacks Trae Washington and Nolan Rogers and some second-half keepers by quarterback Michael Bower.
Kennedy emphasized tempo at practice last week, and he did it again this week.
"Practice is just dealing with people," he said. "It's the same routine, but it's always different."
PRACTICE ENDED TUESDAY with 17 40-yard sprints. Why 17? Because it honored the 17th birthday of junior jayvee lineman John Wisley.
The Panthers are in good shape and ran the 17 sprints well. Kennedy said he didn't know if the Panthers are over the hump or just getting used to things.
"In our good years (at Lowell) we never had a problem with staying fresh, never had a problem getting stale," Kennedy said. "Maybe that's because we knew we always had a chance."
The Panthers are practicing like they still have a chance, too.
"We haven't given up. We're still out there swinging," Kennedy said.

The work starting to pay off for Campbell

By Rex Kirts

All the hard work, from the clanging and banging of the weight room to the toil in the heat and dust of the practice field, are beginning to pay off for South senior linebacker Jon Campbell.
The improvement has been gradual. There were lessons to be learned because of the coaching change to Kikrk Kennedy's system, and Campbell came along to the point where he has been named a game captain for Friday's Conference Indiana matchup against Columbus North.

Jon Campbell

Friday is a chance for South to snap an unusual and perplexing losing streak. The Panthers haven't won a home game last season or this.
It won't be easy. Columbus has been too strong for South several times in recent years, including last year when the Panthers absorbed a terrible pounding in the rain at Columbus. The Panthers head into the game with a 1-6 record and 1-4 mark in the conference. Columbus is 5-2, 3-2.
"COLUMBUS IS pretty good,"said Campbell, 5-10, 180. "They're a physical team.
"We want to come back from last year. We want to show Columbus that wasn't the team we are. We're going to come out on our home field . . . it's Senior Night."
Campbell's strengths are his work ethic and enthusiasm.
"He gives you all he's got," Kennedy said. "He's a hard-working kid in the weight room and the practice field. You've got to respect a kid like that."
The Panthers have gone through difficult times this season, and those who remain on the 34-man roster are better than they were at the start of the year.
"I've stuck it through," Campbell said of ascending to the game captain's role. "I've tried to be vocal, and I always try to help out Sarpa (Alex, a captain and linebacker). I always check my notes every day at lunch with coach Dean (Walendzak, the defensive coordinator)."
Campbell is playing better now, Kennedy said. "He's starting to grasp the concepts of our defense now. Outside linebacker requires a lot of preparation and a lot of adjustment in the game."
LEARNING ALL HE CAN is important not only for Campbell now but for his future. He may become a coach, either in football or baseball.
"I'm there to do my job, do what the coaches say," Campbell said. "I'm just playing football - that's what matters to me."
Coaches say if teams don't improve each week they go backwards. Campbell is going forward, along with the team.
"I've tried to work hard week in and week out. I've tried to play smart," Campbell said. "It's hard going against a team that runs the iso one week and then play teams like Lawrence Central and Pike (which run the spread). You play inside against iso teams and then play all coverages against LC and Pike.
"Every week you learn more about football, just learning the game."
No pun intended, but linebackers can get stuck in the middle not recognizing if a play is a run or pass.
"YOU'RE IN ANOTHER WORLD at linebacker," Campbell said. "You're not thinking about anything but your assignment. First you've got to read the linemen, then if it's a pass or run.
"But you don't want to be thinking too much. That's where your study and instincts come in. It's fun - you've always got to have fun."
There are times when football Kennedy-style can be a little less fun and a lot more tail-busting. One of the things he knew was needed when he took the job was to make the Panthers tougher.
"Coach Kennedy is a great coach," Campbell said. "When it comes to the essence of football coach Kennedy gets it. There's been times he's kicked our butts, but at the end of the day you realize he's made a man out of you. His style of coaching is pure toughness.
"We're getting tougher and learning little things - the essence, the pure qualities, the nitty gritty of football."
The Panthers are playing the schedule one game at a time and not letting the past get in the way of the future.
"WE'RE NOT LOOKING at our record," Campbell said. "Every week we're 0-0.
"We're keeping positive and working hard, getting better. There's no quit and no deadness. We're trying to execute. Through all the struggles we've been through we're just trying to play football. We're definitely improving assignment-wise."
And Campbell echoeds a favorite Kennedy philosophy: "Let's do it right."
Next year Campbell plans to attend a small college and hopes to play football or baseball. He wants to study biology, and if he doesn't coach football or baseball he is considering being a strength coach in college.
"I want to be in athletics for my career. I want to be a mentor and lead young athletes," he said.
So far Campbell is looking at attending Indiana State, Hillsdale, Wabash, Hanover, Denison and Kenyon.

Anthony Thompson tries to rally Panthers

By Rex Kirts

Anthony Thompson, a college Hall of Famer for his career at Indiana, tried to rally the Panthers in a recent talk to the team.
Thompson, who works at IU and is the paster of Lighthouse Church, is familiar with the Panther football team from his playing days at Terre Haute North. The teams met in a driving rain in the tournament, and the Panthers rallied from a 21-0 halftime deficit to win. They didn't quite hold Thompson down that night, however, as he rushed for over 190 yards.
"You at Bloomington South have a rich tradition," Thompson told the Panthers.
Thompson had many big games for Indiana and finished his career as the then all-time leading NCAA career touchdown scorer. But he still has fond memories of his high school career.
"My most memorable games were in high school - the Friday night lights," Thompson said. "There's nothing like it.
"I CHALLENGE THE SENIORS on this team to have no regrets. Are you seniors making the underclassmen better?"
He said he never wanted to be out-worked and challenged the Panthers to work hard. "If you seniors do that you will bring everybody to the top. Everybody in this room believes that you can turn this thing around. You need to get better every day. Hard work always pays off."
And, he added, "The more success I had the harder I worked. When I read about Walter Payton's (his idol) work ethic that's when it started to turn around for me."
Thompson was famous for the work he did outside of team requirements.
"When you demand more of yourself than what the coaches do, that's when you get better," he said. "You guys have to dig deeper."

Play improves, but Panthers still short

By Rex Kirts

Going on the road to take on a tough Conference Indiana opponent like Pike is good challenge, and South competed better than it has in some games this season.
But the Panthers still came up short, 22-0, to fall to 1-6 overall and 1-5 in the conference.
They've got two chances to build a winning momentum before the sectional, hosting Columbus North this week and traveling to Perry Meridian for the final regular season game. Both games, of course, will be difficult challenges for a team that has struggled to put the pieces together.
At Pike, the Panthers moved the ball decently on the ground but couldn't bust enough big gainers against the swift Red Devils (5-2, 4-1). The passing game was minimal, except for a 43-yard strike to the Pike 22 late in the third quarter. The defense held a few times despite a few tackling problems.
THE END ZONE was elusive, in large part because the Panthers constantly started drives deep in their own territory. They started one drive at their 39-yard line, but the rest were from their 24 or worse.
"Field position was a factor," coach Kirk Kennedy said. "Their kicking game was outstanding."
He liked it that the Panthers played hard throughout, but he didn't like the mistakes. The feeling was the same Saturday morning after he watched the tape.
"We had a loat of critical mistakes, but I can't fault our kids' effort. We established some drives, made some stops. So in the big picture the effort was better."
The Panthers had 11 first downs and 191 total yards while Pike had 16 and 265.
Pike, however, had the luxury of picking up a fumble by quarterback Michael Bower and returning it 51 yards for a touchdown and 15-0 halftime lead
Pike also had an effective passing game with 19 completions in 28 attempts for 193 yards.
Pike's first play from scrimmage, though, was a bomb that sophomore safety Nolan Rogers intercepted.
ROGERS AND JUNIOR TRAE WASHINGTON led the South rushing game. Washington carried 17 times for 58 yards and Rogers 12 for 45. Bower added 40 net yards in 13 carries, gaining a few yards on keepers around end in the second half.
It was Washington's season-high in carries, and he managed several extra yards after first contact.
"It was kind of new," Washington said of all the carries. "The whole line was blocking - I had holes. It was fun."
Unable to get receivers open and a passing game going or gaining ground outside with the rush, Kennedy admitted the Panthers "didn't have a lot of wiggle room" offensively.
The inside running game was productive, however. "We moved the ball some, did some things that were positive," Kennedy said.
Offensive highlights included drives of 32, 47 and 61 yards.