Ridgeland Panthers

The Chattanooga Times Free Press. Ridgeland's Markeith Montgomery runs the ball during a summer football camp at North Murray High School on Wednesday, July 8, 2015.
The Chattanooga Times Free Press. Ridgeland's Markeith Montgomery runs the ball during a summer football camp at North Murray High School on Wednesday, July 8, 2015.
photo Markeith Montgomery is part of a talented group of Ridgeland skill position players at new coach Wesley Tankersley's disposal.

Pedal to the metal

When asked in early July to talk about his team, Wesley Tankersley paused in deep thought.

The first-year Ridgeland coach wanted to answer the rather generic question, but as the Panthers have found out quickly, their new head man is quite meticulous.

"We've learned we've got some speed and some physicalness," he said. "We're still so early now in our evaluation process. Obviously, there will be some tinkering over the next few months as we get everybody in their proper place.

"Above all, their work ethic has been really good, which isn't surprising, but I just didn't know about it."

And therein lies the key to playing football for Tankersley: effort. The former Gilmer coach led the Bobcats to four playoff seasons in seven years after the program endured a 10-year postseason drought. His teams were known for their physical play, and it's a trait that may help the Panthers answer their biggest questions heading into the season.

"The offensive and defensive lines are the big questions for us," Tankersley said. "We know we have speed and the skill-position guys, but the games are going to be won and lost in the trenches. We've got to make sure those lines are going to be physical and tough."

There are few knowns up front, with the exception of 6-foot-4, 285-pound senior two-way tackle Will Boydston, so players such as Tristin Bethune, Justin Allen and Jeremiah Conyers will get their shot to earn playing time.

"We've had a very competitive summer, and that will carry over to the season," Tankersley said within earshot of his team following a camp workout. "As long as we compete, we're going to be OK."

- Capsule by Lindsey Young; contact at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or follow on Twitter: @YoungSports22

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RIDGELAND PANTHERSRegion 7-AAAABowers & Painter Field, 2478 Happy Valley Road, Rossville, GA 30741Driver’s seat: Wesley Tankersley (first year here; 42-32 in seven years overall)Road tested: 5 offensive, 3 defensive starters return

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Route ’15: There’s a lot of excitement in Rossville as the Tankersley era opens. The Panthers have talent, though much of it is young, and they have numbers (more than 100 10th-12th graders on the roster) to contend in what should be a very balanced and wide-open region beyond overwhelming favorite Cartersville.

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Taking the wheel: Tankersley hopes to install a more balanced version of the wing-T offense, which makes finding a starting quarterback a priority. When training camp opened, last year’s starter Ivy Boehm, sophomore Jalyn Shelton and freshman Tanner Hill were the leading candidates.

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Cruise control: The Panthers are hungry to get back in the playoff hunt after winning just seven games combined over the past two years. To do so, they will lean heavily on a talented group of backs, led by FBs Cadarius Word and Chris Henderson and WBs Markeith Montgomery and Jerome Morgan.

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Pump the brakes: With only three starters returning, the defense is an obvious work in progress and likely will include more two-way players than Tankersley would want in the team’s 3-4 alignment. Montgomery, a ball-hawking cornerback, Morgan, Henderson, Will Boydston and Luke Edwards probably will get a lot of two-way play. Can they hold up?

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Backseat driver: A rival coach said of the Panthers, “They’re going to be a little more physical than they were in the past, based on what Coach Tankersley did at Gilmer County. He brings a very physical running offense to them, and with the athletes they have, they have a very good chance to be good.”

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Rearview2014 game resultsAug. 22;Adairsville;lost, 28-14Aug. 29;Chattooga;won, 35-7Sep. 12;Dade County;won, 17-0Sep. 26;Pickens;won, 35-28Oct. 3;Gilmer;lost, 21-7Oct. 10;Cartersville;lost, 40-6Oct. 17;Heritage;lost, 31-16Oct. 24;Northwest Whitfield;lost, 41-30Oct. 31;Southeast Whitfield;lost, 37-20Nov. 7;LaFayette;won, 49-134-6, 2-5 in Region 7-AAAA

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On the horizon2015 schedule (all times 7:30)Aug. 21;AdairsvilleAug. 28;ChattoogaSep. 11;at Dade CountySep. 25;PickensOct. 2;at GilmerOct. 9;CartersvilleOct. 16;at HeritageOct. 23;at Northwest WhitfieldOct. 30;Southeast WhitfieldNov. 6;at LaFayetteRegion 7-AAAA games in bold

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