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BRAINERD PANTHERSRegion 3-2A1020 North Moore Road, Chattanooga, TN 37411Driver’s seat: Brian Gwyn (6-14 in third year here and overall)Road tested: 4 offensive, 4 defensive starters return
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Pump the brakesThe 2014 Panthers had six players sign college scholarships, but the quartet of Marcus McMillan, Alex Heard, Kaylen Stewart and Brian Montgomery were the nucleus of the team.
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Route ’15For his Panthers to get an idea of what is ahead of them, Gwyn arranged for 11 of them to attend a camp at Alabama. It was, he said, a chance for them to compete against players who are ranked regionally and nationally and to see how those guys look, perform and conduct themselves. It could be important as Brainerd enters 3-2A competition.
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Taking the wheelBrainerd has 40 players — freshmen through seniors — and a couple of youngsters they’ll rely on are sophomore linebackers Danarius Smith and Jadarius Stallworth.
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Cruise controlThough none were full-time starters, they are seniors and Gwyn said DT Caselle Whiteside, WR/DB Maleek Beavers, RB Robert Evans and two-way L Gequan Landmon will have to lead the way.
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Backseat driverAn opposing coach said, “Mega athletes. They have the kind of kids that can turn a game around on one play whether it’s a fumble recovery, a return or a long gainer.”
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Rearview2014 resultsAug. 22;at Ooltewah;lost, 58-12Aug. 29;at Ensworth;lost, 55-7Sep. 5;Red Bank;lost, 21-7Sep. 12;at Baylor;lost, 41-13Sep. 19;at East Ridge;won, 29-28Sep. 26;Austin-East;lost, 21-27Oct. 3;at Howard;won, 53-0Oct. 10;Central;lost, 37-12Oct. 17;at Tyner;won, 33-24Oct. 31;at Hixson;lost, 19-03-7; 3-3 District 6-AA
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On the horizon2015 schedule (all times 7:30 unless noted)Aug. 21;at Chattanooga ChristianAug. 28;East Ridge, 7Sep. 4;Boyd-Buchanan, 7Sep. 11;openSep. 18;at Marion County, 8Sep. 25;at BaylorOct. 2;Meigs County, 7Oct. 9;at Polk CountyOct. 16;Silverdale Baptist, 7Oct. 23;Bledsoe County, 8Oct. 30;TynerRegion 3-2A games in bold
Pedal to the metal
Junior Jamaul Herman knows - has learned the hard way - what it takes to play football at Brainerd.
One has to be dedicated and one has to realize there probably are going to be more players dressed out on the opposite side of the field.
Of the players he saw at the Region 3-2A media day, Herman, a tight end and defensive end, said, "They look big and strong."
It's the same for the new region the Panthers are entering.
"I'm familiar with Tyner and I know Marion County went to the state finals, but I don't know much about Boyd-Buchanan, Silverdale (Baptist Academy) or Meigs (County)," he said.
He later heard that Boyd-Buchanan and Meigs also had been to state championship games, yet he spoke of the pride within the program at Brainerd and the qualities that help make a Panther.
"Here, there has always been a lot of pride in the program, and here you to have to be fast and you have to have a football mentality," he said.
About two dozen of this year's 40 Panthers played last year, and a dozen of the group attended camp this summer at Alabama. Coach Brian Gwyn said it was important for his players to get a look at some of the best prospects so they could compare and see what it takes to be a really good high school player.
Herman, a nephew of Tim Benford, the ex-Red Bank star now with the Dallas Cowboys, could wind up among those top college prospects.
"He has some schools interested, but it will play out this year how much interest they have," Gwyn said. "Jamaul is a good kid. He'll help us out on offense at tight end, but he'll also play some defensive end and defensive tackle."
Capsule by Ward Gossett; contact wgossett@timesfreepress.com or follow on Twitter: @wardgossett.