SALE CREEK PANTHERS
Head coach: Ron Cox (6-44 in five years here and overall)
Returning starters: 6 offensive, 6 defensive
Key players: WB/CB Chase Burton (5-11, 160), TB/SS Cody Defore (6-0, 170), QB/LB Tanner Harvey (6-0, 215), OG/DE Kaleb Penny (5-9, 240), WR/FS Hunter Storey (6-1, 180).
Team strengths: This looks to be the best combination of linemen and skill players the team has had in the program's six seasons of existence. Said Cox: "Our linemen are stronger and quicker, and we are solid across the board with backs and receivers."
Team concerns: As is the case with most small-school teams, depth is the biggest headache. The Panthers have just 30 players on their roster, and the backups at several positions have no varsity game experience.
Newcomers to watch: Storey brings speed and good hands to the receiver position and has shown the ability to catch the ball in traffic. Although Burton isn't new, his position is to him. The junior is the team's most explosive player, and after playing receiver last year, he has been moved to wingback to allow him to get the ball more often.
Season outlook: The memory of coming up just seven points shy of potentially reaching the playoffs for the first time in program history has driven a large group of returning starters through the offseason. The Panthers nearly doubled Copper Basin in total yards, but turnovers and crucial mistakes cost them in a 7-0 loss last year.
"Our guys know we were right there, just seven points short," Cox said. "We ran up and down the field on Copper Basin and beat them everywhere but on the scoreboard.
"This is the best team overall we've ever started a season with. We've got experience and we're stronger and have a real good class of eight seniors who have played together a lot. You add them and an awesome sophomore class, and we believe we finally have players with experience and the ability to compete."
Among the talented group of 11 sophomores, four will start on the offensive line and two others in skill positions, and another pair will get plenty of playing time.
Having Harvey back at quarterback and Storey to throw to will help open up the offense, while fellow senior Defore has moved to tailback so he can have the ball in his hands more. He's a physical runner who's expected to become the team's primary offensive weapon.
"Our main goal is to be .500 or better," Cox added. "We want to say we're the first winning football team here and make the playoffs. It's something that we can do. We've come a long way in five years, and we're ready to take that next step."