Panthers reload for hopeful 2020 campaign

BLAIRSVILLE — Brian Allison said last year that playoff wins or losses do not define a program. 

That comment, of course, came before the Panthers’ Class 2A first-round playoff home game against South Atlanta in 2019. 

In six previous tries, the Panthers fell short of what was an elusive first-ever playoff win. But in 2019, Allison, Union County's long-time coach, and alumni, along with his team, erased the 62-year program curse with a thrilling 19-15 win over South Atlanta in the first round of the playoffs.

“For me, going back to 2001, we got beat by Morgan County and had a chance in that game to advance to the second round,” Allison said. “We were excited to get that win (over South Atlanta), get 10 wins in a season. We were just fortunate and blessed last year.”

But after a gut-wrenching 14-7 loss to Metter in the second round of the Class 2A playoffs, Allison walked off the field knowing how much talent would not return in 2020. 

Quarterback Pierson Allison, who passed for 2,954 yards and 28 touchdowns and led Class 2A, his main target Sawyer Drake (1,253 yards, 10 touchdowns), second-leading receiver Kyle Morlock (591 yards, 6 touchdowns) and fourth-leading receiver Cayden Rich (355 yards, 4 touchdowns) all graduated, leaving some massive holes to fill. 

There is some good news, however. Leading rusher Jonah Daniel, who played with a torn labrum most of the season, somehow found a way to churn out 1,570 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2019. 

“What a lot of people didn’t know is Jonah played the entire year with a torn labrum,” Allison said. “We had to protect him in practice and didn’t get to play him at linebacker as much as we wanted. He’s a pure football player, though. His instinct is as good as I’ve ever seen.”

Overall, the Panthers will look to fill several positions, especially in the trenches and at wide receiver. Right now, Mason McCombs, the Panthers' third-leading receiver in 2019 (435 yards, 6 touchdowns) is the only starter returning at the position. Also mixed in will be junior Dalton Allen. Allen saw limited time last season.  

“We’re in a situation where we have some good players coming back,” Allison said. “We will count on some guys that didn’t get a lot of playing time to step up and do the job and fill in the best they can.”

Finding some dependable guys upfront will be a key again this season as senior Aaron Helton and Nathan Brooks are he only starters back on the O-line.  Allison said juniors Tyler McBride and Hunter Payne and freshman Noah Helton are candidates right now.

But replacing the main cog in the offense, quarterback Pierson Allison, will be key for the coaching staff. Right now, junior Logan Helcher is next in line to take the job. 

Helcher played the position in three games last season, completing 24 of 39 attempts for 335 yards and three touchdowns. 

“Logan is a great young man,” Allison said. “He’s been patiently waiting for his turn. He’s been there behind Pierson getting the reps when he didn’t get the reps. We are expecting Logan to step in there and do some really good things. He has a strong arm, but he just lacks experience in game situations. We’re excited about Logan.” 

On defense, the Panthers return the most production at linebacker in seniors Noah Underwood (82 tkls) and Clayton Lester (69 tkls). The two combined for 151 tackles last season. But Allison will seek replacements for leading tacklers John Mancuso, Zion Ross, Sloan Sutton and Nathaniel Ledford. That group combined for 276 tackles in 2019. 

Senior Kastin Hemphill will be key in the Panther secondary as well as senior JJ Little and junior Trace Wright at cornerback.  

The Panthers will open the season with six non-region games, highlighted by a home game against arch-rival Fanning County, a road trip to Class A powerhouse Commerce and a home matchup against Class 4A Chestatee. 

With the news of Riverside Military Academy dropping its fall sports program due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the only playoff battle will be for seeding. The remaining four teams – defending champion Rabun, Elbert County, Banks County and Union – will all qualify for the playoffs regardless of record. 

Allison said that does take some pressure off early but doesn’t change the mindset. 

"It’s going to be different for sure,” he said. “But it’s always been my philosophy that we’re going to win every ball game that we play. It does take some pressure off of us to be as good as we can be early, but we can’t mess around in October and November. That’s when we need to start to peak and be playing our best.”