by Sam McGaw
It’s back to the drawing board for the Franklin Road Academy Panthers.
On the heels of their best season since 1991, the Panthers return to the gridiron with several positions to fill on both sides of the ball.
Despite the youth and inexperience, FRA head coach Bill Whittemore said he expects his team to pick up where it left off after closing last season with an 11-1 record and a second-round finish in the Division II-A playoffs.
“We have a lot of uncertainty in positions,” he stated. “However, I like the chemistry and we have a lot of guys that are hungry to build on what we have started.”
Panthers’ Offense
FRA had one of the most high-powered offenses in Division II-A last season, averaging 37.9 points per game.
Replicating that success won’t be easy, as the Panthers have to replace several of their top playmakers from a year ago. Among those gone are quarterback Spence Jones (1,059 pass yds, 342 rush yds, 19 total TDs) and running backs Sam Harvin (964 rush yds, 384 rec. yds, 18 TDs) and Larry Wilhoite (824 rush yds, 207 rec. yds, 12 TDs).
Junior Eric Stoxstill-Digs (6-2, 185 lbs) will take over for Jones (Liberty University) at quarterback in the wing-bone offense.
Some of the top weapons surrounding him include running backs Adrian Roper (5-10, 190 lbs) and Canaan Catlett (6-0, 200), as well as wide receiver Lance Wilhoite (6-3, 180).
Wilhoite caught 14 passes for 179 yards and one touchdown as a freshman last season. He’s fielding scholarship offers from Tennessee, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, South Florida and others.
Sophomore Adonis Otey, a transfer from Blackman High, is another weapon on offense that’s receiving a lot of attention from colleges.
He’s earned offers from Tennessee, LSU, Kentucky and Vanderbilt.
Sophomores Walker Palmerton (5-10, 170 lbs) and J Ross (5-10, 185 lbs) are expected to contribute at running back.
Senior Jack Doherty (6-5, 270 lbs) and sophomore Watson Tansil (6-2, 205) will line up at tight end.
Seniors Christian Drake (6-0, 210 lbs) and Hale Williamson (6-2, 240 lbs) are returning starters on the offensive line, and sophomore Tymon Mitchell (6-3, 245 lbs) is also expected to start.
Panthers’ Defense
With such a small roster size, many of FRA’s players are forced to play both ways.
Doherty is the only returning starter up front in FRA’s 3-4 scheme.
He racked up 36 tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery at defensive end last season.
Williamson (10 tkls) and Mitchell (11 tkls) are expected to join him in the trenches.
Tansil and Drake (10 tkls) will set the edge at outside linebacker, and Roper and Ross (8 tkls) will play inside.
Roper had a team-high 77 tackles last season, while Tansil recorded 42 tackles and one fumble recovery.
Wilhoite, Catlett, Stoxstill-Diggs, Otey and Palmerton are in line to start in the secondary.
Wilhoite had 34 tackles, one interception and one forced fumble last season, while Catlett recorded 25 tackles, one sack and one fumble recovery. Stoxstill-Diggs added 18 tackles.
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