PREP FOOTBALL: Panthers hope their ground game gets a passing grade (08/27)

By NATHANIEL BRYAN nbryan@thenewsenterprise.com ELIZABETHTOWN — With two of the area’s most prolific receivers coming back and a three-sport quarterback leading an offense he ran – and ran well – in middle school, the Elizabethtown Panthers know their passing game should be strong. But heading into Friday night’s showdown with Bardstown Bethlehem in the R-Cubed Printing Bowl at Central Hardin’s Bruin Field, the Panthers are hoping their ground attack gets a passing grade as well. “We definitely want to be a more physical team this year,” second-year Elizabethtown coach Brad Todd said before practice Tuesday afternoon. Statistics alone show the Panthers weren’t very physical last year, running the ball at least. Through the air, Elizabethtown was outstanding and had more passing yards (3,036) than two area teams had total offensive yards. But Elizabethtown averaged just 104.9 rushing yards per game during last year’s regular season, which was second worse in the seven-team area and better than only Fort Knox, which managed just 63.1 rushing yards per game. “I think sometimes with our type of offense, you can get too passive with what you do,” Todd said. Getting the ground game to change from passive to active starts with senior fullback Cody Withers. A three-year starter who saw spot minutes as a freshman, Withers has had problems staying healthy for a full season. Still, he managed to scored eight touchdowns and run for 409 yards through 69 attempts last season. Standing 5-foot-8 and weighing 214 pounds, Withers can be a load to bring down. Only he wants to lighten that load to say 205 or even 200 pounds. “If I’m lighter, I’ll be able to move on my feet quicker,” Withers said. Senior quarterback Micheal Thomas remembers what a healthy, light-footed Withers was capable of during their middle-school days at T.K. Stone. “He looked phenomenal (in last week’s scrimmage) against Breck (Breckinridge County). When he got it, he found the hole and he did what he needed to do. Him staying healthy is a big key for us,” Thomas said. “He looks like the old Cody Withers out there. If there’s not a hole, he’ll try to find one or he’ll just make one himself.” Withers is more than just a bruising ball carrier, but that’s what he’s become known for. “Cody’s got a really good set of hands. He can catch,” Todd said. “But he’s just that physical runner, too. He can break a lot of tackles that other runners, can’t.” Withers is just one-third of the Panthers’ running puzzle as Todd is also expecting big things out of 5-7, 168-pound junior Titus Sublett and 5-10, 170-pound junior Edmund Allen. Allen transferred from a school in Texas and didn’t play for Elizabethtown last season. But he was able to compete in the spring track and field season, helping the Panthers to the Class 2-A, Region 2 title with his 11.98-second speed in the 100-meter dash and his 24.56 time in the 200. Sublett is coming off a strong sophomore campaign and will be used everywhere from running back to receiver to returner to linebacker to defensive back. “They (Allen and Sublett) both fit in well back there,” Thomas said. “Titus is our offensive utility player because we can move him anywhere. He’s like having a second quarterback on the field. And Edmund’s doing great and he’s fitting in well.” With a shifty complement in Sublett and a burner in Allen, Withers hopes the Panthers’ running game can be effective enough to keep defenses from sitting on the pass and even take over as the prime threat if called upon. “Everyone (we play) is going to want to defend the pass,” he said. “We have to be able to run the ball in order to keep them (opposing defenses) disciplined and on their toes.” Nathaniel Bryan can be reached at 505-1758