Panthers Set to Kick-off Season Thursday Night

After back to back 1-8 seasons, Stockbridge football coach Jeremy Killinger hopes a close-knit group of seniors can do that in 2019 for the Panthers.

Killinger returning for his 18th season at the helm of the Panthers will have an experienced returning group of 16 seniors to help bring Stockbridge back into a playoff contender like the teams that qualified for the state playoffs for three straight years in 2014-2016.

Stockbridge Football Coach Jeremy Killinger returns for his 18th season at the helm of the Panthers.

Two key returning seniors are Brandon Nelson and offensive/defensive lineman Tylin Ayers.

Nelson is a three-year starter that will have experienced wide receivers and backfield on the offensive side of the ball.

Senior quarterback Brandon Nelson will be taking snaps for the third straight year for the Panthers

Returning senior Brad Niec will be one of Nelson’s favorite targets along with Hunter Thayer and newcomer Noah Robidou.

The backfield will be anchored by seniors Cody Freiermuth and Josh Lewis. Freiermuth (5’9, 140) will be the speed back for the Panthers, while Lewis (6’1, 183) will compliment him with the power game.

The offensive line will be led by Ayers, but a lot of questions will need to be answered after that due to graduation of last years line.

Sophomore Dom Hamlett (5’10, 255) and senior Michael Keeler (6’1, 255)  will help fill the void in two spots, but the Panthers will need other to step in to give Nelson and the rest of the offense time to move down the field.

The big question as in years past will be the Panthers defense.

Even during their record-setting offensive of 2014-16, the Panthers defense could not keep the other teams out of the endzone and if things are going to turn around for the Panthers the defense will have to make some plays. The defense gave up a school-record 441 points in 2018.

A good start will be with Ayers on the defensive line. He earned Division 6 All-State Honors in 2018 and will be a force to be dealt with again this season.

Senior Tylin Ayers earned D-6 All-State Honors in 2018. He will try to help turn the Panther defense around this season.

Lewis and senior Lucas Gauss will anchor the linebacking core for the Panthers Along with newcomers Micah Beauregard and Jeremy Pilch, they will have size and speed to help try to slow the opposing offense down.

Keeler returns to the d-line and Hamlett will also see some time in the trenches.

Freiermuth and newcomer Riley Kennedy will lead the defensive backfield.

They will not have time to ease into things as two of their first three games are against playoff qualifiers.

Stockbridge will open at Grass Lake Thursday night at 7:00. They then travel to Dundee, who just missed the playoffs at 5-4. They then host GLAC power Olivet in the home opener September 13.

The Panthers schedule had some big changes in 2019. GLAC member Maple Valley decided to play 8-man football leaving another opening in the schedule.

Petersburg-Summerfield will take the Lions spot in week four and will also be the Homecoming Game for 2019 September 20.

The last two games of the season also saw changes as in week eight the Panthers will make a long trek to play Wyoming Lee.

They will then wrap up the regular season by taking on Owosso.

While the playoffs might be a long-shot for the Panthers, if they can stay away from injuries and the defense can slow down the opposing offense’s then a near .500 record for the Panthers this season could be reachable.