Fairbanks High School head football coach Patrick Cotter (right) discusses film study with several of the Panther players. FHS is set for a preseason scrimmage today at North Union. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
Fairbanks High School’s football team will see live action against another school today.
The Panthers will make the short trek to Richwood and scrimmage North Union at 10 a.m.
Fairbanks has been in preseason practice mode since Monday.
“We’ve seen a lot of learning from all the guys,” said head coach Patrick Cotter. “We’ve got a couple new coaches on the staff and several others have switched positions.
“The guys have really adapted to the changes.”
Newcomers to the FHS grid staff include former Panther standouts Stephen DeRoads and Jack Iannarino.
DeRoads will help coach defensive backs, while Iannarino will guide the linebackers.
Veteran assistants have switched their areas of responsibility.
Dave Gebhart (a former Fairbanks head coach) will move from running backs to defensive backs, Jarrod Mayne will make the switch from offensive to defensive line and Keenan Chapman will go to the D line from defensive backs.
“We’re building from day-to-day,” said Cotter. “Our seniors, such as Joe Kinsey, Riordin Stauffer, Tanner Ufferman and Jake Stewart are great leaders.
“They are helping the younger guys learn,” said the coach. “It’s a good thing when you’ve got players coaching other players.”
Cotter said his team is set for a physical battle against the Wildcats.
“North Union is very physical,” he said. “We have to match them with that type of play.”
The Panther boss said he is looking for growth from his team during preseason action.
“This is going to be our first competition against another team,” said Cotter.
“It’s going to be what coach Coach (former Marysville boss Rich) Weiskircher said,” he added. “We’re going to see the ‘good, bad and ugly.’
“We’re going to want to build on the good, correct the bad and eliminate the ugly.”
Practice days find the Panthers on the field early in the morning, where sessions are taped.
That is followed by film study and then additional work on the field.
The coach said film study helps players see what went right and what needs to be corrected during practice sessions.
“Film study has an incredible impact,” said Cotter. “That’s especially important this year since we’ve lost a week of practice and one scrimmage.”
Those losses are due to the fact the Ohio High School Athletic Association has expanded the post-season playoffs.
Each team is starting the regular season a week early in order to fit the playoffs into a window.
It will enable the state championship games to be held the first weekend in December.
Cotter said the changes to the season aren’t that much of a problem.
“We’re all in the same boat and it’s across the board,” he said.”
Preseason practices are following a recently-completed two-week camp.
Cotter said the Panthers didn’t do a great deal of activity during the summer months.
“We did expand our summer weightlifting by a half-hour each day,” he said. “We also did some skill work leading up to our camp.
“However, I still feel that kids need to be kids during the summer.”
The Panthers will conclude the preseason with a Jamboree scrimmage on Friday (7 p.m.) at Jonathan Alder.