Panther quarterback Ethan Kise looks downfield for a receiver during last week’s game at Fort Recovery. FHS will wrap up the 2020 season at home tonight against Grove City Christian. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
The shortened regular-season, in which everybody made the state playoffs, will come to an end for the Fairbanks Panthers tonight.
FHS (4-3), which fell at Fort Recovery during the Division VI post-season last Saturday, has scheduled one final home game this week against Grove City Christian (4-3).
Teams were permitted to schedule games after playoff elimination, as long as their campaign didn’t go beyond 10 games.
Panther officials had contacted more than 30 teams before finally reaching an agreement with the Eagles.
Grove City Christian runs a spread offense and prefers to keep the pigskin on the ground.
Tailback Christian Lautenschleger is described by Fairbanks head coach Patrick Cotter as a “shifty runner.”
A four-year letterman, Lautenschleger rushed for 1,021 yards on 132 carries during the regular season.
Quarterback Jayden Hanks is also an elusive runner and has a decent arm when the Eagles face passing situations.
“He can get the ball out into the flat when he needs to,” said Cotter.
“We have to make sure we get downhill and don’t get bumped off our coverages,” he said. “Grove City Christian’s offense is a little like ours, so we will be ready for it.”
The Eagles will employ a 44 defense with man and cover 3 defenses in the secondary.
“They will blitz a little bit,” said Cotter, “and from what we’ve seen, they are better at stopping the ground game than they are the pass.”
While the Eagles’ defense is geared toward stopping the run, that is what the Panther offense wants to establish.
The Panthers haven’t had much time to prepare for the contest.
“We learned Monday evening we were going to play,” said Cotter. “We’ve watched as much film as we can in a very short period of time.
“We’re going to go with what we do the best, which is running the football,” said Cotter. “The guys have been taught to react to whatever the defense gives us, so I think we’ll be OK.
“Our plan is as always…. to stay on schedule and rock and roll.
“Friday is going to be a time to just play and have some fun,” he said. “That’s the best kind of football.”