Panthers, E-T Prepare for Big Friday Tests
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Mistakes on offense have cost the Pinckneyville Panthers dearly
throughout the first two games of the 2008 football season, and now it is
the injury bug that is biting them heading into week three.
Just a couple of plays into last Friday's home opener against West
Frankfort, RB/DB Ben Harriss was down on the field with a dislocated elbow.
"It looks good, it's back in place, no bone damage of any kind," said
Panthers' head coach Tod Rushing. "He's seeing the orthopedic doctor
tomorrow, (he could be out) anywhere from another week to the whole season
."
The Panthers were hoping Harriss would lay claim to a role in the
backfield, but he was injured in the 7-0 loss before Pinckneyville's offense
even had the chance to hand him the ball.
"We had a couple of new things we put in for him, and those just
dissappeared before their eyes," said Rushing.
As if missing one crucial starter wasn't enough, the Panthers may be
without quarterback Nathan Morton as well.
"I don't think (he will play)," said Rushing, adding "his leg has been
bothering him, he just can't seem to get loosened up."
Cody Smith (5'9", 165, Jr.) would start in Morton's place if he is
unable to go.
Smith would inherit an offense that has had trouble holding onto the
football, with crucial turnovers late in both of their games thus far.
"It's like free throw shooting," said Rushing. "If you keep talking
about it, it becomes a mental thing. We want do the drills, work on the
fundamentals, but not get them to where they're thinking about it all the
time."
Despite the struggles on one side of the ball, Pinckneyville's defense
has played outstanding, and has kept them well within striking distance in
both contests.
"They're playing pretty well, and looked even better this week," said
Rushing. "Benton is going to be a bigger challenge, they've got more weapons
than what we've seen so far."
Benton (1-1) has faced off against two S.I.R.R. Conference Mississippi
Division teams in 2008 already, manhandling Sparta last week, but falling in
a close game against Nashville in the opening week of the season.
The Panthers will begin conference play next week, and would like to do
so with a tally already in the win column.
"We need a win," said Rushing, adding "we need to see if we can improve
and start to progress on offense and put some points on the board."
E-T HITS THE ROAD
Elverado-Trico (0-2, 0-2) hits the road for a stiff test in Johnston
City (1-1, 1-1) Friday.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Ralph Davison Field as E-T seeks a repeat
of its only victory during 2007.
E-T has lost to Fairfield (55-0) and Eldorado (41-0) in its first two
outings of the season.
Johnston City defeated Carmi-White County (12-0) and then fell 15-14 to
Christopher/Zeigler-Royalton last week.
Mistakes on offense have cost the Pinckneyville Panthers dearly
throughout the first two games of the 2008 football season, and now it is
the injury bug that is biting them heading into week three.
Just a couple of plays into last Friday's home opener against West
Frankfort, RB/DB Ben Harriss was down on the field with a dislocated elbow.
"It looks good, it's back in place, no bone damage of any kind," said
Panthers' head coach Tod Rushing. "He's seeing the orthopedic doctor
tomorrow, (he could be out) anywhere from another week to the whole season
."
The Panthers were hoping Harriss would lay claim to a role in the
backfield, but he was injured in the 7-0 loss before Pinckneyville's offense
even had the chance to hand him the ball.
"We had a couple of new things we put in for him, and those just
dissappeared before their eyes," said Rushing.
As if missing one crucial starter wasn't enough, the Panthers may be
without quarterback Nathan Morton as well.
"I don't think (he will play)," said Rushing, adding "his leg has been
bothering him, he just can't seem to get loosened up."
Cody Smith (5'9", 165, Jr.) would start in Morton's place if he is
unable to go.
Smith would inherit an offense that has had trouble holding onto the
football, with crucial turnovers late in both of their games thus far.
"It's like free throw shooting," said Rushing. "If you keep talking
about it, it becomes a mental thing. We want do the drills, work on the
fundamentals, but not get them to where they're thinking about it all the
time."
Despite the struggles on one side of the ball, Pinckneyville's defense
has played outstanding, and has kept them well within striking distance in
both contests.
"They're playing pretty well, and looked even better this week," said
Rushing. "Benton is going to be a bigger challenge, they've got more weapons
than what we've seen so far."
Benton (1-1) has faced off against two S.I.R.R. Conference Mississippi
Division teams in 2008 already, manhandling Sparta last week, but falling in
a close game against Nashville in the opening week of the season.
The Panthers will begin conference play next week, and would like to do
so with a tally already in the win column.
"We need a win," said Rushing, adding "we need to see if we can improve
and start to progress on offense and put some points on the board."
E-T HITS THE ROAD
Elverado-Trico (0-2, 0-2) hits the road for a stiff test in Johnston
City (1-1, 1-1) Friday.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Ralph Davison Field as E-T seeks a repeat
of its only victory during 2007.
E-T has lost to Fairfield (55-0) and Eldorado (41-0) in its first two
outings of the season.
Johnston City defeated Carmi-White County (12-0) and then fell 15-14 to
Christopher/Zeigler-Royalton last week.