Friday, May. 09, 2008
Ridge rebuilding with spring
By BRYCE NIEMAN
The Panthers return 13 starters – six on offense, seven on defense – from last fall’s District 6-4A championship unit. For those coming back, the spring is about refining skills and fighting to maintain their place in the lineup. The main focus of Ridge’s spring practices, however, will be on filling the gaping holes left by a few graduating seniors.
Ridge’s offensive backfield represents the most pressing concern as both the Panthers’ leading passer and leading rusher have departed.
Quarterback John Killion is gone after two seasons as the Ridge starter, as is starting running back Jeffrey Rodriguez who rushed for over 1100 yards in a breakout senior season.
The Panthers also took hits on defense losing starting defensive ends R.J. Washington and Jorge Medrano.
"We’re just trying to see who can step up into those roles," Baccarini said.
With four months until the 2008 season begins, most of the battles for opening spots are wide open. That includes the battle for the starting quarterback job, as Baccarini said there are four candidates for the role right now.
Incoming senior Tyler Leikness is the only one among them that took a snap in a varsity game last season. Leikness was Killion’s backup for the last half of the 2007 season and saw some playing time in the later district contests once the Panthers were well ahead.
He completed 10-of-17 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown, appearing in five games last year. He also rushed for four scores.
Jordan Shea is also going out for the position after a junior campaign in 2007 that saw him finish as Ridge’s third-most productive receiver with over 500 yards.
Jacob Bermejo and Anthony Brooks, both current sophomores, are also expected to compete for the job, Baccarini said. Bermejo is the starting second baseman for the Ridge baseball team, headed for the second round of the playoffs this weekend.
Terrell Williams – a receiver who often subbed in at quarterback for Killion – is no longer with the team.
Baccarini said the nod for starting quarterback will simply go to whoever moves the offense best.
"It’s really about who gets us into the end zone," Baccarini said. "We want to move the chains and get the ball into the end zone, and we’ve been fortunate with John (Killion) who understood that and did it well."
Ridge is hoping at least one of the quartet can display some of the efficiency Killion showed last season. The Panthers’ field general completed over 65 percent of his passes for nearly 3000 yards in 2007, throwing just six interceptions to 32 touchdowns.
The Panthers leading returning rusher is Ervay Mbambi who got a few starts as Rodriguez missed the first few games of the 2007 season.
His role was diminished when Rodriguez jumped back into the lineup, though he did see increased playing time in the Panthers’ more lopsided 6-4A victories.
Bryant Troxler got carries in a few games last year, as did then-sophomore Trey Lynch who saw backup work in Rodriguez’s early season absence.
Baccarini said he’s confident Ridge will be able to fill the holes in the offensive line left by Chris Collins and J.D. Graves, as well as the vacated roles in the defense.
It’s the same old routine this spring for the Panthers, Baccarini said, as the entire staff from last season remains intact.
Ridge went with two practices the last full week of April and then book-ended TAKS testing with practices on Monday and Friday last week.
The Panthers got four workouts in this week and are scheduled for four more on Monday through Thursday of next week.
Baccarini said the spring is an opportunity to have a slightly more intense practice than the Panthers will have in the fall preseason as the top units on offense and defense go up against each other.
"It’s the only time we get to go good-on-good," Baccarini said of pitting the first team units against each other. "It’s a lot of fun for the kids."
Fossil Ridge will conclude its spring workouts with its annual Black-and-Gold Game on May 21.
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