Pittsville Football Preview: Young Team Adjusting Well and Learning New Roles

Pittsville (OnFocus) – It’s been a long wait for football fans and football teams to start the 2020 season. The wait is finally over, and the season is now here.

We take a look at the Pittsville Panthers with our Season Preview. We reached out to Coach Mark Denniston for some thoughts on this football season, giving us a glimpse into how the Panthers are getting ready for this year.

OnFocus: How has your coaching staff and team prepared for this season?

Denniston: It has certainly been a new experience for everyone.  We have put procedures in place to help keep our student-athletes and coaches as safe as possible.  We have been stressing to our players that we all need to follow the rules in order to give us the best chance possible to stay healthy and have a season.

OnFocus: What are some positives that have come out of practice and the season being delayed?

Denniston: Our players, coaches, school administration, and community have been very good about making the necessary changes that allow us the opportunity to have a football season.  Without a typical offseason, everyone has had to learn and adjust to new roles quickly, but the players have been excellent in their response to a tough situation.  Regardless of how many games we end up playing or what our record turns out to be, our community can be proud of the character that the players have displayed.

OnFocus: Season forecast – What should fans expect to see out of your team this year? 

Denniston: Our fans will need to be patient early in the season, as we return only a handful of starters on either side of the ball.  We have many players with limited varsity experience stepping into prominent roles, so our success will likely be determined by how quickly they can become comfortable with their new responsibilities.

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