“A lot of the kids are returning from last season, so they know the expectations,” Ebling stated. “They know I was in the program before, so they know me very well. The hard work and the work ethic needs to carry over.”

Ebling expects his group to take a step forward and grow from last season.

“We won three games last year,” Ebling added. “Our goal as a program is just to be better overall each year and each day. From there, it’s just that hard work ethic and keep going forward.”

KEY LOSSES: Maddox Browning, Noah Geiger, Noah Vogtli, Gavin Phillips and Dylan Mill.

Head Coach: Brett Ebling Assistant Coaches: Mark Leous and Jerard Capozzi

KEY RETURNEES: “Ben Krajewski, Fred Roland, Andrew Barlow and Dylan Green all return, so we have four coming back on the offensive line that are starters,” Ebling stated. “Quentin Cetner is going to step up big for us, going to be our quarterback and safety. John Sheldon is coming back as our No. 2 receiver from last year, Aiden Ackley our middle linebacker is coming back as well. We just have a lot of returners, so that’s really good to hear.”

OUTLOOK FOR CLASS D: “Our goal is to get better each day as a program,” Ebling stated. “From modified up to the varsity team.”

The Panthers move down to Class D where they will face many new teams, but they are eager for the challenge.

“The past couple of years we were in Class C, so a lot of these teams I have not coached against,” Ebling added. … We’re playing a lot of new teams and we’re playing all over Western New York, from Portville up to Wilson.”

The step down to Class D has not changed Ebling and the Panthers’ approach to games.

Linemen, Front row, from left: Zayne Laskey, Ruben Rivera, Connor Ribblett, Logan Cooper. Back row, from left: Dylan Green, Fred Roland, Andrew Barlow, Benjamin Krajewski, Jeremy Henhawk.

“We’re moving down to Class D, but at the same time it’s 11-on-11 football,” Ebling said. “That’s the only thing that matters, from AA, A, B, C and D, you still have to go out there and play 11-on-11 football.”

KEY GAMES: The Panthers plan to take the season day by day, focusing on one opponent at a time.

“We don’t take it week by week, we take it day by day,” Ebling stated. “The only thing we can control is us today. I know we have Silver Creek/Forestville on Friday and that’s the only game that I care about. I told the kids that no matter what, the only goal is Silver Creek/Forestville, but at the same time our goal is us. We can control what we do, but we can’t control what Silver Creek/Forestville does.”

SENIORS: Harlee Conklin, Ryan Waterman, Fred Roland, Ruben Rivera, Zach Kraft, Ben Krajewski, Andrew Barlow,

JUNIORS: Quintin Cetner, Faolan Quinn, Derek Milne, Michael Horth, Jon Sheldon, Connor Elliot, Evan Fort, Aiden Ackley, Kaleb Smith, Chris Burger

RBs and QBs, Front row, from left: Zachary Kraft, Faolan Quinn, Brayden Smith, Greg Reid. Back row, from left: Aiden Ackley, Carter Capozzi, Winter Rivera, Kaleb Smith, Quintin Cetner.

SOPHOMORES: Carter Capozzi, Darrin Sherlock, Greg Reid, Winter Rivera, Brayden Smith, Connor Ribblett, Zayne Laskey, Logan Cooper, Jeremy Henhawk, Dylan Green

FRESHMEN: Trelin Warrior

WR,TE,DB, Front row, from left: Darrin Sherlock, Derek Milne, Michael Horth. Back row, from left: Ryan Waterman, Connor Elliot, Chris Burger, John Sheldon.