With 17 starters to replace, Starr’s Mill coach Chad Phillips expected to endure a few bumps early in the season. That’s exactly what happened, too, with the team suffering a rare three-game losing streak. But now the Panthers are playing with the confidence of an experienced team, just in time for the stretch run.
“We got into our region play and the kids have been playing with confidence and we’ve got a nice little winning streak,” Phillips said.
Finding 17 new starters was tough enough, but the troubles got worse on opening night when senior defensive end Sam White and running back Karsen Kalen (their best blocker in the backfield) were injured and lost for three games. Kalen was hurt on the first play of the game when he twisted an ankle after scoring on a 40-yard run.
Starr’s Mill’s inexperience was evident early in the season in losses to Northgate, Chapel Hill and Sandy Creek. “We looked like a JV team against Chapel Hill and Sandy Creek,” Phillips said.
Things turned around once the Panthers got into region play. They have reeled off consecutive wins against Jonesboro, Griffin (on the road) and Whitewater.
“It felt just like it did two years ago when we had a bunch of new players,” Phillips said. “The same exact thing happened.” That team started 1-3 and finished 7-5, winning the Region 3 championship along the way.
The Starr’s Mill offense is clicking again. The Panthers have scored 127 points over the last three games. They had 500-plus yards of offense against Whitewater.
“We’re starting to keep the ball away from the other team,” Phillips said.
Junior Hunter Lawson has taken over at quarterback and is playing with much confidence. He’s thrown for 257 yards and rushed for 249 yards and five touchdowns.
“He’s really come on,” Phillips said. “He’s playing like a senior right now.”
The game-changer has been tailback Kalen Sims, who has rushed for 1,122 yards and 11 touchdowns. The 5-8, 160-pound junior set a school record last week with 279 yards rushing and three touchdowns against Whitewater.
“He’s little, but he can go,” Phillips said. “He’s like Isaiah McKenzie was for Georgia a couple of years ago.”
If Starr’s Mill can take care of business this week against McIntosh, their arch-rival, the game against Riverdale on Oct. 26 could be for the Region 3 title.
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