Season Preview: Potomac Panthers

By Joe Conroy

Published: August 27, 2008

After dominating the regular season and making a state final appearance last year, Potomac has the unenviable task of rebuilding for 2008. Nearly all of the Panthers’ offensive production is gone with the graduation of backs Mulku Kalokoh and Darius Brent and receivers Abdul Kanneh and Donald Vaughn.

Those four players alone were responsible for more than 4,000 all-purpose yards and 274 of the team’s 408 total points last year.
But coach Tony Lilly is already impressed with the players he has replacing the big four.

“It was certainly a big loss and we’re feeling the loss, no question about it,” Lilly said. “I think we’ve got some young kids that are doing some things out here (at practice) that are pleasing me right now.”

Lilly does have an important player returning on offense in quarterback DeAirius Thomas who threw for 1,430 yards and 17 touchdowns last year. Just a junior, Thomas is now the leader on a team full of youth and inexperience all around him.

“I’ve put a lot on his shoulders,” Lilly said. “We lost a few players that were big time playmakers. We feel right now we’ve got some pretty good players replacing them. I think he understands the level that those players are at. He’s helping them understand that we might not have one super-player on the field, but we can put 11 good ones out there.”

The Panthers don’t have a clear-cut choice to fill the role of a feature back in the run-oriented attack Potomac has typically been used to. Instead, Lilly is looking to use a group of about five backs with varying styles to keep defenses off-balance and spell players when they need it.

One such option is expected to be Woodbridge transfer Andre Cook, a punishing runner who has caught Lilly’s eye already.
“Andre has certainly been a big, pleasant surprise to have in there,” the coach said. “Anytime you’ve got a 280-pound back in there that
can run and do some things for you it’s a good addition.”

Cook is also a contributor on defense, lining up at linebacker.

Maurice Cannon, a sophomore, will likely see time at receiver, linebacker and even safety said Lilly.

“Maurice is just going to be a sophomore this year and he’s a kid that’s got a super talent,” Lilly said. “He’s very talented athletically. He’s done real well so far and we’re going to ask him to be part of what we’re doing and we expect him to be one of our playmakers.”

A big positive for Lilly amid the losses is that the offensive line has remained largely intact. All-Area first teamer Anthony Denham and
JaJuan Johnson headline a group that lost only George Bansah from the line (Bansah’s time was limited on offense with a shoulder injury, playing mostly on defense instead.)

“I think we’re pretty solid up there. We’re going to have to ask some of those guys to go both sides of the ball at times,” Lilly said.
Team info
2007 record: 13-1
Offensive look: Multiple set
Defensive look: 4-4 base, multiple
Returning starters: 6 (offense); 2 (defense)
Last playoff appearance: 2007
Overall record last five years: 40-18
Speed merchant: LB Isaiah Bowden (6-0, 185, sr.), a transfer from the Cleveland area, is the Panthers’ fastest player, running about a 4.5 40-time according to coach Tony Lilly.
Powerhouse performer: Senior center Thomas Ostrosky (6-1, 285), who benches around 310 pounds, is one of the anchors on the offensive line.
Blue collar special: Without hesitation Lilly said it’s David Riley, a junior running back. Riley (5-10, 175) also plays defensive back and receiver and impressed the coach with his work ethic over the offseason workout sessions and in early practices.
Other key returners: OG Anthony Denham (5-11, 235, sr.); DT Deonte Johnson (6-2, 265, sr.); OL/DL JaJuan Johnson (5-8, 210, sr.); QB DeAirius Thomas (5-10, 192, jr.); WR/LB/FS Maurice Cannon (6-2, 195, so.)
n Promising newcomers: DE Jeff Gilliam (6-3, 215, sr.); RB/LB Denis Ofosu (5-8, 175, sr., transfer from Gar-Field); RB/LB Victor Smith (5-10, 175, sr.); RB/LB Andre Cook (6-0, 280, jr., transfer from Woodbridge)
Head coach
Tony Lilly
Age: 46
Year as Potomac’s head coach: 4th
Overall Record at Potomac: 29-8
Coaching background: Assistant coach, Potomac H.S., 2004; Assistant coach, Woodbridge H.S., 1996-2000
Teaches: Special education
Family: Wife Lisa; son Ryan
SCHEDULE
(all games at 7:30 p.m. unless noted)
Aug. 28 Battlefield
Sept. 5 at Stafford
Sept. 12 Osbourn Park
Sept. 19 at North Stafford
Oct. 3 Osbourn
Oct. 10 at Woodbridge
Oct. 17 Gar-Field
Oct. 24 Forest Park
Oct. 31 at Hylton
Nov. 7 at Freedom