By greg gulas

sports@vindy.com

Youngstown

Losing 29 seniors was bad enough, but first-year East High School coach P.J. Mays is also faced with the dilemma of replacing 18 of 22 starters from last year’s 3-7 Panthers’ squad.

A record-setting running back for Youngstown State from 2000-02, Mays knows a little about what it takes in order be successful on the gridiron.

As a coach he wants his players to understand that each play, each down and each game means something very special in their overall scheme.

“Our strength is that we are a very athletic team. Our weakness is a lack of detail so our main goal right now is to hopefully gain that attention while taking note of every single detail,” he said. “We preach family first and want our players to play as a family. We want them to learn the game and the proper techniques as we instill dedication and execution as we grow one game at a time.”

OFFENSE

Junior Brandon Jackson has taken over at quarterback and is considered a threat whether throwing or running the ball. Jackson os still learning the offense and must make strides early if the Panthers are to turn it around in 2013.

Jawuan Jones, Marquise Gurley, D.J. Anderson and Leandre Green are targets for Jackson while Trevon Fite, Isaiah Nuckles and Nick Ford will battle for time at tight end.

Three running backs, Kevone Elkins, Curtis Bevly and Jawalan Shaw are all seeking the starting slot behind Jackson in the backfield.

The line, all juniors, includes tackles Alex Romeo and John Fitzgerald. The guards are Kalen Handy and Amos Haynes while Ravonne Mays, brother of the coach, and Taywuan Sharp are battling for the starting center position.

DEFENSE

Up front, the Panthers will rely on Jaquan Dawson, Artrel Ford and Romeo while Derrick Berry and Malik Minor head the linebacker corps.

The defensive backfield has Gurley and Green at the corners, DesDamon Lake at free safety and TaBrian Donlow at strong safety.

SPECIAL TEAMS

While Jackson will handle the punting duties, Jones and Imoni Donadelle are in a battle to see just who will start the season as the team’s placekicker.

OUTLOOK

Mays is a coach who expects execution on both sides of the ball.

In his first year with so many new faces, it might take a while for the squad to jell and develop any team chemistry.

With 16 seniors and 22 juniors comprising his 50-player roster, he definitely has upperclass leadership.

How the season unfolds, however, will depend on whether or not those upperclass leaders take ownership of the team.