By Tom Williams

williams@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Last fall, the East High School football team was, by far, the best two-win squad in the Mahoning Valley.

Faint praise? Not necessarily. The Panthers threw a real scare into then-undefeated Poland before falling 16-7. Howland also won a game at Rayen Stadium, but the score was 20-12. When East traveled to Canfield, the Cardinals won, 18-12. And in the season finale, Hubbard edged East, 24-22.

“Most of the games, we came up short,” senior running back Robert Allen said of the 2-8 season.

Change is in the air at East and the Panthers are embracing it.

“Our motto is to make a change,” senior wide receiver Stephon McQueen.

The biggest change is at the top where Jerron Jenkins, a long-time assistant coach with Liberty and East, has taken over for last year’s head coach, P.J. Mays, who stepped down after last season.

Jenkins, a retired teacher who has been rehired as a health teacher, is varsity head coach for the first time.

“I had to think about it,” Jenkins said when he was approached about replacing Mays. “The reason why I came back is because some of these kids I had [taught] their parents. It’s another generation [for me].

“I wanted to come back to do something for my own community,” Jenkins said. “I wanted the kids to have someone who they can relate to and understand.”

Last fall, Jenkins was the Panthers’ running backs coach.

“It seemed like we were just an inch away against some of those schools,” Jenkins said.

OFFENSE

The Panthers have seven starters returning on offense. Jenkins is excited to see how well sophomore quarterback Thomas Steele has progressed.

“He’s come a long way,” Jenkins said of Steele who became the starter in Week 6. “He was green.”

Jenkins convinced Steele to run track last spring. He’s also been a regular in the weight room.

“It made him real fast,” Jenkins said.

His targets include tight end Ty Jefferson, Mike Ramey and Mike Lawrence. The latter two were members of East’s 4x100 relay team that qualified for state.

“We’ve got speed,” Jenkins said.

The Panthers also have experience up front as all five starters return. The offense has switched to the I formation.

“It’s time for a change,” Jefferson said. “A lot of people don’t work as hard as us in my eyes. We’re really going to make a change this year.

“We’re hungry.”

DEFENSE

The Panthers have eight starters returning on defense, which has switched to a 4-3.

Mark Herron and Ilijah Donley will be linebackers and Jawan Showers will be a cornerback.

“Coach Jenks is big on discipline,” said McQueen, a linebacker. When we got down [last season], we kinda put our heads down and kind of gave up. This year, discipline [will help].

“He doesn’t take [excuses].”

Special teams

Exavia Dixon will be the kicker. Although the Panthers haven’t decided on the punter, Jenkins plans to put his fastest players on the field during kicks.

“I want to use my skill people with speed,” he said.

OUTLOOK

The Panthers have 70 players, up from 50 last season. Their first scrimmage was against Alliance and Akron Firestone and the defense limited each opponent to one first down.

“We moved the ball, we’ve got speed and we shut their offenses down,” Jenkins said. “I can’t wait, I’m very excited.

“I’m pleased but not satisfied.”

That may change.