If you asked some people if the Panthers, after being outplayed and losing their first two games of the season, would make the state AAAAA playoffs, they might have shrugged and said “no way.”

However, the Panthers bounced back and won four of their next five games, including a 35-33 win against Dutchtown courtesy of a blocked field goal near the end of the game and a 42-7 win over the McIntosh Chiefs,  to earn the team’s first playoff berth since 2010.

A mid-season quarterback change had an influence on those games. Sophomore quarterback Stone Kasten replaced junior utility player Satchel Goodrich at the position. Goodrich was moved to primarily to defense with stints at wide receiver, where he tallied  the second most receptions on the team.

“Moving Satchel over to defense was the biggest coaching move of the year,” head coach Chad Phillips said. “Putting him on defense makes it so that we have one of our best athletes on the field every play.”

Kasten made the most of his opportunity, throwing for 1,248 yards and completing 59 percent of his passes with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions in nine games and seven starts.

Now the Panthers stand ready to travel to Waycross on Friday morning. And their task is daunting.  Ware County is the number one team in the classification.

“They’re a good football team,” Phillips said. “They’re fast and physical and definitely deserving of their ranking.”

Although the Panthers have played well in their last few games, they have not played a team like Ware County this season.  The Gators have nine players with NCAA Division 1 scholarship offers.  “They have a running back that is really good,” Phillips said. “They have a defensive end that plays wide receiver as well. They have good athletes all-around.”

Ware County is 10-0 and has outscored its opponents 349-93. The Gators’ key to success is running the football and physically beating teams, averaging 248 rushing yards per game. Phillips, however, feels confident that they can stop the Gators’ rushing attack.

“They’re pretty good at running the football, but they’re not as efficient passing,” Phillips said. “If we can win first down and get them in passing situations on third down, then we will be fine.”

Although the Panthers have not played Ware County recently, the SMHS coaches have experience against their coaches. The current coaching staff at Ware County is the same coaching staff that was at Tucker High in 2010 when the Panthers won a close semifinal game that sent them to the state championship at the Georgia Dome against Chattahoochee. Chattahoochee won 24-0, handing the Panthers their only loss of the season.

“It’s the same offense and defense we faced at Tucker in 2010,” Phillips said. “We know what they’re going to do and can better prepare for them.”

The last time the Panthers faced Ware County was in 2006 when a similar situation arose. Ware County was number two in the state and the Panthers were number four in their region. The Panthers shocked the state by beating Ware County 31-6. If this is a sign for things to come, the Panthers could be surprising the state once again.