The Batesburg-Leesville Panthers are entering their third season under head coach Greg Lawson and are looking to continue a trend of improving each season.

The Panthers finished 5-6 last season and were eliminated by Chesnee at home in round one of the 2A tournament. The previous year, the team went 4-7 and had to play their playoff game on the road in Newberry.

“The first year I was here, I knew it was going to be a process,” Lawson said. “I think we will be able to build on those and hopefully move on into another couple of rounds.”

Offense

Batesburg-Leesville returns with a lot of players who were freshmen and sophomores the past two years, including three-year starting quarterback Tanner Watkins. Lawson said Watkins’ experience under center will not just make himself better, but the team as a whole as well.

Also coming back for one more season to protect Watkins are senior offensive linemen Ty Anderson and Matthew Howard. The rest of the line will consist of mostly juniors, some with varsity experience, others with none.

“I feel like our offensive line is going to be a little better,” Lawson said.

At running back the team will rely on Amadre Wooden. He is entering his second season as the lead back after joining the varsity team late in his freshman season.

“He is one of the better running backs in the area,” Lawson said.

Out wide, Jamarius Clark is back as an iron man, playing both offense and defense. Lawson said his play will be critical to the team.

K.D. Whitt will play multiple positions on the field, including receiver, running back and quarterback.

“[He] can do a lot of things for us,” Lawson said. “We’re looking for big things outta him.”

Defense

Defensively, Batesburg-Leesville lost one starter from last season’s unit.

Key returners on the defensive line include Ja’quan Corley, Travis Gates and John Sawyer. Sawyer is a senior entering his third year as a starter, and Corley and Gates are juniors with another season of eligibility after this.

“John will probably be the kid that I’m looking for that hopefully can play in an all-star game at the end of the year,” Lawson said. “He led us in tackles last year.”

Lawson predicts his linebacker group will also make a leap this year. He cited their speed as a reason to be optimistic.

Senior Hansel Discua will lead the defensive backs as he enters his third season with the varsity boys.

“There are some other kids I could mention, but we feel good defensively,” Lawson said. “This is going to be a good year for us because we got a lot of kids.”

Schedule 

Week 1 - at Wagener-Salley - Aug. 30

Week 2 - at Abbeville - Sept. 6

Week 3 - vs. Lower Richland - Sept. 13

Week 4 - vs. Calhoun County- Sept. 20

Week 5 - vs. Mid Carolina- Sept. 27

Week 6 - at Strom Thurmond - Oct. 4

Week 7 - vs. Ninety Six - Oct. 11

Week 8 - vs. American Leadership Academy - Oct. 18

Week 9 - vs. Pelion - Oct. 25

Week 10 - at Saluda - Nov. 1