CD EAST AT SHIPPENSBURG
7 p.m. FRIDAY, MEMORIAL PARK
RECORDS: First game.
THE PANTHERS: Time for CD East to put that topsy-turvy summer in the head coaching ranks in the rearview mirror. And the opponent gives them plenty of reason to have a sharp focus. A year ago the Panthers coughed up a 13-point lead in the final two minutes and were upset by the Greyhounds at Speed Ebersole Stadium. This offense won’t function with Chase Edmonds carrying the ball 23 times week-to-week. But in this match-up the more Edmonds the better. Sophomore QB Jahad Neibauer started as a freshman before going down with a knee injury.
THE GREYHOUNDS: Having a 1,000-yard rusher and 1,000-yard passer in the stable is the launching pad for an offense that has only one other starter back. William Burt has always been part of a dynamic one-two punch backfield during his Greyhounds career. He’s flourished with back-to-back 1,000-yards seasons. He is the man to start this season. Seth Frey will need to be better as well. Shippensburg won’t be able to set up the pass off that powerful running game as proficiently as it did in 2012. Plenty of questions about what takes place up front on both sides of the ball.
THE CRUX: Each club is breaking in a fresh set of linemen on both sides of the ball. The running back position is fine. The one who finds the most room to operate behind those new guys up front will have a decided advantage.
SHAY SAYS: CD East (-7) dropped a heartbreaker a year ago to Shippensburg. The loss was courtesy of self-inflicted wounds and the Greyhounds pounced when opportunity knocked. Edmonds is the best player on the field. In order for the Panthers to be 1-0 he has to be a difference maker.
SHAY ON TWITTER: @APShay