Trending
YORKVILLE -- Midway through the season, the Buckeye Local Panthers sit with a 1-4 record heading into a Week 6 home matchup with Shenandoah (2-3).
The record is what it is, but a deeper dive reveals a team that's fought and been competitive in all but one of those losses.
Keep in mind, Buckeye's four losses came against teams with a combined 19-1, with only Bellaire being the non-undefeated party in that span.
Not exactly an easy slate to start the season, but the Panthers proved they could get up off the might and keep punching last week.
After a humbling loss Barnesville the week prior when head coach Chris Kiedaisch was more disappointed with the team's effort than anything else, Buckeye returned home to face unbeaten Monroe Central.
The Seminoles won, 42-19, but it was far from a one-side affair.
After its offense sputtered against the Shamrocks, the Panthers put up more than 350 yards against the Seminoles.
The big key? Buckeye's passing attack, which has been average at best for the last few seasons, came to life.
Senior quarterback Alex McDiffitt threw the ball 31 times, completing 23 and finishing with a career-high 201 yards.
Brennin Takach became his go-to receiver, catching eight passes for 74 yards while a healthier Andrew Jones snagged five passes for 55 yards.
McDiffitt also led the Panthers' ground game with 50 yards on nine carries while Buckeye finished with 103 as a team rushing.
They threw the ball 32 total times, ran it 28; balance achieved.
Buckeye hosts a Zeps team mired in a three-game losing streak, including a humbling 48-7 defeat at home to unbeaten Union Local.
Shenandoah's two most recent losses, UL and a 30-27 loss to Buckeye Trail, both came against teams with physical offensive lines able to dominate the line of scrimmage.
Against UL, Buckeye more than held its own up front and line play will be critical this week.
Head coach Chris Kiedaisch has displayed the willingness to go with a jumbo package, come out in a wishbone and pound the ball when needed. Might the Panthers feature a more run-centric plan of attack this week at World War II Memorial Stadium?
Or will Buckeye continue to strive for balance behind its rejuvenated passing game?
Shenandoah, meanwhile, is led by dynamic junior quarterback Braxton Barnett.
Barnett is still adjusting to the loss of some of his top targets from the last two seasons, but the Zeps do feature a number of talented skill position players.
Last season's matchup in Sarahsville was a shootout, with Barnett leading the Zeps to a 44-33 victory.