By MICHELLE GARMON
RGarmon@cherryroad.com
Elwood finished the 2015 season with a 6-5 record. The Panthers have won just nine games since then, and five of those came the following season. Sammy Mireles is now in charge of rebuilding the program.
And no, it’s not the Sammy Mireles who has his jersey retired and is Elwood’s all-time leading rusher and at one time, was the state of Indiana’s top career rusher. It’s his father. The senior Sammy Mireles coached Sammy, as well as other sons Seth and Alex, in the youth league. Sammy Mireles works for the school corporation and was a member of Elwood’s “chain gang” for home football games. He also became a football official.
Fans will see Mireles on the home team’s sideline – chain gang works on the opposing team’s sideline – on Friday night, Aug. 23 when Elwood kicks off the season at Southern Wells. The Panthers’ home opener is against Tipton on Friday night, Aug. 30.
When asked by Elwood athletics director Ryan Vanskyock to become the Panthers sixth football coach since 2015, Sammy Mireles accepted the challenge of rebuilding the program. Elwood has 41 kids out for football this season, which is a start. Fifteen of those 41 players are freshmen and there are only two seniors, Kaileb Baumbauer and Jayden Mullins.
“We are a young team,” Mireles said. “We are going to do the best we can with the athletes we have. We want to be competitive.”
Mullins played quarterback last year and had 1,400 yards passing and 1,100 yards rushing. This season he could line up under center or at running back. He also will play linebacker this season. Baumbauer lines up at tackle on both sides of the ball. He had 12 sacks and four fumble recoveries in 2023.
In addition to Mullins and Baumbauer, the Panthers return key players, junior running back/linebacker Bracken Jetty, junior wide receiver/defensive back Kayden Simpson, and sophomore offensive and defensive tackle Conner Wooten. Junior Brylen Mort and sophomore A.J. Flanagan are two other returning players, who saw a lot of varsity time last season.
“We have a lot of good freshmen this year,” the first-year Elwood coach said, mentioning running back Blaise Jones, running back Cash Bryan, wide receiver Nathan Bixby, linebacker Abe Gallegos, offensive tackle Miles Laub and wide receiver Tristen Harpel.
Blaise Jones could fill the role of his brother Luke Jones, who played running back and linebacker for the Panthers and graduated in June.
The Panthers already have a key phrase for the season: “Play Hard. Play Smart. Play Together,” Mireles said.
Elwood fans can also expect to see the Panthers return more of a basic approach as Mireles and his staff have spent time over the offseason and so far in practice, working on the little things.
“Fans can see simple offense, running the ball more than passing it,” Mireles said of the offense. “Defensively, hopefully we will not be letting them score. We’ll line up in a simple four-man front and have everyone flying to the ball.”
Mireles has put together a staff that includes some who were on Michael Karn’s staff, as well as some new coaches. Karn coached Elwood the previous three years but resigned last winter to spend more time with his family. Jamie Jetty and Andy Schmitt are the offensive coordinators, while Josh Frasure coaches the offensive line and special teams. Clay Creekmore and Ricky Phillips are the defensive coordinators.
Mireles went to work immediately after he got the job during the winter, getting players into the weight room to lift. He and his staff had workouts and took advantage of the scrimmages allowed by the Indiana High School Athletic Association.
“We had a good percentage turn out for workouts,” coach Mireles said. “We had four scrimmages, and we had more positives after each scrimmage.”
The Elwood coach said he is looking for Mullins and Baumbauer to be good leaders, helping the younger kids and taking leadership on the game field.
Mireles has identified the Panthers’ strengths entering the season.
“Our offensive line has good size and is quick, and we have a three-year returning QB (Mullins),” he said.
Elwood will open Central Indiana Conference play in Week 3 against visiting Alexandria. The Panthers will close out conference and regular season play at Frankton.
“Madison-Grant should be top dog (in the CIC) this year followed by Mississinewa and Eastbrook,” Mireles said.
Mississinewa is the defending conference champion.
The sectional field changed slightly as two-time defending champion Bluffton and Frankton are no longer in the sectional and have been replaced by Wabash and Rochester. Elwood plays four of seven possible sectional opponents – Alexandria, Blackford, Eastbrook and Tipton – during the regular season. Eastern is the other team in the sectional.
“We will be able to see their strengths and weaknesses,” Mireles said, which should help the Panthers prepare for teams.
But first, Elwood is busy getting ready for the regular season. And the plan is to play the best players in the right positions.
Starters entering the season opener on offense will be Mort at left end, Baumbauer at left tackle, Gage Benton at left guard, Aiden Fox at center, Laub at right guard, Wooten at right tackle, Mullins at quarterback, Jetty at running back, Flanagan at running back, Harpel at wide receiver and Bixby at wide receiver.
Defensive starters are Bracken and Jetty at defensive end, and Baumbauer and Wooten at tackle. Linebackers and defensive backs are Bixby, Simpson, Gallegos, Mort, Bryan, Kaci McCray and Mullins.
