Coach Jay Brown and the Panthers are already looking towards next year after a 4-6 season that ended with a 35-14 win against Etowah last week.

“I think this year there was definitely a lot of progress,” Brown said on Monday, referring to the improvement over last year’s 2-8 season.

Brown and his assistant coaches knew their team was probably the youngest 6A in the state going into this season. “Being a young team in 6A and to go out and win four is good, considering our area. I felt like we should have won more, but there’s definitely some excitement for next year. We can feel it,” Brown said.

The Panthers will be returning 63 lettermen from this season in 2011, including 29 current juniors and 30 current sophomores.

Brown said that having a large senior class in 2011 should let Panther fans continue to see more wins in the coming year. “I think there will be some excitement beginning in the off season,” Brown said.

The 12 Panther seniors who just finished their high sschool career are close to Brown, he said. “I really appreciate the 12 guys we had this year. They mean a lot. We appreciate everything they’ve ever done in the last three years. I’m glad they could win their last game. They’re a special group.”

Nine of the 12 seniors started all three years for PCHS, including Brown’s son, Wesley. “They’re a group I’ve watched for a long time. There’s not a quitter in the bunch. I hope they’ve learned a lot from being in the program. I think they did.”

The 2010 season started out with four weeks of ups and downs for Panther players and fans. Brown said that beginning the year with a win against 5A Shelby County was crucial for getting out of the slump that was last season.

“We worked so hard to win the first game,” Brown said. “Then to see the way we played over the following weeks… Well, that was a great accomplishment in many areas despite the losses.”

Brown said the biggest disappointment this year was the home loss to Shades Valley. “That’s definitely a game we should’ve won.”

The following games included a Lawson Field win against Huffman and a Hewitt-Trussville loss at home.

“We were up and down the first four weeks. But we’re young and you have to learn from experience,” Brown said. “We, of course, prepare to win every week so that when we take to the field there’s no room for error. We have to play really perfectly; there’s no room for error.”

He said his 2010 team all played and battled hard each week. “The accomplishment of winning and the difficulty of losing is just part of it.”

Looking toward the future, Brown said that besides the experience and numbers players have put up over the past season, talent is being honed before the kickoff of next spring’s game happens.

The top eight tacklers will be back next year. The two field generals will also be lining up under center for another Panther season.

Though there is still not a team lined up for the April spring game, Brown said he’s looking to get the Panthers as strong and as fast as they can be for their next athcup.

“Next year we’ll have as veteran a team as you can have. The seniors will be leading the team, you can’t ask for better… It’s gonna be fun and exciting. The preparation starts Monday.”