Drew Davenport simply was excited to be on the field Monday as football practice began around the state.
Griffith’s conference affiliation didn’t matter much to the 6-foot-2, 197-pound junior, especially with how his last year unfolded.
Davenport, the Panthers’ left tackle who also is expected to see time at defensive end, tore the ACL in his right knee during last season’s opener against Michigan City. His sophomore season was over.
Davenport was wearing a brace to start Monday’s session, but shed it. After the anticipated grueling rehabilitation, he has no restrictions.
“I’m ready to get back out here and get after it,” Davenport said.
“It’s almost surreal. I’m just ready to get out there and play the first game.”
The Panthers, who move to the Greater South Shore Conference from the Northwest Crossroads Conference, again open this season against Michigan City. Last season against the Wolves, Davenport was covering a kickoff that went for a touchback. He planted his leg and absorbed a hit to his knee, which “popped.” He knew something was wrong, and his ACL concerns were confirmed.
But over the summer, Davenport impressed Griffith coach Ben Geffert.
“He’s back, he looks great and we feel like he’s going to be a difference-maker,” Geffert said.
Though their conference has changed, the Panthers say nothing else has. Same approach. Same intensity. Same tempo.
Griffith is the only Class 4A school in the 10-team Greater South Shore.
The Panthers went 8-4 last season, their final one in the Northwest Crossroads, sharing the conference title with Hobart at 5-1. They also advanced to a sectional final.
But they’re not looking back, only ahead — to a point.
“There’s only one team I’m worried about right now and that’s Michigan City,” Geffert said. “Week 2 will come when Week 2 comes. But we have a very good (opening) opponent with (coach) Phil Mason and the job he’s done with that program. That’s where our focus is as a team and staff.”
Davenport echoed his coach.
“We’re focused on game to game,” he said. “Right now, we’re focused on Michigan City. After them, then we’ll worry about what’s coming next.
“We have a lot of potential, and if we work as a team, we’ll do great things this year. But our goal is game to game, win after win. If we keep doing that, we’ll go far.”
Monday’s emphasis was on continuing to lay the foundation for the opener and beyond.
“It’s great to be out here, but I feel like we never leave with the schedule we do now and the year-round stuff — the amount of practices we get in the summer, the scrimmages,” Geffert said. “It’s fun. I feel like we never stopped. But that’s how we like it around here.
“The first day, we’re rocking back fundamentals. We’re acting as if this is the first time they’ve seen a football. Once we start taking those little things for granted, bad habits form. It’s a lot of back to basics. But those basics are what stand true in November.”
Twitter @MichaelOsipoff