LUDLOW PANTHERS2008 record: 5-7, lost in second round of Class 2A playoffs.
Coach: Rick Hornsby (2nd season, 5-7).
Last year, Ludlow reached the five-win mark for the first time since 2004, and the Panthers won their first postseason game in a decade.
Senior quarterback Zach Stegemoller returns to lead the offense after throwing for 796 yards and rushing for 388. With a year of experience under center, his accuracy should improve. He completed 40.0 percent of his passes and was picked off 23 times last year.
Senior Jacob Ashcraft is the Panthers’ top returning rusher after Stegemoller with 135 ground yards.
Ludlow’s lone 100-yard receiver back from last year is senior Chris MacKay, who had 10 catches for 107 yards and a touchdown.
The Panthers need to improve dramatically on defense. Ludlow allowed 213 rushing yards and 127 yards passing per game, and opponents averaged 33.3 points.
Walton-Verona's entry into Class 1A will mean two teams will now miss the playoffs annually. With Beechwood and Bellevue practically locks to get in, that leaves two spots for Dayton, Brossart, Walton-Verona and Ludlow.
Ludlow will probably still qualify for the postseason, but the competition for the final spots is going to get harder each year as Brossart and Walton-Verona’s programs develop.
