NASHUA – The bad taste has been in the collective mouth of the Nashua High School South football program for almost a year.

They want to rinse it away – and certainly not repeat it.

Last year the Panthers were looking to be solid contenders, but injuries and lack of depth made the season collapse, ending with a 3-6 record.

But Panthers coach Scott Knight says his team will avoid a lot of those pitfalls this year.

“The kids have worked pretty hard,” he said. “They’re hard-nosed, tough kids.”

Because of injuries, the Panthers have a lot of anxious bodies back – senior bodies. South has at least eight starters back on defense, many who weren’t starting when the season began last year but were pressed into duty, and half-dozen on offense.

Defensively, they return two of the better defensive tackles in the league, seniors Colby Vancelette and Matt Harding, both about 225, “rugged, strong kids, good high school athletes.”

Knight said that senior Tony Martinez “looks like a college player” at defensive end, while another senior, 6-2, 210-pound Conner Comeau is at the other end. Linebackers include senior Alvin Pascual-Rosario, one of the strongest players in the program, plus very athletic senior linebacker Jake O’Connor (6-0, 200).

“Our front six should be very solid,” Knight said.

In the secondary, Keith O’Donnell, a senior, hopes to improve from last year, his first in football. Another senior, Hayden Leone is at the other corner. And a sophomore, Kyle Emmons is at safety.

There are other keys. Senior Damien Perez is at one outside linebacker, and Nate Smith, another senior, is in the defensive mix.

“They’re all pretty aggressive kids,” Knight said. “I feel good about our ‘D’, but we’ll see.”

Offensively, the Panthers will have a new quarterback, senior Karsten Lemire.

“He’s just super smart, he’s got real fast feet,” Knight said. “He can go. And his arm has improved immensely. He’s relatively super raw but super athletic. He knows where the ball is supposed to go, and he can get it there.”

O’Donnell with play slot, O’Connor at tight end, Martinez can play H-back, and Tanner Poloski, a junior, can see time at tailback. Smith can be a wideout. Diego Cabrera, a sophomore, and Emmons are in the mix at other receiver or running back speed spots.

“We have a lot of guys we’re looking at in a few spots,” Knight said.

Up front, the Panthers have size. Vancelette, Harding, and Benito Mendellin, the latter perhaps the most improved Panther at 240 pounds. “A completely different kid,” he said. Comeau will be a tackle. Meanwhile, Kevin Nbubuisi is also on the line, a player Knight recruited out of gym class and has been dedicated.

The junior class was impacted by the COVID year of 2020 when not many freshmen came out and is fairly small.

“We have gone through a number of years with very small freshman classes,” Knight said. “It’s been a struggle. I think the last time we had a good-sized freshman group that knew how to play football was 2013. It’s been a battle.

“We can still develop good football players but what you’re lacking on a Friday night is depth.”

There were other things that didn’t go well.

“We were a good first and second down team but we were horrible in third and long situations on both sides of the ball,” Knight said. “Our turnover ratio was very poor; I don’t think we forced a turnover until late in the season. … And we had some key turnovers against us at inopportune times.”

Remember the days when the Panthers were a big spread offensive team, five wides and high scores? It sounds more like they will go with a more physical attack.

“We’ll find out,” Knight said. “We’ve got a good tight end, a rugged H-back, a pretty good group up front, a quarterback who can run and throw. We’ve just got to figure out how we’re going to disperse the ball. But I don’t want Karsten Lemire running the ball 15 times a game.”

With better numbers, Knight is happy with his special teams. Lemire will punt – Knight likes having a QB who can punt – and Liam Gallagher will placekick.

Expectations?

“I couldn’t tell you,” Knight said. “We could be pretty good, we could be average – but I know we won’t be bad.”

But there’s always that variable – health.

“You’ve got to have your dudes on the field,” he said.

•••

Sept. 3: at Bishop Guertin, 6 p.m.

Sept. 10: vs. Windham, 2 p.m.

Sept. 16: at Merrimack, 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 23: vs. Nashua North, 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 30: at Bedford, 7 p.m.

Oct. 7: at Concord, 7 p.m.

Oct. 14: vs. Keene, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 21: at Manchester Memorial, 7 p.m.

Oct. 28: vs. Goffstown, 6:30 p.m.

•••

2021 RESULTS

Salem 36, South 32

Londonderry 43, South 0

Merrimack 28, South 26

South 43, North 42

Bishop Guertin 35, South 7

South 46, Alvirne 14

South 20, Windham 14

Keene 30, South 6