For second-year quarterback Drew Stewart, his newfound confidence hasn’t come from his varsity experience.

Instead, his confidence comes from the company he keeps.

“I feel a lot more confident this year because last year I was the young kid on the team and I didn’t have a bunch of friends on the team,” Stewart said. “Now I have friends that I joke around with. I’ve been playing with these guys forever now.”

After playing with his age level in eighth grade, Stewart hadn’t played with his grade level, until now. As a freshman, the sophomore football coaches brought up Stewart to quarterback the sophomore team. Late in the fall of 2012, Stewart dressed for section and state games for the Panthers as a freshman.

As a sophomore last season, Stewart got thrown into the fire. Facing South Suburban level of play, Stewart had his ups and downs. At times last season, senior Matt Schiefelbein replaced Stewart when the sophomore quarterback faltered. But in his second season joined by his friends, Stewart has already shown major improvements.

Ultimately, this newfound confidence has not only shown through Stewart’s play, but also his new role on the team.

“Drew Stewart is stepping in as a leader on the offense,” senior linebacker Jesse Cardenas said. “He’s got a young offense, and he’s doing a great job.”

Special Teams Still a Work in Progress

The offense isn’t the only group facing its own growing pains early on.

With Bronson Bruneau at Duke on a full ride scholarship to long snap for the football team, the Panthers have a big hole to fill. Bruneau’s consistency and talent made the position look easy in 2013. But, as the new long snappers are finding out, this unheralded position is anything but easy.

Senior defensive end Grant Gunderson and junior defensive back Cal Pesola are currently splitting reps at the long snapper position. Neither player impressed Tuesday as both players showed inconsistency. At times both Gunderson and Pesola had impressive snaps, but then they would have a snap off target as well.

The person who will attempt to receive these snaps will be the Panther’s punter. Despite his starting status at quarterback, Drew Stewart also looks to have punting duties.

On Tuesday, Stewart’s punts averaged just less than three seconds in hang time. To further illustrate where Stewart is at, punts average 4.5 seconds hang time at the NFL level.

Despite having a decent leg, Stewart prefers quarterbacking to punting. But having a dual threat in Stewart gives the Panthers options on fourth down.

“(Punting) isn’t the first option obviously,” Stewart joked. “I like it sometimes. If we need to get good field position, I’m up to the challenge.”

New Face on Offensive Line

With four open starting spots on the offensive line, competition is inevitable.

Different players continue to get different looks at different positions on the offensive line to try and find the best starting five possible. On Tuesday, the coaching staff gave junior Cam DeVries that chance to compete when he ran with the ones at left guard.

After playing defensive line his freshman and sophomore year, the coaching staff brought DeVries over to compete for a spot on the offensive line. At times Tuesday, DeVries’ lack of experience was evident with occasional missed assignments. But, as the practice went on, DeVries began to anchor better. The first year offensive lineman also picked up stunts and blitzes that were thrown at him from the first team defense.

DeVries credits this success to his time spent on the opposite side of the ball.

“It really helps me when the defensive line does stunt because I know what they plan to do when they start the stunt,” DeVries said. “I know where guys are going to be coming from.”

Offense Continues to Find Success through the Air

Last season, the offense relied heavily on the running game lead by Jamiah Newell. While they still plan to run the ball, the offense looks to be one that will be able to air out the ball at a high level.  

In the afternoon practice’s 11-on-11 period, Stewart had a rough start. Stewart looked to pass to his running back in the flats. But, senior linebacker Tristyn Hanson had other ideas when he picked off the junior quarterback and scored the defensive touchdown.

Stewart rebounded quite nicely when he threw a slant-pass in a tight window to receiver Connor Flack for the touchdown. While Stewart has been the catalyst for the team’s passing success, he also lauds the improvements of those catching his passes.

“The wide receivers have made big improvements,” Stewart said. “They’re catching a lot more balls and they’re getting yards after the catch.”

Stewart finished with three touchdowns on the day in 11-on-11 with a touchdown to receiver Kyle Rhodus on a go-route and a practice-ending touchdown to junior receiver Gandi Kelly on the post-route.