Butler County Magnet School has been pushing ahead with spring training.

The school named Shawn Gregory head coach on Thursday night, but David Watts has led the team through training so far.

“It is a tough situation going through spring training without a coach named, but we’ve been making the best of it,” Watts said. “We are just focusing on fundamentals and that sort of stuff.”

Watts said he is grateful of how his players have dealt with it.

“The kids have responded great,” Watts said. “There are a lot of pitfalls we could have fallen prey to that we avoided.”

Not only will last year’s coach not be returning, but Watts said many players he expected to come back aren’t.

“We got a lot of inexperienced players, including a lot of young lineman, that are going to be playing,” Watts said.

This means starting two eighth grade linemen on the varsity squad, Watts said.

Fans won’t be at a total loss recognizing players, however. Offensive lineman A.J. Watts will be returning, as well as Trey Brockman at defensive back, and running back De’kendre’ Binion. Ricky Everett, who played linebacker last year, will be returning as starting strong safety.

“We still are going to try to set the bar high, but we’ll just have to see how it goes,” Watts said.

The Panthers hosted Flomaton in a Jamboree game on Friday night.