Jody Grooms is ready for talk to shift to another topic.

Last year ended with the Lakeside coach responding to numerous requests from both local and national media outlets. The subject wasn't flattering.

Grooms will sit out the first two games of the 2008 season as punishment for running an illegal play at Effingham County last year. His absence won't go unnoticed.

But the embattled Lakeside coach has the support of his players. And they think the team has the chance at a special season.

"Everybody on the field knows he wants to be out there," Lakeside quarterback Chad Chandler said.

Lakeside will play in a new-look Region 3-AAAA, which offers less travel and a parity level that has area players and coaches believing a region title is up for grabs.

The Panthers are among them. They return 18 starters, including Chandler, -- a three-year starter -- and recent East Carolina commitment Kyle Tudor, who anchors the defense at linebacker.

The large number of returning players who have another year in Grooms' system under their belts have the Panthers believing a region championship is possible.

"I feel like we have the talent level to be that," Chandler said. "But we have to get our minds right to be in that position."

Lakeside fans are on the bandwagon.

As soon as rules allowed, about a minute after midnight on Aug. 1, the Panthers took the field for a second consecutive year of Midnight Madness.

"It had a lot of community support (last year), and the kids really enjoyed it," Grooms said. "We did it again this year and had even a bigger crowd. There was a lot of people there to watch practice. It created a festive atmosphere."

Grooms will sit out the Panthers' opener at Evans and the following week, when they play host to rival Greenbrier. The coach has apologized and expressed a desire to put the incident and its aftermath behind him.

A winning season would go a long way in helping.

The Panthers have a new defensive coordinator, John Creager, whose scheme includes moving Tudor from defensive back to linebacker. The senior, who plans to enroll at East Carolina in January, has led the team in tackles the past two seasons.

And what's he going to do from his new position?

"Rip people's heads off," Chandler said.

Lakeside players aren't short on confidence. Grooms, while acknowledging his team's potential for a strong season, has tried to temper some of the talk.

"We've been in this region before, and Lakeside didn't do too good," Grooms said. "Just because you change regions don't guarantee success, is what I tell them. Until we get our program where everybody around here would like to see our program get, it's going to be a tough road to travel."

Grooms said the preseason favorite could be Evans, which finished 9-3 last year with a playoff berth. Until someone knocks the Knights off, Grooms said, Evans is the "big boy on the corner."

Lakeside believes it can be in a similar position soon. Maybe then, the postseason conversation will be focused on the positive aspects of Lakeside's play.

Reach Stephen Fastenau at (706) 863-6165, ext. 116, or stephen.fastenau@augustachronicle.com.