There aren’t many worse ways to start a season than with a loss to your rival.

Except maybe losing one of your best players to an injury and then losing to your rival.

Jemison’s 2012 season didn’t begin exactly the way the Panthers envisioned, but things are looking up. After suffering a concussion during a preseason jamboree and not being cleared for a 27-14 loss to Chilton County in Week 1, star senior Randy Satterfield returned for last week’s 40-13 region win at Oak Grove.

Satterfield returned two punts for touchdowns, and other Panthers demonstrated big-play ability, but coach Merritt Bowden was unsatisfied with how the team failed to put away their opponents. They led 40-0 at halftime.

“It’s always good to pick up a region win, but we’re still just making way too many mistakes at this point, and we’ve got to do a better job of finishing,” Bowden said. “We need to get better at playing four quarters.

“If we do that, we’ll become a good football team.”

Now, as they enter the meat of the region schedule, is a good time for the Panthers to become a good team. Friday’s visit from Carbon Hill is Jemison’s homecoming, so fans would love to see a second win a row.

“They run a form of the Wing T,” Bowden said of the next opponent. “It’s a tough offense to defend. If they execute it, it will be tough to stop at times.”

To improve, Jemison will have to cut down on turnovers (“That will beat you quicker than anything,” Bowden said). The Panthers have especially been hurt by turnovers in the “red zone,” inside their opponent’s 20-yard line.

JHS is hoping it can depend on more big plays from Satterfield.

“Randy can be a difference maker,” Bowden said. “He just brings a lot to the table, on offense and defense.