Enid Area

Pond Creek-Hunter Panthers 2023 Football Team Preview- Presented by Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home

kaylabidle

Published

August 16, 2023

POND CREEK-HUNTER PANTHERS

Coach: TANNER BOWMAN

4-7

OFFENSE

Each season teams will face new challenges and look to build on the success they had a season ago. Same goes for head coach Tanner Bowman and the Pond Creek-Hunter Panthers. “We’re excited about the upcoming season, and we look forward to building upon some of the success we had last year. It will be challenging to replace the seniors we lost, but we bring back a solid nucleus from last year,” said Bowman. One reason for the optimism is the return of Harrison Stapleton (5-8, 150, Sr.) who accounted for 56 receptions and 497 yards with six touchdowns. Stapleton has four offers to play at the next level and is known as one of the hardest workers on the team. Finding someone to get him the ball is a top priority but running the ball will likely fall to Ashton Banks (5-7, 140, Jr.) and Cole Mitchell (5-10, 200, Jr.). Last season Banks racked up 630 all-purpose yards and six scores while Mitchell had 47 carries for 290 yards and four scores. The trio of skill players will make the Panthers tough to stop. Add Titus Westrope (6-4, 190, Jr.) in at wide receiver and you have the makings of a salty offense. Two seniors will anchor the offensive line in Lucas Stoll (5-10, 290, Sr.) and Teagan Howell (6-3, 240, Sr.). Their play is crucial to the success of the single-back offense PCH will run this season.

DEFENSE

“Six of our eight starters on defense were freshman and sophomores so we will look to use their experience to improve our defense,” said coach Bowman. Banks and Stapleton will start in the secondary. Banks made 67 tackles last season while Stapleton had 33 tackles. Their athleticism in the secondary is vital to the defense. Mitchell grabbed 91 tackles at linebacker with three sacks. Hunter Simpson (5-10, 200, So.) and Blayne Tefft (6-0, 190, So.) join Mitchell at linebacker. Simpson recorded 37 tackles and one sack as a freshman while Tefft made 36 tackles and three sacks. Stoll will start on the defensive line giving the Panthers a run stopper up front. Stoll grabbed 38 tackles, six of those for a loss last year. Also look for Carlos Robinson who joined the program last season and Landon Peterson who committed himself to the weight room during the offseason and is expected to make big contributions in 2023. The coaching staff include Doug Bolin, David Kerr, Dakota Davis, and Jay Miller.