BARNSDALL PANTHERS
Coach: KYLEE SWEENEY
7-4
OFFENSE
If adversity is the building blocks to success, then the Panthers are poised for a memorable season. Coach Kylee Sweeney said the team returns a good group and he’s looking forward to getting the season started. “We are making the move back to 11-man football for the 2024 season. We have a group with a lot of experience that will have six returning starters on both sides of the ball and lots of playing experience by underclassmen. This group looks to return to the playoffs in 2024 and make a playoff run,” said Sweeney. Maverick Lanphear (6-0, 185, Sr.) is back at quarterback where he continues to put up impressive numbers. Lanphear has over 5,300 total yards and 54 career TDs. One of his favorite targets in the passing game is Braden Byers (5-11, 165, Sr.) who has over 2,000 career yards to his credit. James Johnson (5-11, 165, Sr.) amassed 500 yards and seven TDs last season. The trio will be tough to stop this season. Tight end Lincoln Gott (6-4, 215, Jr.) and fullback Andrew Cole (6-0, 205, Jr.) will play key roles in the offense this season as the Panthers look to spread the ball around in the shotgun/pistol formation. Brohk Townley (5-11, 235, Sr.) is the leader up front. Townley needs to help some guys with less experience mature and become a solid unit up front is the Panthers are going to go deep in the playoffs. Also look for Nathan Smith (Fr.), an athletic player the coaching staff is excited to get involved in the offense.
DEFENSE
Lanphear will start in the secondary where he has a career 190 tackles and is one of three returning starters in the defensive secondary. Johnson and Byers will round out the three starters for coach Sweeney. Johnson has 90 career tackles. Henry Easley (6-5, 275, Sr.) anchors the defensive line. Last season he put up great numbers with 13 sacks and 21 TFLs. Townley will join Easley on the line where the two plan to wreck things for opposing offenses. Gott and Blaine Miller (5-9, 170, Jr.) start at linebacker in the 4-3 for the Panthers. Gott registered 70 tackles while Miller grabbed 65 tackles. Both guys fly to the ball and play physical football. Cole joins Miller and Gott at linebacker making this trio one of the best in the class. The defense does have a couple of positions up for grabs this offseason and early scrimmages should shake out a couple of starters. Tripp Barbee (5-7, 120, So.) could be one of those guys added to the secondary. Haydon Collins (6-3, 180, So.) is another guy to watch at defensive end. The coaching staff includes Wade Corder, Austin Gann, James Cole, Will White, Micah Lanphear, Caleb Hawes, and Ryan Gott. Opponents should be aware, playing a tough schedule and moving up to 11-man is simple compared to the offseason and spring ball the Panthers endured. Good luck boys!
