The 100th season for the Panthers has come to an end
By Allen Hamrick
The 100th season for the CCHS Panther football team ended Friday night as they took on the Hoover Huskies in round one of playoff action. What a season it was! The Panthers made it to the playoffs and hosted their first ever playoff game at Bradley Field. The Panthers lost only one game and finished the regular season ranked #8 with a record of 8-1. This was a season that was full of action down to the last minute of each game. Friday was also a bittersweet evening as #54 Jacob “Salty” Morton, was recognized and missed as he remained in the hospital fighting his injuries received in a wreck just days before the last game of the season. The Panthers were down key players due to injuries, but the team that took the field gave one hundred percent to the cause. There wasn’t a game this season where the Panthers didn’t give full measure to their level of play; they went out and gutted out on every down. They are definitely a gang of brothers that left all they had on the gridiron, and they can hold their heads up for a season that will not be forgotten too soon in the hearts of football fans.
The field was standing room only as both groups of fans began busting their lungs in support of the teams. The Huskies got on board first and never looked back. At the end of the half, the score stood at 6-28 in favor of the Huskies. The Panthers only score in the half came from a great drive from the Panthers with Matteo McKinney running it in from about 15 yards out. After the halftime highlights, the Huskies continued their drive to the end zone, and the Panthers just couldn’t seem to catch a break on defense as the Huskies controlled the line. Offensively, the Panthers started picking up some scores late in the third and looked as though they would make a run for the lead. However, it was not to be as the game ended with the final score of Panthers 26, Huskies 63. This game in no way shed a dim light on the Panther season; it has been a great one. Unfortunately, losing players makes it tough to play effectively the same as when a team is full strength. It has indeed been a great year – not because they had a winning season but because they won as a gang of brothers, lost as a gang of brothers and in each game played until the last minute, never giving in or giving up. Congratulations to the players and coaches for an awesome season!
With that fall sports have came to a close and time has ushered in the winter sports of basketball and wrestling for the 2022-2023 season. So, break out the field jackets, mukluks and hand warmers because it’s time for some hard court basketball and bone crushing wrestling. The Lady Panthers are gearing up and will have speed and strength under the glass. The coaches will bring all their experience to whip the team into shape, and there’s no doubt they will be ready. They have some veterans returning to the dance as well as some new blood coming off of a great season from CCMS that will definitely make a difference in Lady Panther Basketball this season. The Panthers are coming off a pretty good season from last year and hope to renew the fire. After losing some great players to graduation, the Panthers will have to fill those shoes. It looks as though they will have the speed and perhaps will bring back the power under the hoop. New players have come onto the court and will challenge even the strongest under the hoop for rebound dominance. Outside the ring, they will have sharp shooters who should be able to scratch the net with ease.
The Lady Mustangs will be attempting to go for the championship title for another year. With coach Phil Dobbins stepping up to the helm with his style of coaching, the Lady Mustangs will be tough to beat. They have some big spots that will have to be filled after some of last year’s team moved up to Lady Panthers. There is no doubt Coach Dobbins will have the girls ready. Dean Rogers will be taking over the coaching for the Mustang basketball team and should be able to bring all his knowledge to the floor and get the boys back into championship form. Basketball fans from all over the county will be there to root on the Panthers, Lady Panthers, Mustangs and Lady Mustangs in their bids for basketball glory.
The CCMS Mustang wrestling dynasty is back on the menu for the 2022 season. Tyler Dorsey will be the head coach and hopefully get the Mustangs back to the mat glory they are used to. Once again the CCHS wrestling team under Coach Jamie McDonough will make war on the floor with attitudes that rival those of the famed Navy Seals. Coach McDonough will bring his form of high intensity work outs to the practices. All basketball and wrestling teams are on the front line of unbending fury; let’s get out and support them this season.
