By Allen Hamrick
The 2024 season for the CCHS Panther football team ended on Saturday in the first round of Class AA playoff games against Philipp Barbour. What a season it was! The Panthers lost only three games, scored over 400 points and finished the regular season 7-3. This was a season that was full of action down to the last minute of each game. Saturday blew in an arctic front, and the chill was enough to freeze the balls out of a set of wheel bearings.
The Panthers took to the field in the first half and looked like they were there to get this game in the bag and head to the next round. The first quarter was all about getting a good look at what each team had to offer, and then early in the second quarter, Noah Collins hit Joel Elliot who did a dance down the field in heavy traffic for a big gain. A couple of plays later, the Panthers were in the end zone as Collins connected with Elliott once again. Jaxon Brown got the extra point, and the Panther defense got busy and iced their offense causing a fumble that the Panthers recovered.
The Panthers marched the ball down the field and once again was picnicking in the end zone as Collins hits Robinson for the TD. The Colts amped up their game and got seven points on the board before the half was over. The Panthers and the Colts came out for the 3rd quarter, and the Panthers had first whack at the ball. They couldn’t move it down field as the Colts started hitting hard enough to hear the crunch. The Panthers were having a hard time getting positive real estate as the Colts stepped up the pressure on Collins. Most of the 2nd half saw Collins being rushed out of the pocket and the Colts forcing throws. The only offense in the 3rd was when Jaxon Brown hit for a 32 yard field goal giving the Panthers a three point lead. That was it, however, for the Panthers as they couldn’t seem to get the offense rolling as they did in the first half. The Colts added two more TD’s and the game ended with the score Panthers 17, Colts 28.
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 it 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. Next season they will be back and will have good talent for the 2025 season.
With that, fall sports have came to a close and time has ushered in the winter sports of basketball and wrestling for the 2024-2025 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 floor 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. It looks as though they will have the speed and perhaps will bring some power back under the hoop. New players from CCMS will bring some new life to the hard wood with their acrobat style of play. New head coach Justin Holcomb will definitely have them ready.
The Lady Mustangs will be attempting to relive the glory years and bring the title back to CCMS. They have some big spots that will have to be filled after some of last year’s team moved up to Lady Panthers. John Paxton 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 2024- 2025 season. Tyler Dorsey will once again 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. So, get geared up its nearing winter, and the season’s sports are heating up.
