By Jason Nichols
The CCHS Panther football season keeps moving toward the start of the regular season. The players are continuing to work hard and are proving to be dedicated to attendance, practice, and success. The Panthers traveled to Poca to take on the Dots in the opening scrimmage on August 12, and then traveled to the Midland Trail Grid-O-Rama on August 19. There seems to be a lot of positive things to build on and, of course, some things that still need some work. However, two Panthers proved to stand out recently among those on the team.
Senior OL/LB Zack Ferrebee and Junior OL/DL Ben Burdette have earned coaches nominations for players of the week. Ferrebee is a two year starter for the Panthers, and Burdette has started off and on over the last few seasons. Ferrebee showed loyalty and dedication to his team when he sacrificed his personal goals to help the team. He has worked hard in the weight room over the last few seasons, and is one of the stronger and faster players on the roster. He played fullback last season and was looking good in camp. However, the Panthers found themselves with a shortage of offensive lineman, and Ferrebee stepped up for the team. He said, “whatever helps us win is what I’ll do,” when he moved to the line.
Burdette showed up for camp and has certainly turned over a new leaf. He has a new attitude and has developed a sense of urgency when it comes to practice and getting better. He has been running and blocking hard all season long, and seems to be a player that the younger players look to when needing some advice about how to block. Burdette has been seen at Maysel in the evenings helping out with the Pee Wee program as well. Please congratulate these players as they have been awarded Practice Players of the Week.
Last week’s Practice Players of the Week were senior QB/DB Alex Grose and freshman RB/DB Caleb Atha. Grose showed up for camp with a renewed desire to win. He was often seen running hard, being helpful with the younger players and doing just a little extra despite having his fingers taped up after a terrifying car wreck just days before the season started. He showed more than enough to be one of two Practice Players of the Week.
Atha is a rising freshman RB/DB who sets the bar for the manner in which a player should practice. Atha never once slowed up in conditioning drills or individual drills. He came into camp wanting to prove that he was a player and that his freshman season was going to count for something. He has ran every sprint and drill as hard as any player has done so in recent memory. Please congratulate these young men on their accomplishment.
