The Redmond Panthers are looking to rebound after a disappointing 1-8 season last year.
Entering his 10th year as Head Coach, and Athletic Director, Nathan Stanley is optimistic. “A lot of people are saying that next year Redmond is going to be really good…but we feel that we can be really good this year.”
The Redmond Panthers only graduated one senior last year, so they return 21 starters, most of whom are only juniors.
In fact, out of 41 players on the varsity roster, 9 are seniors, 26 are juniors, and 6 sophomores made the squad as well.
At their Football Jamboree on Thursday (9/28), they defeated The Sisters Outlaws in a limited scrimmage, 24-0.
Stanley thinks the team is ready to step up, “We were really young last year we got a lot of good experience and kids understood that you cannot just show up, it is not JV football… it is varsity big boy sports.”
Stanley is especially excited about the potential of their TE Cody Winters (Sr. 6-5/250).
Winters not only has the size and speed to be a top flight Tight End, but he is also a star on the basketball team as well.
In the off season he attended camps at Portland State, Boise State, and George Fox.
Stanley says that Winters has the potential to play college ball “It terms of height and weight he has what college programs are looking for… he has the potential to do that.”
However, the strength of the team will be found in the trenches.
OT Taylor Paulson (Sr. 6-2/295) and Center Jake Brauchler (Jr. 5-11/260) anchor the line along with G Colin Leutschaft (Jr. 6-0/211).
Brauchler’s twin brother, Gabe (Jr. 5-9/195), will see time at RB and LB.
However, he will have to share playing time with 2013 All League RB Derrek Brown (Jr. 5-10/170) and Darren Ross (Jr. 6-2/185.)
Stanley also expects WR/DB Taylor Brown (6-2/175) to have a breakout year, using his height and speed to cause headaches for opposing defenses.
A pleasant surprise in the off season has been RB/LB Zakkary Campbell (Jr. 5-9/187) who despite being one of the smaller members of the team has made major strides in the weight room and on the practice field, and according to coach Stanley, has earned some playing time.
http://youtu.be/wWKyLADBXFI?list=UUx1YgUMQ0P0WDaWAVmnbAzA
Redmond faces a tough schedule this year facing three 5A playoff teams from last year in their non-IMC (Intermountain Conference) games: Franklin, The Dalles and Eagle Point.
Their conference schedule in the IMC starts on Oct 3rd when they host Bend.
Redmond will end the regular season facing their cross town rivals, the Ridgeview Ravens on Halloween (10/31) night.
Coach Stanley says the Panthers were more competitive last year than their 1-8 record reflects “We were leading in every single game that we were playing last year,” and that he thinks that another year of experience will make all the difference.
http://youtu.be/FusGqBycmhw?list=UUx1YgUMQ0P0WDaWAVmnbAzA
Find the Redmond Panthers on Facebook.
Redmond Panthers 2014 schedule.
9/05 Franklin
9/12 @ Eagle Point
9/19 The Dalles
9/26 @Hood River Valley
10/3 Bend
10/10 @Mountain View
10/17 Bye
10/24 North Eugene
10/31 @Ridgeview
Reader Interactions