alba golden (7).jpg

DISTRICT 9-2A DIVISION I

OUR PICKS: 1. HONEY GROVE 2. COOPER 3. PAUL PEWITT 4. ALBA-GOLDEN 5. RIVERCREST 6. QUINLAN BOLES 7. COMO-PICKTON

ALBA-GOLDEN PANTHERS

COACH: Drew Webster (6th season, 24-28)

ALL-TIME RECORD: 122-285-2

STADIUM: Alba-Golden Stadium, 1373 CR 2377, Alba 75410

2023 RESULTS: 7-4

RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 24/20

LETTERMAN LOST: 7

OFFENSE: Multiple

OFFENSIVE NOTABLES: RB Cameron Lennon, Sr., 5-9, 151 … TE Wyatt Sutton, Sr., 6-3, 185 … RB Luke Jones, Jr., 5-8, 160 … OL Hector Delgadillo, Sr., 5-10, 276 … QB Sam Olson, Jr., 5-11, 178 … WR Kaden “Boogie” Trimble, Jr., 5-10, 160 … OL Simon Ortega, Soph., 230

DEFENSE: 3-3-5

DEFENSIVE NOTABLES: DL Jaxen Carver, Sr., 6-3, 278 … DB Cameron Lennon, Sr., 5-9, 151 … LB Mason Smith, Jr., 6-0, 178 … DB Wyatt Sutton, Sr., 6-3, 185 … LB Luke Jones, Jr., 5-8, 160

2024 OUTLOOK: Three straight years with a winning record … that had never happened in Alba-Golden history, until now. Webster has the Panthers rolling, getting to the playoffs in two of the past three years for a program that didn’t make the postseason from 2016-20 and also went from 1989-2010 without a playoff appearance. An elite defense has been the catalyst for Alba-Golden’s success as the Panthers didn’t allow a point until the fourth game of the season in 2023 and posted a fourth shutout later in the season. But the offense also came around for the Panthers in 2023 as they scored a program-record 337 points in a season. Jones (45 carries, 515 yards, six touchdowns), Trimble (26 catches, 480 yards, four touchdowns) and Sutton (19 catches, 460 yards, five touchdowns) are back. Olson is expected to take over at quarterback. Delgadillo is experienced on the offensive line, and Ortega started at tackle as a freshman and will move to center as a sophomore. Defensively, Smith (115 tackles, 14 tackles for loss), Nikolai Kent (six sacks), Garrett Wright (five interceptions), Lennon (116 tackles, four interceptions), Carver (65 tackles, four sacks, 15 tackles for loss), Sutton (37 tackles, four interceptions) and Jones (60 tackles) all return for the Panthers.

———

SCHEDULE

Aug. 30: at Overton

Sept. 6: Mount Enterprise

Sept. 13: at Cumby

Sept. 20: Simms Bowie

Sept. 27: Como-Pickton*

Oct. 4: at Rivercrest*

Oct. 18: Honey Grove*, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 25: at Cooper*

Nov. 1: Paul Pewitt*

Nov. 8: at Quinlan Boles*

*District 9-2A Division I game

All Games are at 7 p.m. unless noted

PAUL PEWITT BRAHMAS

COACH: Jeremy Russell (1st season, 0-0)

ALL-TIME RECORD: 469-351-13

STADIUM: Brahmas Stadium, 1330 U.S. Highway 67, Omaha 75571

2023 RESULTS: 3-7

RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 16/12

LETTERMEN LOST: 13

OFFENSE: Gun T

OFFENSIVE NOTABLES: OL KC Watson, Sr., 6-2, 270 … QB/RB JD Smith, Sr., 5-7, 175 … OL Joseph Browne, Sr., 5-9, 270 … OL Jameson Cox, Sr., 5-10, 275 … WR Champ Bailey, Sr., 5-8, 160 … TE Trace Goforth, Sr., 6-1, 195 … TE Chris Bowski, Jr., 5-11, 175 … RB KD Watson, Jr., 5-7, 170 … RB Zahkevion Betts, Soph., 5-9, 170 … RB Terry Versailles, Soph., 5-6, 150 … RB Charles McGill, Soph., 5-7, 150 … QB Cade Nix, Soph., 5-8, 165 … TE Boone Hodges, Jr., 5-8, 165 … K Ian Mares, Sr., 5-7, 150

DEFENSE: 3-4

DEFENSIVE NOTABLES: DL KC Watson, Sr., 6-2, 270 … LB JD Smith, Sr., 5-7, 175 … DL Joseph Browne, Sr., 5-9, 270 … DL Jameson Cox, Sr., 5-10, 275 … DB Champ Bailey, Sr., 5-8, 160 … DL Trace Goforth, Sr., 6-1, 195 … LB Chris Bowski, Jr., 5-11, 175 … LB KD Watson, Jr., 5-7, 170 … LB Zahkevion Betts, Soph., 5-9, 170 … DB Terry Versailles, Soph., 5-6, 150 … DB Charles McGill, Soph., 5-7, 150 … DB Cade Nix, Soph., 5-8, 165 … LB Boone Hodges, Jr., 5-8, 165

2024 OUTLOOK: Paul Pewitt missed the playoffs in 2023 after 15 consecutive postseason appearances. The Brahmas have not been in the postseason just twice — 2007 and 2023 — since 1995. A lot changed for Paul Pewitt in the offseason. The Brahamas dropped down to Class 2A and hired Newton offensive coordinator Jeremy Russell as the new head coach. Depth will be a key factor for the Brahmas in their new district. KC Watson (34.5 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries) and Hodges (37.5 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, four fumble recoveries) are two of the key returners on defense. KC Watson, Browne and Cox also lead the offensive line. KD Watson (889 yards rushing, 13 touchdowns) is back at running back and will be joined in the backfield by Smith, Betts, Versailles and McGill. Smith and Nix will also be in the mix at quarterback, while Bailey is the team’s top returning passer.

———

SCHEDULE

Aug. 30: at Linden-Kildare

Sept. 6: White Oak

Sept. 13: Redwater

Sept. 20: at Hughes Springs, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 27: at Cooper*

Oct. 11: Quinlan Boles*

Oct. 18: at Como-Pickton*, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 25: Rivercrest*

Nov. 1: at Alba-Golden*

Nov. 8: Honey Grove*

*District 9-2A Division I game

All Games are at 7 p.m. unless noted