The battle for the final playoff spot in this district a year ago was a nail-biter. In the end, Panther Creek edged Paint Rock by nine points to earn its first playoff berth since 2018.
Rising Star ran away with its first district title since 2015 and has the potential to go back-to-back this season. However, Panther Creek and Paint Rock will be looking to close the gap this season along with a Moran squad that will have more numbers than in previous years.
Here’s what to watch for in District 14-1A Division II.
Moran Bulldogs
Head Coach: John Hughes (5th Season)
Last Season: 0-10; 0-3 in district
Moran Key Players and Storylines
Moran head coach John Hughes is optimistic heading into 2023. After a couple of years of playing with the bare minimum number of players, he believes his Bulldogs will have some more depth this season.
But it’s not only depth, the Bulldogs also have plenty of starting experience with five starters returning on each side of the ball. They’ll hope that returning talent can carry them to their first win over a varsity opponent since October 2021.
Expect running back Connor Hail to see the bulk of the carries offensively (776 rushing yards and eight touchdowns), while quarterback Ellis Hise (309 passing yards and three touchdowns) and wide receiver Caleb York (14 catches for 104 receiving yards) will lead the Bulldog aerial attack.
Up front, both center Cotten Campbell and offensive linemen Zach Henderson are back after earning second-team all-district in 2022.
On the other side of the ball, Hail, York, Hise, and Campbell were Moran’s four leading tacklers a year ago. Look for Hail to play a key role at linebacker, York and Hise to anchor the secondary, and Campbell to be a threat opposing offenses have to deal with in the trenches.
A bigger roster will be one of Moran’s greatest assets this year. And with such a large amount of his team’s 2022 on-field production returning, Hughes is hopeful his Bulldogs can build off of the positives from last season in order to return to the win column in 2023.
Paint Rock Indians
Head Coach: Jeff Shelton (2nd Season)
Last Season: 3-7; 1-2 in district
Paint Rock Key Players and Storylines
Paint Rock won its first district game in nearly three years with a 72-22 thumping of Moran last October.
This year, the Indians will be young, with three starters back on offense and just two returning on defense.
Head Coach Jeff Shelton anticipates relying on the upcoming freshmen class in several positions. He also noted that Paint Rock is a “predominantly transfer school,” so the Indians could see some additions to their roster before the start of August as well.
One thing that Shelton is sure of is the impact nose guard/center Eric Johnson will have on both sides of the ball. He’s expected to be Paint Rock’s anchor in the trenches.
Quarterback/Safety Jayden Hernandez is another impact player to keep an eye on. He earned first team all-district a year ago on the defensive side of the ball.
There’s no doubt that the Indians have some question marks on both sides of the ball heading into the fall. However, Shelton said his team’s effort and attitude shouldn’t be questioned this year. He expects them to display maximum effort in everything they do as Paint Rock looks to improve week-by-week throughout the season.
Panther Creek Panthers
Head Coach: Gary Beam (2nd Season)
Last Season: 4-7; 2-1 in district (Lost to Loraine in bi-district)
Panther Creek Key Players and Storylines
Panther Creek knocked off Paint Rock in the regular season finale a year ago, sealing its first playoff berth since 2018.
After his team struggled with low numbers last season, Head Coach Gary Beam said his Panthers should have a bigger roster last year.
Not only will Beam have more players at his disposal, but he also expects his team to be quicker and stronger this season. They’ll also have plenty of experience, with four starters returning on offense and five back on defense.
When it comes to the Panther Creek offense, opponents will have to be weary of the three-headed monster in its backfield. Running backs Trevor Croft (899 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns), Ethan Croft (332 rushing yards and five touchdowns), and Braydon Barnett (331 rushing yards and six touchdowns) all return after earning first-team all-district honors last season.
Up front, fellow first team all-district honoree end Cason Ainsworth should lead the Panthers in the trenches.
On the other side of the ball, Damian Patterson (48 tackles), Trevor Croft (52 tackles), and Dorian Ercanbrack should make the Panther Creek defensive line a formidable one. All three earned all-district honors in 2022.
Behind them, Ethan Croft (44 tackles) will lead the linebacker corps, while Barnett (23 tackles) will be a player to watch in the secondary.
Beam praised his players for the improvement they made last season. With so much talent returning this year, a second-straight playoff berth is certainly in sight for the Panthers.
Rising Star Wildcats
Head Coach: Derek Stevens (3rd Season)
Last Season: 9-2; 3-0 in district (Lost to Blackwell in bi-district)
Rising Star Key Players and Storylines
A year ago, Rising Star made the playoffs since 2015. Head Coach Derek Stevens said the response from the Rising Star community has been noticeable.
“There is a renewed spirit about being a Rising Star Wildcat that hasn’t been around in quite a while,” Stevens said. “People are excited and more involved with our athletic programs K[indergarten] through 12[th grade]. Things are definitely headed in the right direction in Rising Star.”
This year, Rising Star is primed to build off of its 2022 achievements. If his team is healthy, Stevens expects them to bring home their second-straight district title. From there, he said they must execute better in the postseason as they look to win their first playoff game since 2015.
Five starters returning on offense and four back on defense means the Wildcats will have the experience to achieve the goals Stevens has set out for them.
Dakota Higgins will be a versatile player for the Wildcats up front, serving as a receiving threat as well. Brayden Cook should also be a key player for Rising Star along its offensive line.
Behind them, running back Dathon Morris and fullback/center Blake Wilson will be tasked with keeping the Wildcat backfield rolling after the graduation of last year’s district Offensive MVP quarterback Jake Bell.
And while the offense churned out 54 points per game a year ago, the defense was rock solid, holding opponents to under 18 points per game.
The defense should be just as strong with Higgins, last season’s defensive MVP, anchoring the unit and Morris and Wilson leading the secondary.
The community of Rising Star is eagerly looking forward to this season. And with the experience the Wildcats have coming back, they appear ready to add some more trophies to their cabinet in 2023.
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