Ridge Point’s well-oiled machine kept cruising right along in 2016. Just one year after making it to the state semifinals, the Panthers completed a perfect regular season and went two rounds deep in the playoffs before losing to a very talented Lamar team.
And for the district victors came the spoils, including Coach of the Year honors for Brett Sniffin and 20-6A MVP Terry Petry.
Ridge Point simply obliterated opposition last year, starting with a 31-10 thumping of Kingwood, 49-0 over Lamar Consolidated and Houston Stratford, 30-0 in non-district. Kingwood and Stratford were playoff teams. Ridge Point averaged 40 points a game and allowed just 10 per game, which included three shutouts and four other games of holding opponents to 10 points or less.
Last season marked another great season for the young program. The 11-1 season comes off the heels of an 11-4 year in 2015, 12-1 in 2014 and 9-3 in 2013. The Panthers have won 18 of their last 20, with their only losses to Lamar in 2016 and eventual 2015 state champion Cedar Park in the state semifinal.
Key Losses
CB/WR Terry Petry, DT Devin Woods, S Ar’mani Johnson
Petry was the district’s player of the year after stellar performances on both sides of the ball. He had 18 solo tackles, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and averaged 29.6 yards per reception on offense with 11 touchdowns.
Key Returners
LB Chad Bailey, TE Mustapha Muhammed, QB Aaron Allen
Allen passed for 2,398 yards and 26 touchdowns last season with just four interceptions. Muhammed was a unanimous all-district pick at tight end after hauling in 31 passes for 438 yards and four touchdowns. Adam Bazan also returns at wide receiver. Bazan led the team with 44 receptions and had six touchdown catches.
Mason McBride led the team in rushing yards last year as a sophomore and had nine rushing touchdowns with 81.4 yards per game. Bailey led the team with 99 total tackles and was second on the team with five sacks.
The Verdict
Ridge Point should be the hands-on favorite to win district again, perhaps even run the table in regular season. That’s how talented they are.
Having experience on both sides of the ball at all times will certainly give the Panthers an advantage in their first 11 games. Depending on how well they play in the middle rounds of the playoffs, and how they can cut down on mistakes, will determine how far they can go in 2017.
This fall should be an exciting one for Panthers fans.
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