PackAttack

Just think if he had a great OL in front of him like Tatum in Longview, he may be ranked twice as high. IMO that's a plus for a good RB and his ranking. How many times was Young hit in the backfield last year just as he was handed the ball? A lot more than you think, at least 4 or 5 times a game. After the first two series, most good opp Ds are able to read Green's play calling. Young got a ton of yards just on his own ability last year, just watch his highlight reel. Hopefully the OL is much improved this year with three new members and two returning, who have a year's experience under their belt, even though I don't like the zone blocking scheme. Never have, and maybe it's because I don't understand it. Wasn't around when I played.

Back in the old 12-5A days it was the survival of the fittest. The competition made everyone better and play harder, because you didn't want to be embarrassed. Every week was a war, especially the two round robin years (2002-2003) with Longview, Legacy (Lee), Tyler High (JT) and Lufkin playing each other twice in district.. Surprising that teams were still physically healthy enough to make playoff runs. In 2002 Lufkin lost twice in district to Tyler Lee, beat Longview 3 times, twice in district and 24-21 in the 4th round of the playoffs at SFA.

JR WR Ke Vondrick Taylor is someone I'm really wanting to see play the next couple of years. To me he has Keke Coutee, Ralph Thomas and Malik Jackson type talent qualities. https://twitter.com/i/status/1573822634747379713

Best I can tell from this Spring Roster - SR Nichols #79, JR Villegas #57, JR #50 Foreman , SR Chavez #52 and JR Torres #55 are the starting OL for 2023. So, Nichols and Villegas are the two that return from the Panther 2022 OL.

KETK throwback to missing the playoffs in 2021 leading up to 2022 season: https://www.ketk.com/sports/friday-football-fever/lufkin-set-to-refocus-in-2022-after-missing-the-playoffs-last-season/ I want to compare this to the lead up conversation for the 2023 season. Yea, as a verse in the STYX song says "Is it any wonder I've got too much time on my hands, It's ticking away with my sanity, I've got too much time on my hands". LOL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2w5vdLDMAc

Zion Williams has some nice offers as a Junior. https://www.on3.com/db/zion-williams-176158/

Kedren Young is a 4 Star RB according to 247/Sports. https://247sports.com/Player/Kedren-Young-46136339/ https://www.on3.com/db/kedren-young-152696/ https://www.texasfootball.com/recruiting/players/kedren-young.cca40327?ref=rankings_list

KEDREN YOUNG has 25 offers and more to come. A 6 ft 215 lbs RB and with his speed, he is underrated by many IMO. Also a high GPA student.

Three of those guys in 7-5A

Hmmm. That is interesting. They had high expectation when he came in there. It has been a tough couple years for him there at Crockett, think he went 11-12. https://www.kltv.com/2023/06/01/am-product-alton-dixon-leaves-position-crockett-head-football-coach/

It's been pretty slow around here on Panther football news, too much time to think. So getting ready in my mind for the 2023 season, I've been thinking about the past 6 years of Lufkin football, and the prospects and hope of better the next few years. Can't do much about the past, or the talent we had back in 2017 and 2018, or the lack of in 2020 and 2021. Thinking back, the 2019 group took some beatings and they had Caleb Berry and Jaylen Polk with Jordan Moore at QB, a very decent trio. Now 2022 is the head scratcher, because we lost a couple games we probably should not have, McKinney North and Forney. Many of those same players will return this year and we are adding to the mix the rest of that vaulted freshman group from 2 years ago. So what to expect and why?? We have the same coaching as we had in 2018 and 2019, and 2017 when we should have beat Longview and moved on in the playoffs. Special teams coaching cost us that game, kicking off to a Lobo returner who had scorched us all day, and he did it again returning our kickoff to the Lufkin 38 yard line. Just kick it out of bounds and giving it to them on their 30 yard line, with less than 2 minutes left and 1 time out. NO, let's kick it down the middle to their best return guy. That's the stuff that's always on my mind here in Lufkin, it's the occasional lack of football coaching sense. In 2017 Lufkin finished 11-3, lost to Longview (refer to above), in 2018 the Panthers were 10-2 losing to Lone Star in the 2nd round, with 3rd string QB Davis at the helm, with Thomas hurt and unable to go, and Moore on suspension that week. In the 2019 Lufkin still managed a 9-2 finish through a mesh of inexperience and injuries only to just run out of gas at home in the 1st round to Texas High 41-35 . See a trend here? Then COViD hit in 2020, Lufkin finished 5-6 and one of those victories was a forfeit by Cleveland. The Panthers took some big lopsided losses that had not been seen in the Lufkin program in two decades that year. Just when you didn't think it could get worse, it did, finishing 4-6 in 2021 and missing the playoffs for the first time in 23 years. You say, well that was an aberration, no it happen again in 2022, finished 6-4 and missed the playoffs again. Definitely a much better team than the 2021 group, still no playoffs. Now remember in Texas High School football all you need to do is finish 4th and your in the playoffs. So you can see how one could be apprehensive, its logical thinking. That doesn't make me a naysayer, no, just trying to look at the big picture, to reason some things based on 6 years of facts. Do the players talent pull a program to stay a contender and make the playoffs every year, like Longview, Carthage and say Lancaster, OR are Coach King and Coach Surrat just pulling in the talent left and right every stinking year to stay contending for so long? OR is there some great coaching going on there? You see we have the same guys coaching here in Lufkin who brought us 11-3 and 10-2 seasons, and also 5-6 and 4-6 seasons since 2017. Which you have not seen from the afore mentioned schools or coaches in those same 6 years, and going back even more seasons than just those six. You see, I'm trying to make sense of the difference, and how and why we are expecting a string of playoff runs to start to happening again this fall. Not trying to bust anyone's bubble here, that happen long ago, and I'm not sure everyone really believes where this program sits and how far it has to go to be in the top echelon it once was. No matter how good this group coming in really is, they can not understand the level of greatness of the Panther program from 1998-2006. There is no way. It's like building something from almost scratch, all over again. That's what that 1998 group started for those banner years. We have been out of real contention so long, there is no passing on the success from one group to the next. Looking at Longview and Carthage, it seems some coaches are able to build something and sustain it through what they do as coaches, while other coaches must wait for talent to come along to attempt to make a little playoff run. Or maybe inherit a very good football program built by your mentor, only to , well.......... Someone else would need to finish that thought, I cant. Anyway, here is to championships and long playoff runs ahead. If those things don't happen, we'll already know how to feel about it all. FYI, did you realize that we currently have not watched any Panther football played in 8 of the last 10 seasons on Thanksgiving weekend? Just let that sink in a minute.

2023 Texas High School Football 6-Year Program Rankings Lufkin ranked #204 5ADI (46-22) - 2 -10 win seasons - Ranked #208 in 2022, ↑ 4

Interesting:

I know this has nothing to do with Panther football. Found this track training interesting, this girl is from Stephenville and won the 2023 4A 100M title this year with a 11.35. https://www.facebook.com/reel/769285848264414?s=yWDuG2&fs=e&mibextid=Nif5oz

True point.

I don't know, I will take your word on that. i just want the season to begin so we can watch the action and not talk about it.

I guess, but McCoy is one guy and it was back in 2014. He gets credit for one.

and we all see the results of that fine coaching on Friday nights..........

SMH, I give up. Just being honest, I'm not a fan.

One thing that has been floating around is Cook asking to be reassigned within the district. Not sure if there is any merit in that rumor. Whether that will make any difference or not ?? Probably should not make that judgement based on how the O-line has performed the last few years under his tutelage.

Don't know if this is 1st or 2nd team O-line. This is Spring practice, your evaluation? Looks like they miss blocks a couple times. D line looks good.

At some point between now and the start of the season, I would like to list all the Lufkin players with scholarship offers, how many offers and schools that offered. I know Kedren Young, Zion Williams and Isaiah Menefee have several P5 offers each. There are probably others too. That is why I'm reaching out to everyone. I will start a topic or you can start a topic at some point.

I want to get something off my chest before the season, and it's stuff that has already been bounced around. Most we already know or suspect. Just saying it's concerning to me as a fan when the coaching staff has to wait for a very talented bunch to come along in order to win anything or hope to win or expect to win more games. What are their expectations with this group coming into view this season? I would really like to know. To PurpleNation, I have every confidence that Panther football will be better this year and so will most of the 7-5A district. There is the conceivability there of not making the playoffs again, especially if they allow another McKinney North or Forney loss. Not expecting that to happen, however it's not my mistrust in players that make me think about such things. You guys know what I'm talking about, or the program would not be sitting in it's current position today IMO. Here is the deal, I fully realize that Lufkin football is not what it was 17-18 years ago, especially 12 years ago, just look at the overall playoff record 7-9 ???, football was the kingpin when Quick took it over. Either his approach, or maybe the Administration has hindered him from making the moves needed to stay on top. PurpleNation could be right that the lack of enough talent has contributed to the fall of the program, and if anyone thinks this has not been a fall, I beg to differ with you. I think all the above has played a part in this demise. Lufkin finished 6th in district last year, has anyone let that sink in yet?? The Panthers were 5th the year before in 2021. I know many say the talent was not there, but you see good coaching find a way to take average talent and at least finish 4th many times. I see it all the time in Texas HS football. There is not many positives that you can say about the past two season, even though Kedren Young broke some rushing records. Did it get Lufkin into the playoffs, we know it didn't. Quick loves to talk about hating to miss the playoffs, how we are going to rectify the situation, he states "this is not Panther football". It darn sure isn't, we all know that, no one has to tell us that part, we've seen it the past 3 years. Yet, with all that talk about not meeting expectations we have stayed much the same. The 2020 playoffs and getting beat down 41-5 by Longview in the 1st round and no playoffs the past two years should never been acceptable by this community. His words have become hollow to our ears. Fans and this community need to see substance, and winning, not listen to just words any longer. I'm done now, my soapbox is back in the garage, and I'm waiting to see if we get a real BBQ meal in 2023 or just the smoke from the grill again this fall.

K/P ~ 2025 Nolan Hansard -

Isaiah Menefee lll - DB/SS | 6’1 | 185lb | ‘24