Week #8 - Lufkin Panthers (5-1, 2-0) vs Baytown Sterling Rangers (3-4, 0-3), October 18th, 7 PM @ Abe Martin Stadium

[PackAttack]

Lufkin (5-1, 2-0) will face Baytown Sterling Rangers (3-4, 0-3) in Week# 8 of the season.  Lufkin is coming off a BYE week while Baytown lost 26-9 to Beaumont West Brook (3-3, 1-1).   

Lufkin has never played Baytown Sterling under their current name. However they do have a history under their previous names.  Goose Creek, first playing them in 1939, a 34-6 Panther win. Lufkin has a 3-0 record against Goose Creek. Goose Creek changed to Baytown High, Lufkin played Baytown High twice in 1948 and 1949, losing both games 55-6 and 8-0.  Baytown Sterling, Baytown Lee and Goose Creek Memorial are all in the Goose Creek Independent School District today.

DCTF has Lufkin a +40 point favorite over Baytown Sterling.

LUFKIN BROADCAST: https://www.lufkinisd.org/lp-livestream/

LUFKIN LIVE STREAM:  https://www.lufkingametime.com/

Ticket Information @  https://lufkinisd.hometownticketing.com/embed/all?fbclid=IwY2xjawE5sOdleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHV24Q3kawsF0gmoEYghSLGIpKHW53kYvP1hPzVnGDqGhFxRIol_Bb_7Zlg_aem_1jpMxKnQgyFsYLZkJhBw5A

OR  In Person @ Lufkin ISD Technology Building at 701 North 1st St  on Wednesday and Thursday from 8 AM to 4 PM and Friday from 8 AM to 12 Noon for all Home games.

Lufkin Panthers:

Coach: Todd Quick. Lettermen R/L: 25/26. Starters returning O/D: 4/8. 2023: 5-5/2-5 district. Key losses: Kedren Young (Notre Dame).

Key players to watch: DL Zion Williams (6-4, 315), DB Evan Young (6-2, 195), 4.6), LB Kaden Hooper (6-2, 225, 4.7), WR Krisean Preston (6-4, 185, 4.5), DT Elijah Alexander (6-3, 300), RB Gavin Phillips (6-3, 240), DB Kenneth Timmons, K Nolan Hansard (5-10, 175, 4.7), WR/QB Quincy Coutee (6-0, 175,4.6), WR KeVondrick Taylor (5-10, 175, 4.5), WR Keandre Hooper (5-9, 170, 4.5), DE/LB Kaleb Preston ( 6-3, 220, 4.6), S Evan Young (6-2, 190, 4.6), LB Juan Laura ( 6-1, 215, 4.7), Top Juniors: QB Javion Johnson (6-1, 180, 4.5), LB Desmond Hood (6-3, 220, 4.6), DB Keshawn Waters (5-11, 170, 4.5).  RB Gavin Phillips (6-3, 240), DB Kenneth Timmons.

Season games:  L  Longview 7 Lufkin 3, W Lufkin 56 Nacogdoches 0, W Lufkin 57 Little Rock Southwest 12, W Lufkin 39 Tyler 27, W Lufkin 32 Barbers Hill 14, W Lufkin 29  Beaumont West Brook 3

Coach: Robert Toomer. Lettermen R/L: 25/22. Starters returning O/D: 5/5. 2023: 3-7/1-7 district.

Players to watch: OL Malachi Godfrey (6-4, 320), WR John Smith (6-3, 180, 4.5), S Ayden Launius (5-10, 150, 4.6), QB Jackson Favors (5-10, 170, 4.7), RB Gerald Atkins (5-10, 190, 4.7), WR/CB Shaquille Leaks (5-11, 150, 4.5). Top juniors: DT Darion Crain (5-9, 285), RB Elijah Lewis (5-8, 165, 4.6). Top sophomore: DE Justus Broussard (6-1, 205, 4.6). WR/DB Andrew Hernandez, LB Reid Butler, CB Adrian Thomas, DB Abel Gonzalez, WR/DB Jakari Hall, LB Adrian Perez, S Lucas Leonce, LB Nic Mendoza. 

2024 notes: The Rangers improved to 3-7 a year ago and if not for a pair of one-score losses in district play, Sterling could have easily posted a 5-5 record in 2023. Toomer likes the returning skill talent for the Rangers, led by WR Smith, who moved from QB to the outside late in the year and flourished along with junior QB Favors, who started the last two games as a sophomore and looked comfortable at the varsity level. OL Godfrey is a four-year starter with FBS offers who will lead a young group in the trenches. S Launius is the top returning tackler and also led the district in punt return average in 2023. Junior DT Crain is a force in the middle of the defensive line, and the staff is excited about sophomore DE Broussard, who saw varsity action as a freshman.

Season Games: W Baytown Sterling 42  Goose Creek Memorial 20, W Baytown Sterling 37 Galena Park 7, L Baytown Lee  26 Baytown Sterling 17, W Baytown Sterling 56  Houston Chavez 0, L Galveston Ball 45 Baytown Sterling 0, L Barbers Hill 65 Baytown Sterling 7, L Beaumont West Brook 26 Baytown Sterling 9