2012 Dogwood Circle Two-A-Day Tour: Oakwood Panthers

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August 8, 2012

2012 Dogwood Circle Two-A-Day Tour: Oakwood Panthers

By JUSTIN RAINS CNHI The Palestine Herald-Press Wed Aug 08, 2012, 03:47 PM CDT

OAKWOOD — The Oakwood football team got a taste of success last season, going undefeated in the regular season and making it three rounds deep in the playoffs.

But, instead of sitting back and being happy with that result, the Panthers are working toward something bigger and better.

Much, much bigger.

The talk around Oakwood’s unique silo locker room is of state titles, and what they have to do to get there.

The talk isn’t just the preaseason optimism of high school kids. Even the coaches have gotten in on the act.

It’s easy to understand why.

The Panthers return all but one player from last year’s breakout squad, including both Damiyne Durham and Bryson Randle, the cogs that make the Panther offense go.

On defense, they’ve got Louis Collins back to anchor the defensive line, with Christian Brummett back to play alongside him.

Oakwood fell in the second round last season, but led by 20 points at one point in that game. It’s easy to see why they feel like more is in store in 2012.

3 THINGS TO WATCH

The pre-district crunch — OHS coach Mike Heckathorn didn’t give his team a cakewalk schedule for the first five games of the season. Instead, he loaded it with top teams. The Panthers will face three state-ranked teams (according to Texas Football Magazine) in non-district play, including a neutral site game with Division I No. 5 Zephyr in Avalon Sept. 6.

Replacing the lone loss — Oakwood only graduated one player from last year’s squad, but it was a significant loss. For two years Travis Eldridge was the starting quarterback for the Panthers, meaning that the only quarterback to lead the Panthers to the six-man playoffs is gone. How well junior Mike Biedrzycki fills that role will be big for Oakwood

How high can they go — As Durham and Randle go, so go the Panthers. The duo has the talent and the ability to go really far and take the team with them. Both put up huge numbers last season — Durham’s sophomore campaign and Randle’s junior — and both want this season to be even better. If Oakwood is going to contend for a title, it’ll be behind this duo.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Louis Collins, Jr., OL/DL — While much will be made of the exploits of Durham and Randle, Collins may be the glue that holds Oakwood together. An all-district lineman on both sides of the ball, he’ll be asked to do a lot of the dirty work without much of the glory.

THEY SAID IT

“This team should win a state championship. I don’t think they’re a year away. I think the senior class that we have this year adds to what the juniors are.”

— OHS coach Mike Heckathorn, on his teams expectations in 2012

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