CARY, NC – This year’s Panther Creek varsity football squad matched the same regular season record they had last year, but the locker-room isn’t satisfied yet as they look to deliver Coach Sean Crocker his first playoff victory since taking helm at Panther Creek.

Despite sporting the same 9-2 regular season record as last year’s team (who were defeated by eventual 4AA runner-ups Wake Forest in the first round), the personnel changes have been drastic. Toney Bass (645yds, 4TD) took over for 2013 SWAC POY, Dorrel McClain, in the backfield. Sophomore Addison Pinkney (282yds, 3TD) has also been earning his share of touches as of late, totaling three touchdowns in the final three games of the regular season. Junior Isaiah Laster (55tckl, 2 sacks, 5int, 3TD) and senior captain Ryan Callahan (76tckl, 3 sacks, 2int, 2FF) both burst onto the scene this year, being listed as the top “Out of nowhere” players in the Cary News SWAC football review. Receivers Diamante Taylor, Caleb Cross, and Justin Smalls also made a name for themselves this year, combining to catch 14 of the team’s 18 receiving scores. The changes this year go beyond the X’s and O’s, however. “We have swagger,” said senior receiver Tre’ Sullivan, “We’re more confident, more outgoing, and more new school than the team last year. We go out there and have fun.”



It’s business between here and December we can mess around when we reminisce about what we have accomplished. I believe in my team!

— Ryan Callahan (@CallahanRyan) November 8, 2014

Riding high off of a 9-game win streak, the Catamounts went into a conference championship matchup with their rival, the Green Hope Falcons, last week. Despite forcing four turnovers on defense, the Catamounts couldn’t get a rhythm going on offense (173 total yards), resulting in a 17-10 loss, their first since August 22nd. The heartbreaking loss brought the team back down to earth, “We’re more focused than ever after the loss to Green Hope,” said Laster.

The Catamounts will face a familiar foe in the first round of the playoffs (11/14), the eleven-seed Holly Springs Hawks, whom they defeated 24-7 just two weeks earlier on October 30th. The defense dominated that game, allowing only 100 yards of offense to the Hawks.

While the game with the Hawks is the most intimate match-up on the schedule, it’s hard to not look ahead to the following week, where the winner of Friday’s game would take on the victor of Green Hope vs. Apex.

“We are staying focused,” said wide receiver Diamante Taylor (30rec, 497yds, 7TD), “But everyone knows that if we win this (game) Friday we can get another chance to beat the team across the tracks.”

If Panther Creek can advance past the second round, it is likely they would face the two-seed Garner Trojans, who are lead by human highlight reel, Nyheim Hines (Ranked as the nation’s #15 RB by ESPN300).

Keys to the Game – Panther Creek vs. Holly Springs

-Defense: Replicate the performance from October 30th. The Catamount front seven held the Hawk rushing attack to 84 yards (HSHS had topped 300 yards rushing in each of their previous three games). Pressuring mistake-prone Justin Armwood is also critical, as a strong pass rush forced Armwood into throwing three interceptions in the their last meeting.

-Offense: Maintain consistency from the offensive line. In their final five games, the Catamounts totaled rushing yard statistics of 12, 62, 173, 141, and 62. Against Green Hope, the team totaled only 12 rushing yards and let up four sacks. When the run game develops early, it opens up options in the passing game. Against Apex, Panther Creek was able to rack up 173 yards rushing, which caused the Cougar defense to be spread thin. The result was Brenden Magner throwing for 305 yards and 4 touchdowns.

-Penalties: Two third-and-short situations turned into third-and-long situations against Green Hope, killing each respective drive. These are mistakes the Catamounts can’t afford to make in the postseason.

-Start strong: The Panther Creek offense had negative yardage until their final drive of the first half against Green Hope, but still produced 173 total yards in the end. If they can keep that pace steady for the whole game, there is no question they can defeat Holly Springs in a dramatic fashion (or anyone else in the conference, for that matter).

-Special Teams: The Catamounts have a tendency to capitalize off of solid field position, so stellar special teams play could be a potential key for success. In their first game against Holly Springs, Panther Creek was able to work with a short field following a blocked punt on Hawks’ opening drive. Four plays later, the Catamounts kept the drive alive with a gutsy fake field goal attempt in which Tre’ Sullivan completed a 13-yard pass to Dallas Hancock. Diamante Taylor has also returned punts 15+ yards in each of past two weeks.