Not a single Panthers coach was in the press box by the start of the second quarter at Maize on Sept. 26. The Panthers trailed 14-0 and had only moved the ball in a positive direction in one of three drives.
By the fourth drive the coaches decided it was time to give backup quarterback Blade Clark a shot at commanding the offense. Clark tried to settle in as quickly as possible, but the drive resulted in a punt once again.
The defense got a stop, and the Panther offense found itself backed up in its own endzone. After getting a first down the offense was on the 17-yard line. Clark then let one deep down the sideline and connected with senior receiver Rowan Foster for a quick 83-yard touchdown.
At that moment something switched.
Through the first half of the season the football team sat at 2-2 with losses to Hays and Maize; two top end teams at the 5A and 6A level. This is the team’s worst start as far as record goes since 2011.
To start the season, quarterbacks Krys Dorsey and Clark shared time, with Dorsey starting and getting the majority of the snaps and Clark getting reps here and there. Kaden Fuller and Tyler Pontious were QB three and four.
“I felt like the time we spent sharing snaps was really good for me,” Clark said. “It kept me up to speed every week and pushed me to be better.”
With Clark as the starter, the team is 3-0 and has dominated, beating Hutchinson 51-7, Valley Center 48-19 and Maize South 70-28.
The offense couldn’t be stopped in the win over Maize South totaling for 658 total yard
“It’s gone really well, I mean I can’t say anything has gone wrong, since he’s been starting,” junior center Weston Jackson said.
The receiving numbers went up substantially once Clark got the starting job.
Since Clark has been throwing it all game, tight end Michael Castillo has gone for 231 yards and five touchdowns as of Oct. 22. Against Valley Center Castillo broke off for 181 yards and three scores.
Due to Dorsey’s rushing ability teams keyed in on stopping the Panther running backs and quarterback runs at the start of the year.
Now, with the upgraded pass game, the run game opened up.
In the game against Maize South, the team rushed for over 500 yards.
Although Dorsey got subbed out at QB, he is trying to find a new way onto the field at defensive back.
He didn’t get any time against Hutchinson nor Valley Center, but came up with a big time pass breakup in the endzone against Maize South on fourth down.
The DB room is slim this year and with junior Braesyn Williams serving a suspension, Dorsey has a chance to become a starter.
The Panthers have the first round of playoffs on Friday at home.