The Panthers football team has its annual date with Manhattan (9-2) on Friday, in its 11th straight trip to the sub-state game. 

Derby (8-3) and Manhattan have knocked each other out of the playoffs in the last three years, and have played a total of five times in the same span. Manhattan is 4-1.

“We’ve played them so many times over the years, and it’s always a good game,” senior offensive lineman Max Robinson said. “Their offense is something special; we have to watch film and just play to the best of our abilities.”

Both teams struggled more than normal in the regular season, but came up with huge wins over Wichita Northwest (9-2) and Maize (10-1) in their respective sectional games. 

“We’re such a different team from Week 1,” junior receiver Davon Morrison said. “Even from just the Carroll game, our last loss, we are such a different team. We got our guys back and we bonded together.”

Although the Panthers are 1-4 against the Indians over the last three years, their one win was on the road in the playoffs in 2023. 

“It definitely can help to have a crowd that travels,” senior Zach Bland said. “It creates a liveliness in the stadium. I like creating most of my own energy because it gets more people on the team riled up, but both are great for the team.”

Manhattan is led by four-star wide receiver and defensive back JJ Dunnigan. He suffered an injury in the regular season but has shown no signs of being stopped in the postseason. Dunnigan posted 153 and 132 all-purpose yards in his last two games with a touchdown in each. 

“We just have to play our hardest,” Morrison said. “JJ can’t beat a whole team by himself. We have to just play well as a whole.”

Over the last two games, junior running back Arieus Finley has dominated the ground game. He had a combined three touchdowns on 293 rushing yards, averaging just under 10 yards per carry.