The Gazette-Enterprise

GERONIMO — Friday night’s clash in Geronimo between the Navarro Panthers and the Stockdale Brahmas is listed as a regular season game.

But it will have all the atmosphere and much of the importance of a playoff game.

For Navarro, a win ensures they will be still be playing when the postseason begins in two weeks.

But if the Panthers lose this game, they will face a must-win situation next week when they travel to Karnes City. The Badgers currently share first place in District 28-2A with Navarro. The Panthers’ chances to make the playoffs would be very slim if they lose both games.

Given that scenario, Navarro head coach Les Goad has no fear his team will look past the Brahmas.

“Our kids realize what’s at stake,” he said. “They realize Stockdale is capable of playing with any team in our district and they’ll give us their best game.

“It is also the last home game for our seniors. So our kids will prepare in a correct way.”

The stakes are even higher for Stockdale. A loss on Friday would keep them out of the playoffs for the first time since 2003 — and even with wins in each of their last two games, they will still need help to get in.

The Brahmas will bring a balanced attack on offense — they are rushing for 136 yards per game and passing for 100. They run a set that Goad says “combines the spread and power offenses to make them very versatile and dangerous.”

Goad likes Stockdale’s sophomore quarterback, Colton West, calling him “a really good runner and passer — probably a better passer than they’ve had in a while.”

West has thrown for 581 yards and five touchdowns on 43-97 passing this year for the Brahmas, also tossing five interceptions.

As Goad said, West is mobile, having rushed for 152 yards and a score on 46 attempts — good for the second best total on the team.

Goad also praised the speed of running backs Devin Dyer and Ryan Martinez, who have combined to carry the ball 93 times for 452 yards and four touchdowns for Stockdale.

Martinez is also a solid receiver, having caught 10 passes for a team-high 176 yards this season.

On the other side of the ball, Goad believes the Brahmas’ defense is similar to the Poth defense that Navarro saw two weeks ago — both in style and effectiveness. They run a split and are “very solid up front.”

“They are fairly young, but they have good athletes all over the field,” the head coach said. “We’re going to have our hands full.”

Panther quarterbacks will have to watch for defensive back Trevor Baumann, who has six interceptions this year. Baumann is also a threat on offense, having caught two touchdowns as a receiver for Stockdale while totaling 157 yards on 13 receptions.

Goad would likely be happy if his offense manages anything close to their performance last week against Kenedy. In that game, the Panthers racked up 683 yards on the ground and 10 rushing touchdowns in their 69-0 win.

Navarro will be looking for its 10th consecutive district win Friday night — a streak that dates back to the 2007 season.

The game is Parents’ Night and will kick off at 7:30 p.m. at Erwin-Lee Field.

Share | Save | Mail | Print | Comment

Bringing Life To Your Doorstep Since 1888

A Southern Newspapers publication.