Football season closes with a win

Panthers+and+CE+King+go+head+to+head+hoping+to+win+the+game+as+the+season+comes+to+a+close.

Panthers and CE King go head to head hoping to win the game as the season comes to a close.

Kylee Wing, KPTimes.com Editor

With a young team and a new coach, the football made a late season push and finished on a strong note by winning their last two games.

After ending with victories over Galena Park and Barbers Hill, the team finished the season 3-7 overall and 3-5 in district.

Although the boys worked very hard, they also had their struggles. Along with a number of new starters, they also had new game plans to learn under coach Clayton Maple, who replaced Jim Holley as the head coach.

“The senior group was an influence for me and younger players,” Maple said. “It’s (the season) not what we wanted from the standpoint of wins and losses, but the team can continue to improve throughout the seasons, working hard and playing hard.”

The boys always looked forward to game night, but practice was a big part of the football team experience.

“Practice with the guys was always fun,” senior wide receiver Matthew Reyna said. “It created bonds.”

In the end, the varsity team averaged 64 tackles per game, 181.1 receiving yards per game, 170 rushing yards per game, three sacks, five interference’s. They scored 28 touchdowns overall.

The team worked hard to improve and stayed positive throughout the season

“We grew closer as a team and continued to believe, even after a couple losses,” senior quarterback Zach Purcell said.