The Best 6-5 team in East Texas?

By Michael Wright
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Updated: April 14, 2015

photo: guillermo-hernandez.com

Lufkin Panthers Will Need to Reload in 2015

(links are to team histories – Premium content)

When a team finishes the season with a 6-5 record, you can usually say that was just an average season or an off-year. The Panthers from Lufkin finished 6-5 last year but they were anything but average and they were nowhere near having an off-year. The only loss that was a surprise in 2014 was to rival Nacogdoches. I guess you can call it a rivalry but in the past the Panthers have owned this game holding 65-23-6 all-time edge. Their other losses were to John Curtis, LA (top team in LA), Tyler John Tyler (12-3 record), Ennis (eventual state champion) and Longview in the playoffs (they beat Longview 44-14 to open up the season). Those losses were to some of the states best and all five losses were by a combined total of 20 points.

The 2015 Panthers will need to reload. They lost the 1st Team All-District Quarterback (Trey Cumbie), Running Back (Steven Sowell) and Wide Receivers (Keke Coutee & Terry Mark). They play in a very tough district with Ennis, Tyler John Tyler, Nacogdoches and Whitehouse. Be sure to look for them in our games of the week as they have some of the best rivalry games in the state.

Returning All-District Players

Honorable Mention

OL JR Jerrod Johnson

DL JR Eric Smallwood

photo:lufkindailynews.com

Head Coach and Athletic Director Todd Quick (20-15) took over from legendary Lufkin coach John Outlaw (162-46-1 at Lufkin) who passed away at the end of the 2011 season. Quick had been the Panthers' Defensive Coordinator for every one of Outlaw's 17 seasons in Lufkin.

Can the Panthers continue to find athletes to fit into their system? The team is always a strong contender in the very tough world of East Texas football, but the last time they had double-digit wins was 2006 - although they have averaged nearly 8 wins a season since then.

Are there more Jamaal Charles', (Port Arthur Memorial) Jamarkus McFarlands (Lufkin) and Dez Bryants (Lufkin) hanging out in the piney woods just waiting to be discovered? We will soon find out!

by Lone Star Gridiron