WP Gets Off to a Dominating, Intimidating Start
Trevor Phipps
Photos By Paul Magnuson
Even before the Panthers hit the field for the first time in 2024, many anticipated that this could be their year to shine. And so far, the Panthers have exceeded all expectations by snagging several consecutive wins to start the season.
As a result, playoff fever is brewing in Woodland Park football land.
The team has looked hot on both sides of the ball as they have torn through their opponents this year. Going into their third matchup against the notoriously tough Colorado Springs Christian Lions, the team knew it would be their first major test.
The Lions shut out the Panthers last year, inspiring the Woodland Park football stars to seek revenge. The match had its ups and downs with the Panthers leading most of the game. In the end, the green dominated 28-25 after stopping a significant comeback effort put forth by the Lions.
The Panthers had a bye for week four and then last week they played their first road game against Rye, but results were not available as of TMJ’s press deadline. But it may be too early in the season to take any playoff spots for granted.
The reality is that the tough games of their season are still looming, as they face four tough league opponents during their last four matches.
After the first four weeks of high school football, the Panthers were tied in first place in their 2A South East League with the 4-0 Lamar Thunder. However, the Panthers were ranked 14th in 2A statewide versus Lamar’s 15th ranking.
During their first three games, the Panther offense racked up at least 28 points per game. According to a number of the team’s coaches and fans on the sidelines, the awesome effort put forth so far by the offense could not have been possible without the outstanding play by the team’s offensive line that consists of Demetrius Gochis, Silas Tesauro, Jeremiah Deal, Mateo Pizarro and Dane Campbell.
In fact, due to their good protection, Panther Quarterback Marqus Schoenberger is ranked 18th across the state with 48 total points scored and 15th in most touchdowns with eight. So far this season (and at the time of this writing), the team’s QB had completed 26 passes out of 45 attempts for 99.7 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. Schoenberger also leads the team in rushing with 41 carries for 274 yards and eight TDs.
Senior Trey Reed has also been stellar on the ground with 24 carries for 192 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Parker Shreeve has been the QB’s favorite target with eight catches for 101 yards and two TDs.
On defense, Shreeve and freshman Zach Summeril lead the team with two sacks apiece. Seniors Kadyn Lewis and Aidan Hood lead the team on tackles with 27 and 23 respectively.
On special teams, Shreeve is ranked 12th across the state with an average 42.67 kickoff return yards. Kicker Myles Wiley is ranked 21st with 14 extra points made and 17th with 1,039 kickoff yards.
Coach Chad Drummond’s Program Gaining Strong Approval
Along with the team playing with a new-found energy and elevated size this year, the team cohesion can also be felt while on the sidelines. And with the success the high school varsity team has had, the junior varsity and middle school teams also won some big matches to start the season.
According to the team’s head coach, Chad Drummond, the team cohesion starts as young as middle school with the younger players learning the same offensive and defensive schemes that they will be playing at the high school level, just with a smaller playbook. This season was Drummond’s fourth in holding the reins of the football program. As a result of this coaching duration, this marks his first season to have some of the players for all four years of their high school football career.
The team’s strong football culture can easily be seen during practice at games and cheering on their younger counterparts on the sidelines. “The first year they already had great football IQs, they were just smaller kids. And honestly if it wasn’t for this group, I don’t know that we would have had a team that year,” Coach Drummond said. “This year as seniors, they are physically fit, they are weight room monsters, their football IQ is through the roof, and it has been just beautiful to watch. “When we started the weight program that first season, we had four kids in the 1,000 lbs. club, this year I think we had 16, two more in the 1,250 lbs. club, and one pushing the 1,500 lbs. club,” Drummond explained. “So, physicality-wise when you go from four kids in the 1,000 lbs. club to (what we have now), every kid on the offense is a 1,000 lbs. club kid and every kid on the defense is a 1,000 lbs. club kid, as a general rule some are just below it.”
The coach and teammates both agree that selflessness has been a key to the team’s recent success. “We have truly become a team this year to where everybody is normal and nobody is above anyone else,” Panther quarterback Marqus Schoenberger said. “Everybody has truly grown up as people and men to where nobody is better than anybody else and they are going to play 100 percent no matter what day it is and no matter if we are playing inside or outside. With the team I really see us just not quitting throughout the game.”
Senior running back Trey Reed also said that teamwork has been stellar this season. “Definitely our communication has improved and our ability to express our negative thoughts and positive thoughts with each other and build off of that has definitely elevated our teamwork,” Reed said.
The Panthers play on the road this Friday against the 1-3 Banning Lewis Academy Stallions. Next Friday they come back home for homecoming weekend and faceoff against the 4-0 Lamar Thunder.