2023 RECORD OVERALL RECORD : 4-6 DISTRICT RECORD : 1-4
Westwood PANTHERS
TAYLOR HONEA Sports Writer sports @ palestineherald . com
Coming into the 2023 season , expectations for the Westwood Panthers were not very high . The Panthers clawed their way into the playoffs a season ago , going 5-5 in the regular season before losing to Anahuac in the first round of the playoffs . Not many believed that the 2023 Panthers would be a true contender in the playoffs . The Panthers opened the eyes of the football world in week one of the season , coming out of the gate hitting on all cylinders in a 63-0 win over the Kemp Yellowjackets . Westwood kept the momentum rolling in the next three weeks , starting the season a perfect 4-0 and outscoring opponents 216-65 during the early stretch of the schedule . After a stumble to eventual district winner Diboll to start district play , the Panthers would again turn in a four game winning streak before falling to Woodville , cementing the Panthers into the third seed within their district with an 8-2 regular season record , and earning their second consecutive playoff berth . Westwood went on to win in the bi-district round of the playoffs against the East Chambers Buccaneers 35-14 , lifting them to their second ever area championship round . Freshman sensation Kavian Bryant had over 300 yards of offense and accounted for four touchdowns in the win over the Bucs , willing his team to victory in the second half . The Panthers would go on to lose to the Lorena Leopards in the area round , ending their season with a 9-3 overall record , but gaining valuable experience they can parley into the 2024 season . Bryant , the 2023 Palestine Herald-Press Offensive Most Valuable Player award recipient , who looks to have tremendous upside as a dual-threat quarterback , burst onto the scene , dazzling fans and foes
alike with his prowess at such a young age . In his freshman season , Bryant broke school single season records for touchdowns passes , 33 , pass attempts , 231 , and completions , 158 , as well as total touchdowns in a game , scoring seven times in a 55-0 win over Huntington . The freshman quarterback could not do it all on his own though , and had a very talented team surrounding him . Sophomore receiver Kaysn Dial became Bryant ’ s favorite target on the season , leading the Panthers with 48 catches for
18 WINTER EDITION 2024