2023 RECORD OVERALL RECORD : 6-6 DISTRICT RECORD : 3-0
Oakwood PANTHERS
TAYLOR HONEA Sports Writer sports @ palestineherald . com
The Oakwood Panthers had yet another successful season in 2023 , capped by a bi-district playoff mercyrule win over Kopperl . The first few weeks saw Oakwood working out the growing pains , finding their stride after the departure of Zac Nickerson , a record breaking workhorse of a running back , who graduated with the class of 2023 . As the season wore on , new faces gained valuable experience and started to come together as a unit . After starting their season 1-4 , the Panthers lost a heartbreaking 78-74 loss to Leverett ’ s Chapel , setting their record at 1-5 heading into the bye week , with their playoff hopes dimming . Oakwood collected themselves during their off week , and would not lose a regular season game for the rest of the year . Coming off the break , the Panthers would set the tone for their playoff push , handing Alpha Omega Academy their first loss of the year in a hard fought defensive battle , a rarity in six-man football , 22-20 . This would be the first of five straight wins for the Panthers , earning their third consecutive district title along the way . Oakwood ’ s signature win of the season came in the bi-district round of the playoffs , a 51-6 mercy-rule victory over the Kopperl Eagles . Marrick Strickland had his best game of the year against the Eagles , gaining 94 yards rushing and scoring four touchdowns in the win . Freshman quarterback Dayden Velasquez followed suit , turning in his best performance in a playoff setting , contributing over 200 yards of offense and three scores in the win . The Panthers are a very talented but young team , and
they should be set for an even better season in 2024 . Oakwood has developed a strong trio of foundational pieces in quarterback Velasquez , running back Darreion Thomas and receiver Tirrec Jackson . Thomas is a game breaker of a back , going for over 100 yards rushing in eight of the Panthers 12 games , and reaching 200 yards in two of those contests . He finished his sophomore season with 1,265 yards
24 WINTER EDITION 2024