2025 RECORD OVERALL RECORD: 6-5 DISTRICT RECORD: 3-0
Oakwood PANTHERS
Joe Elerson
Sports Writer sports @ palestineherald. com
Expectations were high for the Oakwood Panthers after last year’ s state final appearance.
Injuries and a 6-5 season saw Head Football Coach J. J. Johnson’ s Panthers lost to Three Way 40-28 in the bi-district round of the playoffs.
Johnson said with the team having the target on their backs, he didn’ t see them focused the way they should have been during the year.
“ The expectation has been set and that is that we are always going to be competing for a state championship,” Johnson said.“ I thought we fell short with the injuries and I don’ t know if they were ready for that this year.”
The mindset of the Panthers changed after the loss to Three Way as Johnson said the team got right back to work.
“ I told the guys that I took it out on me and I told them that we will be ready next year,” Johnson said.“ The offseason has been tough and we have been in the weight room and it has been tough. It was unexpected and that is why you play the game. It was disappointing and they know that. We have to bust our butts and need more guys ready to go.”
The positives for the Panthers came with an average of 49 points per game offensively and a defense that allowed 41.2 points defensively.
Senior Darrieon Thomas and Micah Reed were named the Offensive and Defensive Most Valuable Players in the district.
Johnson said losing those two players plus first team selection Nick Strickland will be tough. He said finding the right players are big this offseason.
“ I don’ t think we can replace them but we have some guys coming back in T. J. Ballard,” Johnson said.“ He had a really good freshman year. He will be a big
part of what we do next year. Those guys were eighth graders when I came in and they embodied what we wanted in the program. It will be tough losing those guys but it will be the first year without those guys.” Another player Johnson spoke highly of will be senior quarterback Dayden Velasquez.
“ Dayden is one of the big time leaders for us,” Johnson said.“ He was our best player for us on defense and offense. He has
24 WINTER EDITION 2026