Panther Football Pre-Season Outlook
Football season is finally coming back around, and for the first time in 15 years, Leigh will hit the gridiron as the Panthers. The football team is very excited for their season this year, and with 28 kids on the team, they plan on having a great season.
When asked about his expectations for the season, four-year senior starting center and defensive end Wyatt Langhorst said, “I think that we have a great team put together this year, and I am very fired up to play our first game of my senior season. It’s going to be a long ride, but if we keep our minds right, there is no telling how far we could go.”
The Panthers return a few kids from last year that hope to lead the team to a good start, and they gained a few new faces this season that should be a big impact as well.
When asked about his outlook for the season, Head Coach Jarrod Bazata said, “We’ve got a lot of talent and size on this team. I think as long as we stay healthy and the boys keep putting in the work, we could have a really special season.”
The schedule is a bit longer this year, with the NSAA changing the format to a 9-game regular season instead of 8, followed by a 16-game playoff instead of 32 teams. There are a few teams that are definitely going to be a good test to see what the Panthers are capable of. Their schedule for the season starts with a few good matchups and ends with a couple of powerhouses. Be sure to be there under the Friday Night Lights at home games to cheer on the returning Panthers. They promise to give you a show.
The schedule and roster are listed below:
Week 1 (Friday, Aug 28): @ Palmer Tigers – 7:00 PM
Week 2 (Friday, Sep 4): vs. Madison Dragons – 7:00 PM
Week 3 (Friday, Sep 11): vs. Osceola Bulldogs – 7:00 PM
Week 4 (Friday, Sep 18): @ Bancroft-Rosalie Panthers – 7:00 PM
Week 5 (Friday, Sep 25): vs. Clarkson Patriots – 7:00 PM
Week 6 (Friday, Oct 2): vs. Winside Wildcats – 7:00 PM
Week 7 (Friday, Oct 9): @ Omaha Nation Chiefs – 7:00 PM
Week 8 (Friday, Oct 16): vs. Archangels Catholic Defenders – 7:00 PM
Week 9 (Friday, Oct 23): @ Guardian Angels Central Catholic Bluejays – 7:00 PM
Team Roster:
Seniors:
#5 - Ben Rodenburg DB, TE; #9 - Luke Wellman - OL, DL; #13 - Blake Loseke - RB, LB; #58 - Wyatt Langhorst - OL, DL; #59 - James Moore - OL, DL
Juniors:
#4 - Cash Fehringer - QB, DB; #6 - Easton Brabec - QB, DB; #27 - Cade Hoesly - RB, DB; #28 - Aiden Ellsworth - RB, DB; #44 - Tyce Larson - TE, LB; #70 - Trevor Hoffman - TE, DL; #99 - Michael Wemhoff - OL, DL
Sophomores:
#2 - Wyatt Eisenmann - RB, CB; #11 - Layton Held - TE, LB; #18 - Xavier Ross - RB, LB; #32 - Jaxon Rodenburg - OL, DL; #97 - Trent Olson - OL, DL
Freshmen:
#0 - Blair Wietfeld - QB, CB; #7 - Korbin Hake - RB, DB; #8 - Ryan McMullin - TE, DB; #10 - Grant Zabka - RB, LB; #12 - Cruz Malena - TE, LB; #20 - Marco Sanchez Duarte - RB, DB; #22 - Grayson Loseke - LB, RB; #26 - Bryce Tasa - RB, DB; #67 - George Harrison - OL, DL; #77 - Carter Freudenburg - OL, DL; #87 - Jose Becerril - OL, DL