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Panthers enduring emotional week
Published October 29, 2009
DANBURY — It’s an important week for the Danbury football team in the District 29-2A race, and a trying week for the players off the field.
The Panthers are back in the playoff hunt thanks to their first win of the season and play their final home game of the year 7:30 p.m. Friday against the Tidehaven Tigers at Humber Field.
Hours before kickoff, the community will mourn the loss of Mattie Marie Bishop-Briggs, 18, and Austin Nichols Bailey, 19, during funeral services at 10 a.m. at the high school gymnasium.
Bishop-Briggs and Bailey, who both graduated from Danbury High School this year, were killed early Sunday when the car they were in crashed on CR 171 near Highway 35.
“It’s been a tough week,” first-year Danbury head football coach Jimmy Thomas said. “It makes you realize there’s a lot more to life than just football. A lot of our kids are hurting.
“There’s going to be a lot of emotions out there Friday night,” Thomas said. “Part of that is dealing with the tragedy, and part is that it will be our seniors’ final home game. The community and the school has come together and we have to persevere through this tough time.”
Danbury (1-2 district, 1-7 overall) recorded its first win of the season last week against Van Vleck, 32-26, and could still make the playoffs if they win their final two games and get some help.
The Panthers last reached the postseason in 1984.
“We’re still in it,” Thomas said. “Our kids are long overdue and I’m very proud of the way they keep fighting.”
Helped by a pair of defensive touchdowns, the Panthers scored a season-high 32 points last week. The team rallied with 15 points in the final 9:13 of the game, and scored the go-ahead touchdown with 45 seconds to play.
Danbury had yet to score more than 14 points before the win and was averaging only 8.4 points per game.
“It was special the way we came back to win that game with two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, and for the first time the kids really put together a full four quarters,” Thomas said. “You can tell the players are coming together and getting better. Now we have to keep that up in the final two games.”
Tidehaven (0-3, 2-6) has yet to record a 29-2A victory and last won a game Sept. 18 at Bloomington. The Tigers’ defense is giving up 306 yards a game, while the Panthers have allowed 238 yards a contest.
“We try to put our kids in more simple defensive schemes and the kids and coaches have done a great job,” Thomas said. “The key for us is that we run to the football, play to the whistle and play hard.
“Our offense also helps our defense,” Thomas said. “We run the ball, control the clock and that gives our kids a chance to rest. We’re not the fastest group, but we do what we do well and we’re going to play tough.”
Tidehaven will employ a spread offense against Danbury. Junior quarterback Sean Dannels has thrown for 1,177 yards with nine touchdowns and nine interceptions. Senior receiver Ian Wade tops the district in catches with 37-for-370 yards and two touchdowns, and junior teammate Colt Clontz leads 29-2A in receiving yards with 377 on 33 catches with three scores.
“We want to keep the ball in front of us, limit them to short passes and not give up the big home run.” Thomas said. “We have to keep them in a short passing game and be patient on defense.”
The Danbury offense will try to run the ball and keep possession away from Tidehaven. The Panthers have 1,449 rushing yards on the year, led by senior Kendal Evers (496 yards, four touchdowns), junior Garrett Zimmerle (441 yards, three touchdowns) and senior Dakota Sebesta (293 yards, two touchdowns).
“They’re going to put 11 guys in the box and try to stop us,” Thomas said. “Tidehaven’s defense has played well at times. It’s going to come down to who comes off the ball and controls the line of scrimmage.”
Jim Levesque is a sports writer for The Facts. Contact him at 979-237-0161.
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