PAULS VALLEY PANTHERS

Coach: DUSTY RAPER

6-4

SCHEDULE:
8-30 – at Lindsay
9-6 – vs. Davis
9-20 – vs. Weatherford
9-27 – vs. Kingfisher
10-4 – at Plainview
10-11 – vs. North Rock Creek
10-17 – at Anadarko
10-25 – vs. Heritage Hall
11-1 – at Star Spencer
11-8 – at Purcell

QUICK HITS:
Quarterback Tanner Perry ran for 210 yards and four touchdowns and threw for 92 more in a 34-14 win over Plainview. Pauls Valley and Davis will play for the fifth season in a row. The Panthers defeated the Wolves 33-29 last year for their first win in the series since 2001.

LAST 8 YEARS:
2023 – 6-4
2022 – 6-5
2021 – 5-6
2020 – 5-6
2019 – 2-8
2018 – 5-5
2017 – 4-7
2016 – 6-6

OFFENSE

The Panthers are poised and ready to leap into Class 3A contention. Pauls Valley has a talented, veteran crew plus the addition of one of the state’s top athletes in Caden Knighton (6-0, 215, Sr.) who moved in from Wynnewood. The Panthers were the odd man out in a super tough district pairing in 2023. They have their sights set on bigger and better things in 2024. Quarterback Tanner Perry (5-9, 175, Sr.) ran and threw his way to 1,900 total yards and 28 touchdowns as a junior. He’s elusive in and out of the pocket and can rely on loads of talent around him. Jon Grimmett (6-5, 215, Sr.) can line up at tight end or outside. He’s a three-sport athlete that runs a sub 50-second quarter mile. Grimmett owns an offer from UNLV with several other Division-I schools interested. Maddex Prince (6-0, 190, Sr.) scored six touchdowns with more than 700 yards receiving as a junior. The addition of Knighton could be the boost the offense needs. Knighton is a Baylor University commit and has clocked a 10.5 100-meter dash along with his 215-pound frame. He’s a powerful runner with the elusiveness of a player that’s much smaller. All of the skill talent is joined by a proven group of offensive linemen. Cooper Russell (5-9, 215, Sr.) is a four-year starter at guard with Ryan Reed (5-9, 210, Sr.) coming back for his third year as a starter at center. James Fields (6-2, 290, Jr.) has been in the lineup since his freshman year with Elijah Olguin (6-0, 220, So.) and Jace Wilkerson (6-3, 190 Jr.) also available to add to the blocking efforts in addition to prominent defensive roles.

DEFENSE

Pauls Valley surrendered 35 points or more in three district games in 2023. The defense should show improvement from a year ago. The Panthers are fast and physical in the secondary. Grimmett has great range at safety. He intercepted two passes and was in on 68 tackles as a junior. Jorge Fabela (6-2, 170, Sr.) is a rangy corner that picked off four passes last year. He is picking up attention from the next level and can play any of the positions in the secondary. Skeet Jolley (6-3, 180, Jr.) added six pass break-ups and three interceptions as a safety where Knighton adds his significant abilities as part of the rotation. Noah Olguin (5-11, 195, Sr.) is the team’s top returning tackler at linebacker with 80 stops as a junior. He’s a multi-year starter along with Adrian Gonzalez (5-8, 175, Sr.) on the outside. Gonzalez added 55 tackles, with seven tackles for loss. Jace Wilkerson flashed loads of play-making ability at linebacker before a shoulder injury cut his season short in the Sulphur game. The Panthers are a little undersized but quick up front James Major (6-0, 220, Jr.), Mason Barahona (6-0, 215, Jr.) and Elijah Olguin all return as starters. Barahona was in on 68 tackles and had three sacks from his down position as a sophomore. All the pieces to the puzzle are there for Pauls Valley to have its best season in years. The should be the biggest threat to Heritage Hall’s eight year stranglehold on the district.