Last season ended the way West Lowndes seasons under head coach Anthony King almost always do, with a playoff run. But the Panthers’ path to the third round of the MHSAA 1A playoffs was anything but ordinary.
West Lowndes finished the season 5-7, with a playoff loss to eventual state finalist Biggersville, a team that went 12-1 and averaged more than 44 points per game. But along the way, the Panthers endured a dismal stretch that saw them lose six of seven games before righting the ship at the end of October.
“It took us a while to get going and we had to get some kids developed,” King told The Dispatch. “Once they got developed, (it) was pretty much the end of the season. That’s when we got on the good road. But we ended up running into Biggersville once more, and they were pretty much loaded.”
Part of those struggles could be attributed to injuries to key players on an already thin roster, so King is concentrating on developing depth and hoping for good health in 2024 to avoid last year’s midseason stumbles. He’s also counting on senior leadership to set the example.
“We’ve got a couple of guys that we’ll count on very heavily this year. Dekambi Evans and that senior group is very, very mature,” King said. “We’re counting on them to get us off to a good start this year and maintain that level of consistency.”
The aforementioned Evans, whose personal goal is to be “Mr. 1A Football” this year, will play a key role for the Panthers both offensively and defensively in 2024, where he’ll handle quarterback, running back and middle linebacker duties. But he also understands his role involves being more than just the star player.
“I want to get a bit of chemistry this year,” Evans said. “I think chemistry goes a long way (if) we’re going through district, running through the playoffs and to the state championship.
West Lowndes has famously run the Wing-T offense during most of King’s now 14-year tenure, a formation that often features an unbalanced line and direct snaps to both quarterbacks and running backs, but with a veteran offensive line and increased talent at the offensive skill positions, King and offensive coordinator Max Hill are trying something new: the pistol spread.
“This will be the first year we haven’t run the Wing-T in a while,” King said. “But we have such a veteran offensive line that we feel like whatever we want to do, we should maybe do it on a lot of people.”
Senior wide receiver and defensive back Jonivan Edwards is also looking to stand out this year, considering he’ll get more opportunities with the Panthers’ increased focus on the passing game. But he also understands that his role goes beyond just on-field production.
“I’m big on uplifting the guys instead of bringing them down,” Edwards said. “Just taking advantage of every opportunity.”
West Lowndes, like most years, faces a difficult schedule in 2024. The North half of 1A is stacked with teams who could all conceivably challenge for the state title come December. But King thinks those regular season opportunities against good teams like Baldwyn (Sept. 27), Biggersville (Sept. 13), Vardaman (Oct. 18) and Okolona (Oct. 25) will have his team well-prepared once the playoffs start.
“I would like to play for the North state title this year. I think we’ve got the team to play for it, and I think I got a good group of seniors, a veteran offensive line…so I think that bodes well for us,” King said.
And, of course, there’s the Sept. 13 matchup at Biggersville, a team that has beaten the Panthers in seven straight games, including two last season.
“We need to finish,” King said. “Last couple of years we’ve been getting close, real close. This year we need to finish all the way…I kind of consider us to be that loaded team. So, we pretty much have to stay healthy and develop depth as we go on throughout the season.”
West Lowndes opens the season at home on Aug. 30 against French Camp Academy
COACHES
Head coach Anthony King
Assistants
Brooks Crabtree
DeAngelo Dantzler
Max Hill
Damon Snead
ROSTER
Jonivan Edwards Sr.
Jaqualon Sharp Jr.
Cornelius Jones Jr.
Kylan Ellis Jr.
Dylan Gardner Sr.
Antonio Brown Jr.
Tyler Smith Sr.
Dekambi Evans-Smart Sr.
Jakylen Lucious Jr.
Daquavion Bibbs Sr.
Tony Ames Sr.
Imani Beeks Fr.
Sean Turner Sr.
Christopher Elder So.
Jamarrion Ellis Fr.
Danerian Smith Fr.
Demarion McCoy Fr.
Anquarius Outlaw So.
Antonious Hollaway So.
Alexander Colbert Jr.
Mekhi Staples Jr.
Kris Veasley Sr.
John Brandies So.
Tylan Brewer So.
Jeremiah Stowers
Jay Sanders Sr.
Tyson Sharp Sr.
Demarcus Sharp
Trence Robertson Jr.
Eli Sanders Jr.
Joseph Brooks Jr. Jr.
Jaraquist Cunningham Jr.
Jamyan Hatcher
Jadarrious Williams Fr.
Kameion Whitfield So.
Christopher James Sr.
Dylan Givens 8th
Braylan Dale Fr.
Jordan Morris
Jordan Crowder
Jacorey Smart
Dallas Chamberlain
Philip Poe is sports editor.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
