MAXWELL, CA (MPG) – Feeling like the Northern Section CIF Division V crown slipped through their grasp last year, this season the Maxwell Panthers are on a mission to return to the title game.
Head coach Lane Davis has outlined the goal saying, “Even though we lost some of our big playmakers to graduation, we feel like we are a better team this year. Our expectation is to return to championship game and hopefully get a rematch with Fall River.”
Echoing Davis’s sentiments are a pair of the team’s senior leaders Isaac Iniguez and Hector Torres.
“Our goal is to win, and we have worked hard every day this summer,” said Iniguez. “We have more confidence this year. Last year we started out a little scared, but this year we are hitting harder. You can see the difference in practice.”
For his part, Torres also likes his team’s chances and additionally feels a responsibility to set the tone for his squad, saying, “We want to pick up where last year’s seniors left off. We need to step up and help the younger guys so they can follow in our footsteps.”
With the graduation of Dillon Dry, Cale Kuska, and Berto Lara, the Panthers will look a bit different this year, but they have an athletic group with a great deal of strength, speed and potential.
Taking the reins in Maxwell’s spread offense is a talented and versatile junior in Noel Velazquez, who according to Davis, is a tremendous leader, can throw to anywhere on the field, and is a strong runner as well.
Behind Velazquez in the backfield will be senior Robert Waite, a speedster who ran for 176 yards and caught 13 balls for 309 yards in 2022.
Junior Brody Jones, a late season call-up for the playoffs last year, will also carry the ball, while in certain circumstances, so will senior Rudi Gonzalez.
Gonzalez, who averaged 7.1 yards per carry a season ago, is primarily a slot receiver and finished with a team-high 43 receptions for 623 yards.
Others in the receiving corps who will be counted upon to make contributions include senior Angel Ambriz and sophomore Tanner Vierra.
Up front, the Panthers are bigger than last year and will look to Mack Kuska, a 6’3”, 300-pound sophomore with imposing physicality to take over from his brother, Cale, who did the same last season.
Juniors Diego Ambriz and Richard Diaz, along with sophomore Erik New, will join Iniguez and Torres in the trenches, as Maxwell looks replicate the 376 yards of offense per game it averaged a year ago.
On the other side of the ball, Davis has entrusted former Panther standout Conner Lovelace to coordinate the defense, which looks to be solid in all 11 spots.
Maxwell will again rely on Gonzalez, a four-year starter and shutdown cornerback, to headline the defense, which will also feature Kuska, Torres, and J.P. Ramirez on the line with Iniguez, Torres, Velazquez, and Waite at linebacker.
One advantage the Panthers have this season is a schedule that includes six home games whereas last year they traveled in eight of their 11 contests.
While both spirits and expectations are high in Maxwell, they will face some stiff competition starting with their preseason opener against Mid-Valley League champion Hamilton City and then continues in an always-tough Cascade Valley League, where they will square off against the likes of Fall River, Los Molinos, and Portola.
However, if the Panthers can stay healthy and cut down on the mistakes that hurt them last year, there is a strong chance they can make that return trip to the Division V championship game.
