STIGLER PANTHERS  

Coach: CADE SHEARWOOD

Last 7 Years:
2020 – 11-2

2019 – 9-3

2018 – 9-3

2017 – 7-4

2016 – 10-3

2015 – 7-4

2014 – 2-8

Quick Hits:

The Panthers 11 wins in 2020 is tied for the second most in school history. Stigler finished 11-1 in 1978 and 12-1 in 1968 losing in the Class B state championship to Wynnewood 8-6. 

Stigler defeated Sallisaw for the 4th time in a row 25-0 on August 28th. That evens the all-time series dating back to 1944 at 20-20. 

OFFENSE

The Panthers’ roster will have noticeable changes but the expectation for winning on Friday night remains the outlook for the 2021 season. One noticeable change involves a new head coach as Cade Shearwood, himself a record-setting Stigler quarterback in 2012, takes the whistle from Chris Risenhoover who departs after a successful 12-year reign including last year when Stigler reached the Class 3A state semifinals. Offensively the Panthers have only two returning starters but have a talented group of talent ready to take their turn under the Friday night lights.  “Coach ‘Rise’ taught me almost everything I know about football,” said Shearwood. “We’ll try to keep his style tweaked with a little of my philosophy and keep Stigler on the winning road.” The Panthers must fill the quarterback position and Shearwood is confident that Will Rose (5-11, 165, Jr.) and Mckade Peery (5-10, 165, So.) can handle the duties while Tanner Mobley (5-9, 175, Sr.) and Martin Hare (5-10, 165, Jr.) will bring playmaking skills at running back. VYPE Top 100 selection Jayce Winkle (6-4, 215, Jr.) offers a big, sure-handed target at tight end while Morgan Jones (6-1, 175, Jr.) and Zach Florez (6-1, 165, Sr.) give Stigler deep threat potential at wide receiver.  Keigan Good (5-11, 250, Jr.) enters his third year on the offensive line where he’ll be joined by Will Griffeth (6-0, 230, Jr.), Matthew Cowan (5-10, 230, Jr.), Preston Spears (5-11, 205, Jr.) and Carson Turner (6-0, 210, Sr.) along with Kansas Gulley (5-11, 240, Jr.) and Will Thompson (5-11, 220, So.). “There’s some new names that are ready to become fan favorites,” said Shearwood. “We like to spread it around plus establish our ground game first so we can hit you over the top.”

DEFENSE

The defensive outlook will remain physical and aggressive as four starters return. Jayce Winkle who had 35 tackles last year as a sophomore will move to a defensive end/outside linebacker combo while Preston Spears and Carson Turner protect the edge at defensive end and Will Griffeth will anchor the front at nose guard.  Martin Hare who charted 91 tackles last season at outside linebacker joins Austin Swaim (5-11, 190, Sr.) plus Mason Jones (5-9, 170, So.) and Ace Engle (5-10, 180, So.) to complete the linebacker unit while Morgan Jones, Zach Florez, and Mckade Peery will fly to the football with force in the secondary unit. “Physicality wins football games and that’s our style of play,” said Shearwood when explaining Stigler’s 3-4 defensive game plan. “Control the line of scrimmage, stop the run and then rely upon the aggressive play of our linebackers and secondary to create turnovers.”  

Schedule:

8-27 – vs. Sallisaw

9-3 – at Adair

9-10 – OPEN

9-17 – OPEN

9-24 – at Seminole

10-1 – vs. Checotah

10-8 – OPEN

10-14 – vs. Sequoyah Tahlequah

10-22 – at Locust Grove

10-29 – vs. Westville

11-5 – at Lincoln Christian