Coach: CHRIS FORD

5-5

OFFENSE

Experience will be a strong suit for the Panama Razorbacks as the 2023 football season rolls around. After a season dominated by youth last year, 10 returning starters will bolster the offense for second-year coach Chris Ford. Braxton Biernacki (5-11, 190, Sr.) will return at quarterback with a year of signal calling under his belt and the desire to improve on the 456 yards and five touchdowns he recorded last year. He will have a host of running backs behind him in the Wing T offense including Jacob Gregory (5-10, 170, Jr.), a VYPE Top 100 nominee, Tyler Simkins (5-10, 180. Jr.) who had 800 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns last year, Daniel Bledsoe (5-10, 195, Jr.) who carried over 600 yards for six scores in 2022 and Gavin McKinney (6-0, 225, Jr.) who had 400 yards in total offense and six touchdowns last season. The heart of the offense will be tight end Brody Clark (6-1, 205, Jr.). “Brody is the kind of person everyone likes to be around. He never has a bad day, and he is willing to do even the mundane things if it means getting better. He’s a great athlete but an even better person,” said Ford.

DEFENSE

Ten is also the lucky number for returning starters on the defensive side of the ball for the Razorbacks as they run out of the 3-4 defense. Simkins will return at a safety spot where he had 37 tackles and four interceptions last year. He’s joined again in the secondary by Nelson Liddy (5-9, 160, Sr.) who garnered 40 tackles and pair of INTs in 2022. Clark will anchor the linebacking corps after a season where he had 33 stops and six tackles for loss along with Caleb Brewer (5-9, 190, Jr.). The D-line will feature Bledsoe who had 19 tackles, six tackles for loss and a sack last year and Darius Bluford (6-1, 240, Sr.). With the loss of just one senior and a hungry group of experienced players who paid their dues as sophomores last year, this year’s edition of the Panama Razorbacks should show a marked improvement.

SCHEDULE

8-31 – at Spiro

9-8 – vs. Hackett, Ark.

9-15 – at Wilburton

9-21 – vs. Porter

9-29 – at Talihina

10-6 – vs. Canadian

10-13 – at Pocola

10-19 – vs. Gore

10-27 – at Central Sallisaw

11-3 – at Haskell