#HSFT17: Stop No. 2 – West Lowndes Panthers

Back to back postseason appearances in 2015 and 2016 haven’t finished how head coach Anthony King and the Panthers had hoped.

“I think the last two years, we’ve had a pretty good team, but our chemistry wasn’t there,” King said, “Our seniors just didn’t buy in. We’re going to try and get these seniors to buy in…I think they’ll do a lot better, they’re pretty good kids.”

“We have to finish strong,” senior nose guard Adolphus Brewer said.

“We haven’t finished strong these past two years. Yeah, we made it, but we played lousy in the last playoff game and we have to keep going. Once we get there, we have to keep going.”

West Lowndes will have to lean heavily on this year’s senior class in what could be considered a rebuilding year.

10 seniors graduated from a year ago, including dynamic playmaker Marcus Farmer.

A lot of younger players will be placed in key roles this upcoming season.

“I’m trying to set a good example, follow my footsteps,” senior wide receiver Quinshawn Lucious said about embracing a leadership role, “I’m going to do good, and if i do good, I think they’ll do good.

Coach king and the Panthers expect big things from the senior playmaker Lucious.

In 2016, the Tulane-commit racked up 935 receiving yards with twelve touchdowns, while also adding 405 yards on the ground with three touchdowns.

Lucious said his goal for 2017 is to lead the state in receiving yards and touchdowns, while also leading his team to a 1A state title.

Getting into the playoffs will be a challenge for the young West Lowndes squad, as they move from Region 1-1A to Region 3-1A in 2017.

“Main goal this year is we just want to get into the playoffs,” King said, “It’s going to be a tough division from top to bottom so the main thing is just try to be the top four and get in there.”

“It just comes down to us studying [the new divisional opponents] and being more physical than them,” senior linebacker and running back Marquis Banks said, “Get in the weight room…out-working them, and on the field, when it comes down to it, it’s game time.”

The Panthers open the 2017 season with a big time test at home against Caledonia.