Final Score By Chuck Licata
Oh yeah.
This is going to be a fun season of football.
Anyone who was at the LHHS Panthers’ home football game saw a renewed enthusiasm and excitement with the 2010 edition of the Panthers.
And, I think, a new “era” under Jerry Vance and his staff. Placed in the back are the memories of the 2006-07 state championships, the ’08 state semifinal and last year’s disastrous 4-5 season (and first losing season since Vance took over in 2001).
This 2010 squad is a complete “make-over,” has a bunch of fresh faces – and a serious attitude about getting the program back to its playoff-expected level.
And they’re fun to watch – at least they were Friday night in a 34-14 thumping of the Rouse Raiders, who were playing their first-ever varsity football game with no seniors on the roster.
But most everyone I talked to – from the coaches to LHISD Superintendent Dr. Rob Hart to Peggy Bishop to Katrina and Selena Walker to Dr. Thad Gillespie to Malcom Terry to LH Intermediate Principal/Press Box coordinator Kathleen Major to, well, you get the idea – acknowledged a renewed and refreshing enthusiasm by the players out on the field.
(Thunderstruckphotos.com Photo) Liberty Hill junior Johnny Johnston (35) runs past 3 Rouse defenders on his way to a 59-yard TD rumble.
No question former fullback Ryan Fickel will be missed this season; his leadership, running abilities and overall personality are second to none.
Corn, a junior who maybe stands about 5-foot-4, was Fickel’s replacement at fullback and ran a lot like the former All-District player. Running behind a great offensive line – one that Vance called the best he’s had in a while – Corn tallied up 189 rushing yards and three touchdowns, scoring on runs of 15, 3 and 3 yards. But even more impressive than that was the style with which he ran – Corn truly ran with authority.
As I worked the K-MAC Sports broadcast with LHHS graduate Jason Remmert and LHHS senior Ty Dean, I announced that “Brandon opened up a ‘can of Corn’” on his first touchdown run. The “can of corn” reference was a baseball saying – obviously, here, Brandon and his teammates opened up a “can” on offense and did a tremendous job in the big win.
The Panthers piled up 479 yards rushing on 64 carries overall. Corn was joined on the stat sheet by junior Jonathan Johnston (157 yards and a TD) and senior Zach Leger (131 yards and one score).
And lest we forget – the offensive linemen need some recognition as well. The likes of seniors Marshall Leithead, Taylor Fullmer, Will Weirich, Josh Woodbury and Caleb Greer; and, juniors Tim Prudhomme, Matt Brock, Daniel Miller and Bo Simpson - among others – opened up quite a few holes in the Rouse defensive front. Kudos to the guys on the line.
