Standouts to return for Panthers

Managing a football team through a season is a greater challenge than maybe most can appreciate.

Coaches have to know the psychology of their teams better than anybody else. They must be cognizant of when their team is fresh, when it is running aground, when it is the right time to push players harder and when it is the right time to back off.

Colleyville Heritage coach Joe Willis recognized that he could have played starting quarterback Cam Roane and starting playmaker wide receiver Ke’Von Ahmad last Friday for homecoming against Fort Worth Eastern Hills.

But he didn’t.

Banged up from the Sept. 23 victory over Fort Worth Dunbar, Willis opted to give them one more week and allow the backups to have more snaps and take care of matters against the Highlanders.

It followed the script as the Panthers (3-2, 2-0 District 6-5A) won comfortably, 35-7. Roane and Ahmad are expected to return for Friday’s 7:30 p.m. game against Birdville (3-2, 1-1) at the Birdville Fine Arts/Athletics Complex.

“If [the starters] did not have as much experience as they have, I probably would have thought about playing them,” Willis said. “But they’ve played a lot of football. We’ve beaten some pretty good teams. We’ve played some good football.”

While the scores in their wins over Dunbar and Eastern Hills may not catch the eye, wins come in all forms. With Roane (1,024 passing yards, 11 touchdowns) and Ahmad (380 receiving yards, five scores) returning, the extra gear for the Panther offense resumes operations.

And of course, the Panthers now face the other side of their season that begins with this test against the Hawks.

While they are a prolific offensive team, the Hawks have been burned by turnovers. Quarterback Clayton Beeter has accounted for more than 1,000 rushing and passing yards. However, he has struggled with 10 interceptions. Hawks ball handlers have lost another four fumbles.

“Birdville has beaten some pretty good teams so we understand what to expect,” Willis said. “When you get on a bus to go play at somebody else’s building, you know you’re going to get that other team’s best shot. You better be ready.”

Colleyville Heritage’s defense has been through some rough moments as witnessed by its non-district season where surrendered at least 34 points in each of those three games. But Willis is hoping that the execution of the last two weeks is a forbearance of what is to come.

“We’re playing faster and physical,” Willis said. “I like what we’re doing.”

Grapevine (5-0, 2-0 8-5A): The Mustangs play host to Fort Worth Carter-Riverside (3-2, 1-1) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Mustang-Panther Stadium. They are looking to continue their recent dominance. Grapevine has averaged 59 points in its last four games.

“We’re getting better every week,” head coach Randy Jackson said. “I’m very proud of our lack of penalties so far. We turned the ball over way too many times last week against Dunbar [four lost fumbles]. We had three lost fumbles all of last year. I’m not happy about that. We must and will fix it.”

Still, Grapevine is plus-4 in the turnover ratio thus far.

Carroll (4-1, 2-0 5-6A): The Dragons play at Lewisville (3-2, 1-1) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Lewisville’s Max Goldsmith Stadium.

The Dragons running game has that game changer in running back Audricke Gaines, the transfer from Mansfield Timberview. He’s rushed for 312 of his 555 yards in the last two games against Flower Mound and Euless Trinity. Gaines had been slowed to start the season with a knee infection.

“He’s really never played running back, but he’s coming into his own,” head coach Hal Wasson said. “There’s progress every week. His vision is getting better.”

Carroll’s game can be heard on KWRD 100.7 FM with the pregame show starting at 6:30 p.m.

This story was originally published October 5, 2016 at 12:25 PM with the headline "Standouts to return for Panthers."