Season preview: Will Ray Gates, North Crowley Panther football meet high expectations?
North Crowley “set the bar high” in 2022, winning 12 games and going undefeated in District 3-6A before losing to Prosper in the Region 1 Semifinals.
Can the Panthers raise the bar in 2023? Head coach Ray Gates said fans are expecting the team to meet or exceed expectations.
“So the expectations are very high with the group that we have,” Gates said. “We have a lot of returners, and we have some guys that were not a part of our program this year that made their way to North Crowley. So, we’re excited about the guys that we have coming up this year in our program.”
Gates is entering his second year as head coach of the Panthers. He said he learned to utilize his strengths effectively and rely on others for help to reach success.
“You have to rely on people that have been there,” Gates said. “Your mentors, people that you work with that are experienced coaches that you can follow up with when situations arise.”
Gates said the head coaching experience was a “trial by fire.”
He escaped the fire with North Crowley having a stellar season. Now, Gates is entering his second year at the helm and the flames are bigger and brighter.
The Panthers’ talent can line up with the best of the best in Fort Worth. Still, Gates said he won’t fully know the level of football they’re capable of until district play commences.
“You have an idea about the talent that you have on paper,” Gates said. “But on paper you don’t win football games.”
The Panthers have to put in the work and come together as a team, just like any program. Gates said he feels “really good” about this year’s squad.
“We feel like we have all the necessary ingredients to be one of those teams to make a deep run in the playoffs,” Gates said.
Having the right ingredients doesn’t lead to the desired outcome. With that in mind, the Panthers are focused on the process.
2023 outlook
Quarterback Chris Jimerson returns for his third year on varsity and second as the Panthers’ quarterback. Gates said players in Jimerson’s position tend to slow down, but he has continued to “grow in the offense” and gain experience.
“He’s a hard-working kid who shows up every single day ready to lead his group,” Gates said. “We’re definitely excited about him. Our ceiling is gonna have a lot to do with Chris Jimerson and the way that he plays this year for us.”
In 2022, Jimerson threw for 2,217 yards and 27 passing touchdowns. He’s primed for another fantastic year surrounded by two dominant wide receivers: Julian Knox and Mason Ferguson.
Knox, a TCU commit, was recruited by the Horned Frogs as a cornerback. Gates said Knox will be playing wide receiver for the Panthers and called him explosive and fun.
“He checks all the boxes off athletically,” Gates said. “And so we’re really excited about him.”
Class of 2025 running back Cornerlius Warren, 247Sports’ No. 45 RB in the nation, will also be a force.
The Panthers have plenty of talent on the other side of the ball as well. The foundations starts with Sterlin Brooks, a TCU commit, and DaCorien Thompson, a Lamar commit.
Brooks and Thompson have a 6-foot-2, 315 pound and 6-foot-2, 250 pound frame, respectively. The two will create mismatches with size and strength.
“Guys like that to anchor you up front,” Gates said. “They really pose a problem.”
Gates said he’s excited about the veteran experience on defense.
“We’re very explosive, fast and big,’ Gates said. “We have a great combination of size, speed and strength, so we should be really, really good again on that side of the ball.”
David Moore, an Arkansas State commit, transferred to North Crowley from White Settlement Brewer. Gates called him an exceptional athlete and said he has the ability to lock down an entire side of the field.
“He’s one of the best corners that I’ve had an opportunity to coach in my career and I’ve had some really good ones at Cedar Hill,” Gates said.
Gates also mentioned Haneef Bilal, who was an all defensive first team member in 2022 as a safety. This season, however, he’ll be playing cornerback.
The Panthers play their first game of the season Aug. 25 against Sam Houston at Arlington Wilemon Field.
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