Magnolia Panthers


MAGNOLIA PANTHERS
Conference: 5A-Southwest
Head coach: Robert Day
Record last year: 9-2, 6-1
Points scored, points allowed: 366-206
Playoff appearances since 1968: 18
Last playoff appearance: 2006
Playoff record: 19-16

Key returning starters: TB Eric Jones, FB Luke Franks, WR Tyler Dunlap, OG Austin O'Donnell, DE Byron Johnson, DE Michael Johnson, DT Adrian Williams, LB Trevor Rogers, LB Wayne Highsmith, CB Shawn Alexander.

Outlook: Despite losing a boatload of experience that led the Panthers to a 9-2 record, veteran coach Robert Day is still excited about this team. Replacing quarterback Hayden Simpson, who pitched the Panthers into the state baseball championship game, will be nearly impossible. The return of versatile tailback Eric Jones should help ease the pain of losing Simpson. Jones will take on the chore of carrying the offense. Only fullback Luke Franks, receiver Tyler Dunlap and guard Austin O'Donnell return with Jones off an offense that scored 366 points last year. Defensively, Byron Johnson, Michael Johnson and Adrian Williams in the trenches while linebackers Trevor Rogers and Wayne Highsmith are back off the top defense in the conference, giving the Panthers plenty of experience along the first line of defense. Cornerback Shawn Alexander started a few games and returns as the only experienced defensive back.

Comments from Day: "We lost a ton of offense. We lost most of our skilled players. We lost all of our defensive backs and a great middle linebacker. We lost three of our four receivers, five of our five offensive linemen and a quarterback that threw for 2,800 yards. We lost seven three-year starters, but we're excited about these guys. They have a chance to be pretty good. Jones is one of the better tailbacks in the state. He had 1,500 yards last year. That was sharing the ball with a quarterback that threw for 2,800 yards, and he still had a great year. He's going to be our focal point. He's a versatile player. He's an exciting football player."

Current 2007 Schedule, Winning team is underlined.
 WeekDateHome TeamAway TeamFinalPFPAConfPTS
 0108-31-2007MagnoliaCrossett21 - 20No
 0209-07-2007MagnoliaHaynesville LA36 - 13No
 0309-14-2007El DoradoMagnolia21 - 13No
 0409-21-2007MagnoliaArkadelphia52 - 23Yes
 0509-28-2007Little Rock FairMagnolia14 - 35Yes
 0610-05-2007Camden FairviewMagnolia65 - 24Yes
 0710-12-2007MagnoliaHot Springs Lakeside35 - 15Yes
 0810-19-2007Hot SpringsMagnolia25 - 14Yes
 0910-26-2007MagnoliaMalvern26 - 20Yes
 1011-01-2007HopeMagnolia33 - 20Yes
 1111-09-2007Pulaski AcademyMagnolia49 - 25Round 1 Playoff

Past scores for the last 50 games... Winning team is underlined.
YearWeekDateHome TeamAway TeamFinalPFPAConfPTS
20061111-10-2006MagnoliaNettleton13 - 31Round 1 Playoff
20061011-02-2006MagnoliaHope30 - 9Yes
20060910-27-2006MalvernMagnolia19 - 58Yes
20060810-20-2006MagnoliaHot Springs42 - 22Yes
20060710-13-2006Hot Springs LakesideMagnolia19 - 48Yes
20060610-06-2006MagnoliaCamden Fairview27 - 28Yes
20060509-29-2006MagnoliaLittle Rock Fair30 - 14Yes
20060409-22-2006ArkadelphiaMagnolia14 - 24Yes
20060309-15-2006MagnoliaEl Dorado26 - 18No
20060209-08-2006Haynesville, LAMagnolia12 - 20No
20060109-01-2006CrossettMagnolia20 - 50No