IMA SPORTS

Friday night at Kazmaier Stadium will be packed with festivities – Homecoming, the Panther Pregame Party on the baseball field, the chance to meet the Panthers Paws therapy dogs, and the All Alumni Gathering.

But for the Maumee football team, the most important part of the night will be what happens once the ball is kicked off.

The Panthers (3-3, 1-2 NBC) are looking for their second straight win as they take on Fostoria, a team still searching for its first victory of the season.

“There’s nothing like being at home at the Kaz,” Maumee coach Evan Karchner said. “Our kids love playing in front of our community, our student section, and their families. Homecoming always adds a little extra energy and excitement, but at the end of the day it’s still about playing disciplined football and handling the emotions the right way.”

The Redmen (0-6, 0-3 NBC) have been outscored 267-49 this season, though they’re coming off their most competitive showing in a 35-23 loss to Lake.

“Every week they are trying new things on both sides of the ball and trying new players at different positions,” Karchner said. “I am sure they are hungry for success and a chance to knock off a top team.”

Maumee has been rolling since an 0-2 start, winning three of its last four games behind a balanced offense. The Panthers have outscored opponents 134-67 in that stretch, holding a 641-486 edge on the ground while also getting big numbers through the air.

Junior Cohen Jones has powered the running game with 268 yards and five touchdowns in four games. Quarterback Ben Kubicz has been sharp, throwing for 876 yards and 12 touchdowns while completing 68 percent of his passes. His top targets have been Eli Dodson (25 catches, 347 yards, two TDs) and twin brother Will Kubicz (15 catches, 342 yards, six TDs).

“Our kids have been building momentum the past few weeks, and even in the Genoa loss we saw a lot of positives,” Karchner said. “Each game has helped grow our confidence, and stacking another win would reinforce that we’re moving in the right direction.”

This week will also bring an opportunity for the Panthers to work on a few things still concerning Karchner before heading into a treacherous three-game run to end the season at Otsego, at Oak Harbor and home for Eastwood.

If the Panthers can handle their business and win out, they would not only claim at least a share of the NBC title, but they could also host a playoff game for the second straight season.

“If I could fix two things instantly, I’d want us to clean up our consistency in the little details – alignment, assignments and finishing plays,” Karchner said. “The other would be execution in all three phases at the same time. When we play a complete game, I think we can compete with anybody, and that’s what we’re working toward every week.”

Photo courtesy of Pride of the Panthers
Reach IMA at insidemaumeeathletics@gmail.com