No one thought replacing the 2006 Lufkin class would be easy, but the Panthers never seemed to put things together in last year’s follow up effort.  Despite that, Lufkin still managed a very respectable 9-2 season.  The two losses (@ Longview, vs. Klein Forest ) came by seven points each.  The Panthers did manage to maintain a hold on their north Houston district, posting a 5-0 record, though both College Park and The Woodlands gave them everything they could handle.  Lufkin's bi-district playoff loss to Klein Forest certainly wasn’t as shocking as the previous season’s exit to Round Rock, but that doesn’t ease the sting on a Lufkin program that’s been among Texas’ very best this decade. 

          Last year’s nine win tally is one of just three Panther seasons to fall short of the double digit win mark this decade.  2000 (9-4) and 2003 (9-2) are the other two.  The 2001 state championship winning class completely changed the game for the Lufkin program, and any new class that sets foot on campus aims for that mark.  Anything less is disappointing.  21 lettermen, including eight all-district selections, form the core of Lufkin ’s 2008 squad.  Lufkin is the only team in the state returning district MVP's on either side of the ball.

          Only two starters return on offense from a unit that averaged 29.5 points per game last year.  Senior QB Jeffrey Claybon (6’2 190) now has a year of experience and gives the Panthers something to rally reloading efforts around.  Claybon threw for 1,834 yards and 20 TD's (8 INT) in '07 and was named district Offensive MVP.  Senior RB Tre’von Lewis (5’11 195) is the other returning starter.  Lewis contributed as a sophomore, so he is the most experienced player Lufkin has on offense. 

          The Panthers graduated every receiver off last year’s roster except for Jr. Kasey Jones (5'11 160), but Lufkin is generally well stocked at the skill positions, especially WR.  The bigger concern is replacing the offensive line starters.  Senior OL Drew Alexander (6’0 220) gained some experience as a junior.  Lufkin won’t be as big on the line as they were a year ago, but size is not mandatory for linemen operating in a spread scheme.  Typically, Lufkin lines average between 220-240 pounds so this year’s line will be more in line with that mold.

          A highlight of this Panther team is the defensive line.  Lufkin has the country’s top defensive line prospect returning in senior DL Jamarcus McFarland (6’3 280).  McFarland’s helped anchor the line since his sophomore season and earned district Defensive MVP honors last fall.  Senior Shaquille Teal (5’9 260) also earned all-district honors last year.  Senior Germad Reed (6’1 220) rounds out the experience on what will be a formidable line. 

          The secondary is also experienced.  Senior Demarquez Freeman (5’10 170), senior Ka’Landus Phillips (5’8 190) and junior Carrington Byndom (6’0 175) earned all-district recognition in 2007.  Byndom was one of just three sophomores on varsity.

          The defense will be in good shape with the returning experience on the line and in the secondary.  If the new offensive line steps up, the offense can progress and establish consistency with experienced backfield players.    Lufkin also has an improved schedule this year, and that should prepare them well for district and the playoffs.  The Panthers have road trips scheduled to Rose Stadium (Tyler Lee), Lobo Stadium (Longview) and Hanby Stadium (Mesquite). 

          Heading into the season, this year's Lufkin team is eerily similar to the 2004 team: both teams were coming off a disappointing 9-2 season, the '08 squad features a comparable number of returning starters (8 vs 9), both teams returned their starter at QB (Smallwood, Claybon) and a dominant defensive lineman (Dixon in '04, McFarland in '08), both teams had to retool the O-Line, and both teams had to replace star receivers.  If this team could approach the level of success the '04 squad experienced (14-1), Lufkin fans would likely take that in a heartbeat.

 

2008  Team  Outlook

Pre-Season State Top 25:  11th Pre-Season Rank (Region):  3 (2) Pre-Season Rank (District):  1 (14th) Returning Offensive Starters:  2 QB Jeffrey Claybon (Sr.) * '07 Dist. Off. MVP RB Tre'von Lewis (Sr.) Returning Defensive Starters:  6 DE Germad Reed (Sr.) DT JaMarcus McFarland (Sr.) * '07 Dist. Def. MVP DT Saquille Teel (Sr.) LB Ka'Landus Phillips (Sr.) CB Demarquez Freeman (Sr.) S Carrington Byndom (Jr.) All-State Players (Team): DT JaMarcus McFarland (1st) Returning All-District Players:  8 QB Jeffrey Claybon (Off. Dist. MVP) DL JaMarcus McFarland (Def. Dist. MVP) DE Germad Reed (1st) CB Demarquez Freeman (1st) S Carrington Byndom (1st) RB Tre'von Lewis (2nd) DT Saquille Teel (2nd) LB Ka'Landus Phillips (2nd) Other Players to Watch: OL Drew Alexander (Sr.) OL WIlliam Calhoun (Sr.) OL Clint Chandler (Sr.) OL Hayden McCleskey (Sr.) OL Greg Magnani (Sr.) DL Ja'Darius Dade (Sr.) LB JaMendric Garrett (Jr.) DB Tra Horace (Jr.) LB Hunter Byler (Sr.) LB David McFarland (Sr.) LB D'adrick Lee (Sr.)   2008 Schedule (Stadium): 8/29     @ Tyler Lee (Tyler Rose)                 7:30 9/5       John Tyler (Abe Martin)                   7:30 9/12     Nacogdoches (Abe Martin)              7:30 9/19     @ Longview (Lobo)                           7:30 9/27     @ Mesquite (Hanby)                          2:00 10/3     Open 10/10   New Caney (Abe Martin)                   7:30 10/17   @ Conroe (Moorhead)                      7:30 10/24   College Park (Abe Martin)                7:30 11/1     @ The Woodlands (Woodforest)     4:00 11/7     Oak Ridge (Abe Martin)                     7:30 Opponents Combined Record:  49-41 Projected 2008 Record: 10-0 Key Games (Rank): @ Tyler Lee @ Longview @ Mesquite vs. College Park @ The Woodlands Strength of Schedule (Rank): 94.50 (77th) Unit Rankings: #1 Defensive Line #6 Secondary #3 Total Defense   The Bottom Line: Strengths: Experienced, Talented Backfield Defensive Talent, Experience & Depth Program Consistency Weaknesses: Overall Offensive Inexperience