Football Preview: High Expectations in Panther Country

By Ken DeLaat

There’s a lot of confidence coming from this year’s version of the Panthers spurred by  several key returnees on Coach Tyler Fehler’s  squad.
“The best players from last year's team are all returning and I expect these guys to set the tone for the team. Every other kid in our program looks up to these guys and I have no doubt they will step into their leadership roles and excel.” 
It’s been a rough couple of years since the Panthers joined the tough WMc Rivers conference. They’ve gone 2-10 with the only W’s coming over rival Holton, a program currently riding a 20 game losing streak. Last season they sandwiched 7 losses between winning the opener over a Heights team that has moved to the 8 player game and the Red Devils who were outscored 512-42 on the season.
Key returnees include Skyler Stalbaum at RB and LB, Noah Walker at OL and DL, Ian Fox at WR and S, Thor Klaus at TE and LB, Blake Sayer at QB and DB, Tucker Billings at OL and DL, Anderson Boes at OL, TE, and LB, Ben Westendorf at WR and CB, Eli Edens at WR and DB, Zach Loughridge at  WR and CB. 
“All these guys played big roles last year and they all have put in a lot of work this summer and with another year of experience we expect great things. 
“Ben Westendorf, Zach Loughridge, and Garrett Bolles are sophomores who we expect to step up and play big roles on both sides of the ball for us. 
“A couple of these guys played important minutes in our season last year. These guys have been putting in work all summer and I know they will be reliable guys for us.  I see our team being right in the mix in our conference this season.  
“Obviously based off of the last few seasons North Muskegon, Hart, Mason County, and Ravenna have been atop our conference. But every conference game is a game we want to win. In our eyes, every game on the schedule are games we want to and should win.”
The Panthers open at home Thursday against Farwell, a team that has competed at the 8 player game the past 3 years and they host the Devils in week 2. Then comes their 75th meeting with White Cloud on the road. Those three should give the Hespo fans an idea of what they have on the field as they enter the toughest part of their conference slate. 

​Full schedule can be found here:
https://www.mhsaa.com/schools/hesperia/boys/varsity/football/2024