Paetow has experienced a lot of growth this year.

The Panthers have made their focus on keeping consistent and its paid off. The players have stepped up and the team has looked crisp through the first week of practice. Overall, it’s exactly what the Paetow coaching staff was building towards.

“It’s built into the culture,” said Paetow head coach David Hicks Sr. “The leadership here knows what they have to do and the tone has been set from the bottom to the top. The kids have bought in and they are really responding well. I think they know that they have to bring it and they control everything this year, how far we got and how far we don’t go is up to them and they have embraced the challenge.”

It’s been a new experience for Hicks, who for the first time is leading a varsity program through two-a-days, but he has loved every second of it and the entire coaching staff has hit the ground running this fall.

“It’s been very busy, but rewarding,” Hicks said. “I’ve got some great coaches here and the main thing is just leaning on the people that I have around me. We truly have an all star staff and I know I can depend on their knowledge. We’re all taking it a day at a time and learning. It’s been really fun.”

The players have embraced the challenge of competing for spots and quickly getting ready for the year. The Panthers came close to a playoff spot last year but ultimately came up just short and that has also added extra fuel to the first for the seniors returning, who feel they have a point to prove.

“It feels great, as a team we have a lot to prove,” said senior linebacker Abe Ledet. “Throughout the winter and spring there was a lot of talk about our district and certain teams, but we felt counted out by it. We know that we have to go out and show we’re one of the big dogs again and we’re working to do that. Coach Hicks has been so good and he’s pushed us to be great, now he have to go out and prove it on the field.”

Offensively, the Panthers have used the spring and summer to gain lots of chemistry. Last year there were lots of new pieces, but the returners have gotten to work and set out to have a powerful offense this year. Jabari Bush will be a big target for the team and he has gained a rapport with starting quarterback Brock Nichols that will cause opposing defenses troubles throughout the year.

“We have bought into each other and we have been working for months to make sure we’re all on the same page as an offense,” Bush said. “Ever since boot camp we’ve just kept getting closer and closer as a unit and we’ve grinded. It’s turned into a family and we’re all ready to go out and fight for our guys.”

The Panthers are focused with how quick the season will go. They will take on Aldine Davis next week in their first scrimmage before facing Bridgeland on Aug. 18 as they continue to gear up for the regular season.

“It’s built in a great excitement because we’re so close to everything,” Hicks said. “Everything hits you so fast and I tell them the intersquad scrimmage is the first test of where we are and we have to be ready from there because every week  from here on out we’re going to be playing a different opponent. It’s great and they’re ready for it, everyone is excited because they know that the time is finally here.”