By Michael Lindsay
Expectations are high in Crossville for the upcoming football season as the Stone Memorial Panthers enter 2023 fresh off a 10-2 record and Region 4-4A championship last year.
“Coming off a region championship, obviously, expectations are high,” said Stone Memorial head coach Derik Samber. “This senior class had a taste of success and their expectation is to have some more.”
The Panthers bring back 14 starters for 2023 but are looking to replace two all-state players from last season.
“We’ve got 8 starters back on the offensive side of the ball and 6 back on defense along with some other rotational guys,” Samber said. “We lost some big pieces in (QB) Hunter Heavilon and (WR/DB) Kaleb Flowers; they’re two all-state kids and hold some school records. We certainly like the guys we have coming back, though; we have a lot of 3 and 4-year starters.”
Samber, who is entering his sixth year at Stone Memorial, expects to start senior Nick Osmun at quarterback.
“Nick pinch-hit for us in the first round of the playoffs last year and did a tremendous job,” Samber said. “He’s really taken control and command of the offense this year; he’s certainly a different player from Hunter, but the sky’s the limit.
“We ask a lot of our quarterbacks,” Samber added. “Nick started for us a few years as a receiver and he has a different level of focus and attention to detail. He’s met my expectations for my offseason preparation.”
Beside Osmun in the backfield will be a rotation of running backs led by Houston Woody and Preston Mayberry. Bear Eldridge, Maddox Oquendo and Chris Hannah are expected to start at the receiver positions with senior Brady Lane at tight end.
Up front, Stone Memorial returns five starting offensive linemen including Deacon Disney, Cameron Melton, Gage Eldridge, Cody Parker and Austin Munsey, who is currently recovering from injury. Sophomore Cole Hinch is expected to fill the starting role.
Defensively, the Panthers return their leader in senior linebacker Brady Lane.
“Brady is a specimen,” Samber said. “He took ownership of our defense his sophomore year and has had triple-digit tackles in back-to-back years. He’s the school’s all-time leading tackler already with a year to play. He holds the guys around him accountable.”
Up front, Stone Memorial is expected to rotate Jayden Faalafua, Caleb Pankey, Deacon Disney, Cameron Melton, Gage Eldridge, Tate Seiber, Cody Parker and Liam Young on the defensive line.
The Panthers are set to start Issac Pheaster, Brady Lane and Houston Woody in the linebacker positions while reigning Region 4-4A DB of the year Bear Eldridge, Chris Hannah, Maddox Oquendo and Blayton Flowers are expected to start in the secondary.
Eldridge is also set to handle punting duties while freshman Tony Mauricio is set to start at kicker.
Stone Memorial remains in Region 4-4A in 2023 along with Cumberland County, DeKalb County, Livingston Academy, Macon County, Upperman and White County.
The Panthers’ 2022 region title didn’t come without drama as Stone Memorial defeated Upperman and DeKalb County via walk-off two-point conversions. Their lone region loss came to Macon County, 35-34, on a failed 2-point conversion with 2:10 remaining.
“It’s such a challenge,” Samber said. “It’s got to be great for UCR to cover fun, competitive games every week. Top to bottom, it’s going to be a challenge with knock-down-drag-outs every week.”
The Panthers are scheduled to face Cookeville, Sweetwater, Meigs County and York Institute in non-region play.
Along with Samber as head coach, the Panthers’ coaching staff includes Justin Qualls, Jamie Smith, Tanner Kirkland, Chris Osmun, Duane Hazelton, Jake DeRossett and Daniel Delk.
Stone Memorial is scheduled to kick off the regular season on Friday, Aug. 18 at Cookeville High School.
