Division 4 Norton Panthers 2024 Football Preview

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Go Buckeyes
Norton Panthers
Norton, OH
Summit County
OHSAA Division IV, Region 13

2023 Overall Record: 11-1
2023 Playoff Results: 1-1
Points Scored: 521 (43.4)
Points Allowed: 157 (13.1)
League Affiliation: Metro Athletic Conference

Head Coach: Glen Kruger
Years Head Coach (current school): 5th
Record (current school): 24-21
Years Head Coach (overall): 5th
Record (overall): 24-21

Assistant Coaches:
Matt Ford
August Montz
Bill Adair
Brandon Clum
Ron Messer
Jaret Skaggs
Matt Skaggs
Jeff Klusti
Brian Hallet
Keith Shinn

Team's style of offense: Multiple

Top players returning on offense:
Buddy Willig WR-DB, 6’1,175, JR: All-District, All-MAC, All-State 2023

Danny Adair OL-DL, 6’0, 220, SR: All-MAC 2023

Jeffrey Becker OL-DL, 6’2, 275, SR: 2nd Team All-MAC 2023

Dominic Higgins OL-DL, 6’4, 290, JR: Returning starter at RT

Mason Hitti OL-DL, 6’3, 295, JR: Returning starter at RT & NT

Top players lost on offense:
Luke Dobbins RB/LB: Walsh University - All-MAC, All-District, All-State

Noah Willig WR/DB: University of Indianapolis - All-MAC, All-District, All-State

Jacob Ford TE/LB: Walsh University All-MAC, All-District

Zach Bowman QB: All-MAC, All-District

New impact players on offense:
Jason Beverly RB-LB, 5’9,155, SO

Jackson Lewis QB-LB, 6’0, 175, SO

Xavier Fetter, WR/DB, 5’9-155, JR

Caeden DeDomenic QB-DB, 6’2, 160, JR

Team's style of defense: 3-4

Top players returning on defense:
Buddy Willig WR-DB, 6’1,175, JR: All-District, All-MAC, All-State 2023

Danny Adair OL-DL, 6’0, 220, SR: All-MAC 2023

Markus Brown RB-LB, 5’11, 180, JR: 2nd Team All-MAC 2023

Mason Hitti OL-DL, 6’3, 295, JR: Returning starter at RT & NT

Top players lost on defense:
Luke Dobbins RB/LB: Walsh University - All-MAC, All-District, All-State

Noah Willig WR/DB: University of Indianapolis - All-MAC, All-District, All-State

Jacob Ford TE/LB: Walsh University All-MAC, All-District

New impact players on defense:
Xavier Fetter WR-DB, 5’9, 155, JR

Luke Senderak RB-LB, 6’0, 180, SR

Tyler Koger TE-LB, 6’1, 190, SR

Expected starters on special teams:
K: Colin Starling
P: Colin Starling
PR: Buddy Willig
KR: Buddy Willig, Jason Beverly

Twitter:
@Go_PanthersFB

Final Comments:
Team is working hard to fill in major gaps left behind by arguably the best senior class to play at Norton High School, after winning 10 or more games in each of the past 3 seasons, which included 3 straight MAC championships.

The strength of our 2024 Panthers will lie in the trenches on both sides of the ball, with veterans who look to create running lanes for multiple ball carriers and be stout against the run game of opponents on defense.

The league will be a tough challenge once again, and young/inexperienced players will need to grow and develop at the skill positions (including a competition at QB between sophomore Jackson Lewis and junior Caedon DeDomenic) as the season progresses. With a strong offseason in the weight room, we look forward to getting better everyday and competing to uphold the standards that have been set here with Norton football.

2023 Schedule/Results:

08/18/23​
WNorthwest (Canal Fulton)
35​
6​
08/25/23​
WUniversity School (Hunting Valley)
49​
18​
09/01/23​
WFirestone (Akron)
48​
13​
09/08/23​
WStreetsboro (Streetsboro)
35​
14​
09/15/23​
WWoodridge (Peninsula)
28​
0​
09/22/23​
WCoventry (Akron)
56​
15​
09/29/23​
WSpringfield (Akron)
55​
7​
10/06/23​
WCloverleaf (Lodi)
48​
12​
10/13/23​
WField (Mogadore)
41​
0​
10/20/23​
WRavenna (Ravenna)
39​
16​
10/27/23​
WRevere (Richfield)
40​
7​
11/03/23​
LBuckeye (Medina)
47​
49​
 
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