By: Joanna Chadwick
Football coach Brandon Clark has been one of the most dominant coaches over the last decade, winning five state championships, the last being in 2020.
Coming into the season with his son, Braxton, at quarterback, four-star tight end Da’Saahn Brame and running back Derek Hubbard on offense, the Panthers were one of the favorites.
The Panthers fell to the defending state champion, Manhattan, 33-19 in the first game but quickly got back on their feet with a dominant regular season en route to an 11-game winning streak.
Clark and Derby got a chance for revenge against Manhattan in the playoffs after wins over Topeka and Lawrence.
“We really never talked about revenge,” Clark said. “It was an opportunity to move on in the playoffs. The team approached it that way.”
The Panthers went on to win 23-21 after a game-winning field goal from Grady Jesseph.
The madness wouldn’t end there for the Panthers as they beat Washburn Rural on a game-winning field goal the following week to clinch a state championship berth.
“Both those games were thrillers,” Clark said. “I was definitely enjoying the moments.”
As the Panthers prepared for their final game in a snowy Class 6A championship, time was also dwindling down for Clark and his son, Braxton.
“I can’t tell you how special it is, soaking each last day up,” Clark said.
