PANTHERS PREVIEW … Stryker’s Nate Ryan runs the ball in a contest versus Fremont St. Joe last October.
Head coach: Jamison Grime, second season (3-7 coaching record).
2025 record: 3-7 overall, 2-6 Northern 8 Conference.
Lettermen lost: Owen Zachrich, Rustin Nofziger.
Returning starters: Jacob Ramon (WR/DB, 5-9, 160, senior); Ethan Beltran (OL/DL, 5-9, 190, senior, Northern 8 honorable mention); Nate Ryan (RB/DB, 5-10, 160, junior, Northern 8 honorable mention, 798 yards rushing, 35 tackles); Cody Stewart (QB, 6-2, 170, junior, 307 yards passing); Walker Atkinson (OL/LB, 5-8, 195, junior); Dylan Rivas (RB/DL, 5-10, 215, junior, Northern 8 honorable mention, 341 yards rushing, 81 tackles, 5 sacks); Cooper Stuckey (OL/DL, 5-7, 225, junior); Luis Arreola (OL/DL, 5-9, 175, junior); Liam Lee (OL/DL, 5-11, 200, sophomore); Lane Breen (OL/DL, 5-10, 220, sophomore); Sam King (OL/DL, 5-10, 190, sophomore).
Newcomers to watch: Brantley Shock (QB/DB, 5-7, 130, freshman); Braiden Burnham (RB/DB, 5-6, 130, freshman); Logan Emmons (WR/DB, 5-9, 140, sophomore); Jacob Pace (WR/DL, 6-3, 190, junior); Corbin Cruz (OL/DL, 5-9, 190, junior).
Coach’s outlook: “We return 12 of our 14 starters. We should not have to rely on underclassmen, and I believe we will be able to establish the run and throw when we want to, not when we have to.
“Defensively, we should be quick and able to fly to the football. We need to stay healthy. We were hit with serious injuries last season that forced us to play kids that might not be ready yet and forced us to do things on offense that we weren’t comfortable doing.
“I believe we will be much better than we were a year ago. We have many players that are now three or four-year starters. If we can stay healthy, we will be able to compete every week.”
Northern 8 outlook: “The Northern 8 will look the same as last year, two teams (Sandusky St. Mary’s and Fremont St. Joseph) competing for the title and the rest of us fighting for third to tenth place.”
Season and Northern 8 opener: vs. Southington Chalker (Saturday, August 22).