SCRAMBLING … Stryker quarterback Cody Stewart takes off on a run in the first quarter Saturday night.
PHOTOS BY RACHEL NAGEL / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
AVOIDING THE PRESSURE … Noah Dotson hits the hole on a run with a Danbury defender going for the tackle.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
STRYKER (September 6, 2025) – It’s already been a learning experience for the Stryker Panthers this fall.
Despite having an 18-man roster with just two seniors on it, the Panthers went up against one of the top teams in the Northern 8 Conference Saturday night in Danbury.
The Lakers proved why they’re among the favorites in the conference and it showed with a 36-0 shutout victory.
“For us, it’s about making teams play 48 minutes of football to beat us,” said Stryker head coach Jamie Grime. “I said going into this year, we could go 0-10 and still improve by a thousand percent.”
Stryker was able to drive deep into Danbury territory on its first series after Cooper Stuckey had recovered a Danbury fumble at the Stryker 37.
The Panthers managed to put together a 16-play drive that chewed up most of the first quarter before turning the ball over on downs at the Danbury 17-yard line.
Following a scoreless quarter, the Lakers (3-0) scored on the first play of the second quarter with quarterback Tommy Dean connecting with Ayden Ayers on a 78-yard touchdown pass for a 6-0 lead.
Again, the Panthers put together another drive into the red zone but were stopped after Stryker running back Nathen Ryan was stopped for no gain on fourth and one at the Danbury 17.
It would lead to another Lakers’ touchdown with 48 seconds remaining in the half as Dean found Parker LaMarca down the right sideline for a 62-yard touchdown pass. Dean then ran in the two-point conversion run for a 14-0 halftime lead.
Danbury would capitalize on a Stryker fumble in the third quarter with Grant Dunfee recovering it at the Lakers’ 43-yard line. Dean would score on a three-yard quarterback keeper run for a 22-0 lead with 5:07 remaining.
Stryker would turn the ball over on its next series and the end result was a Dean to Grey Maltese pass covering 75 yards for the touchdown with 30 seconds left in the quarter and a 30-0 cushion.
“We only have 18 players on this team and when our starting quarterback goes down and you got to put two running backs back there,” said the Stryker coach.
“I thought those kids did a phenomenal job under the adverse situation they were in. They could have chosen to just fold and be done, but they chose to fight.”
The Lakers got their final touchdown as freshman Eli Knight found pay dirt and raced 80 yards on the final play of the game.
“My expectations for this football team are when we come out here to play, I don’t want to be embarrassed, and I don’t want our town or our school to be embarrassed. Tonight, our kids fought really hard and gave great effort. Nobody is embarrassed by how they play football.”
Danbury outgained Stryker, 424-157, in total offense. Dean was 5 of 8 for 229 yards passing and three touchdowns to lead the Lakers. Knight was the top ball carrier with 94 yards on just two carries, 80 of those coming on one play.
Stryker quarterback Cody Stewart was 3 of 5 for 41 yards through the air before going down with an injury in the second half and didn’t return. Ryan led the Panthers on the ground with 62 yards on 24 carries.
The Panthers (1-2) begin a three-game road trip next Saturday night at Sandusky St. Marys in Northern 8 Conference action.
DHS 0 14 16 8 – 36
SHS 0 0 0 0 – 0
D – Ayers 78-yd pass from Dean (run failed)
D – LaMarca 68-yd pass from Dean (Dean run)
D – Dean 13-yd run (Dean run)
D – Maltese 75-yd pass from Dean (Dean run)
D – Knight 80-yd run (pass failed)