To many football fans, sweep plays such as what the Green Bay Packers ran to five NFL titles in the 1960s or what the University of Southern California Trojans used for three college national titles in the 70s are quaint products of a different era. In 2024 at Pantego Christian, it’s the base of an offense that’s a beast to defend.
Pantego Christian’s run-heavy offense has been very productive, especially lately. The Panthers are averaging 277.2 rushing yards per game this season, with quarterback Tristan Brown being the focus. He has rushed for 837 yards and a whopping 22 touchdowns, already breaking the previous school record for a season of 18. Brown is receiving interest from college programs such as Central Arkansas, Arkansas State and Abilene Christian.
Brown has rushed for six touchdowns in each of Pantego’s last two games, including last Friday’s 42-18 win over Trinity Christian-Willow Park in which he had 209 yards. This kept Pantego Christian – ranked No. 10 in The Dallas Morning News’ private schools area poll – undefeated at 6-0, 1-0 in TAPPS 1-III heading into Friday’s game at Fort Worth Lake Country.
Appropriately, Pantego Christian’s best running play comes from what they call a beast set, running either heavy to the right or to left. This involves Mason Nickens and Micah Harber leading the way for Brown as blocking fullbacks, a common strategy for the Packers and Trojans of yesteryear, but uncommon today as fullbacks have been phased out of many offenses.
“Nobody does it. Nobody sees it. When defenses see it they don’t know what to do.” Brown said. “It’s been a lot of fun to run and it’s exceeded our expectations. We’ve done amazing things with it.”
Pantego Christian’s wrinkle to its offense is it comes from multiple formations varying from a power spread to an empty backfield to three-back formations. Pantego Christian coach Jeff Kemp said he wanted to play to his team’s offensive strengths, including a physical line and having depth in ball carriers. Nickens has also had a solid season with 391 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 7.0 yards per carry.
Pantego Christian is averaging 40.3 points per game while many of its offensive standouts have the additional task common with the limited numbers of many private-school programs: playing defense. Pantego Christian’s defense has been solid, allowing just 14.3 points per game.
Based out of a three-man front, the Panthers are averaging 5.8 tackles for loss per game, led by eight by sophomore defensive lineman Brendan Osborne. Osborne and linebacker Chris Herrera lead Pantego Christian with 46 tackles apiece, while Nickens has 32 playing linebacker. Brown, who has received the majority of attention from college programs for his defensive skills, has 24 tackles primarily playing safety.
Herrera said the defense’s success is because of knowing when to blitz and when to drop back. Nickens said a key element is keeping opposing offenses off-balance.
“It’s a fun defense. We don’t run the same defense over and over,” Nickens said. “There’s a lot of diversity in what we run.”
This is the second time Pantego has started 6-0 under Kemp. The 2021 team started 9-0 before finishing 11-2 and advancing to TAPPS Division III state semifinals. Pantego Christian is playing in TAPPS Division III again this season after playing an independent schedule in 2023.
The Panthers have clinched its sixth winning season in seven years. Despite its recent success, Pantego Christian has not won a state championship since 1997.
While pleased with his team’s results, Kemp said thinking about winning a state title will only come in championship week if his team is there. A road game against 2023 TAPPS Division IV state runner-up Lubbock Christian (6-1, 1-0) on Nov. 1 looms in district play. In the postseason, Pantego Christian may have to deal with three-time defending state champion Dallas Christian.
“I think the kids are really hungry to be playing for a chance at the playoffs again, but I think staying in the moment with the kids is the most important thing,” Kemp said.
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