Fairbanks quarterback Braxton Wilhelm searches for a receiver during last week’s game against Springfield Catholic Central. The Panthers will play at Northeastern on Friday. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
The Fairbanks Panthers hope their winning streak continues when they go on the road to Northeastern on Friday.
After dropping the first two games of the 2019 campaign, FHS has won its past three contests.
The Jets (2-3) will employ more of a spread offensive look.
“They will play some trips and doubles and maybe even some quads among their receivers,” said Panther head coach Patrick Cotter. “Although they want to throw the ball approximately 60 percent of the time, they still want to run the rock on the jet sweep.”
The Jets’ best offensive weapon appears to be quarterback Jake Nichols.
He’s completed 41-of-68 passes for 501 yards with four touchdowns.
Nichols, however, is also the team’s leading ball carrier with 255 yards on 59 attempts and six TDs.
“He can sling it around and also run the ball,” said Cotter. “They’ve played some younger guys and have had some turnover (on offensive personnel).”
Nichols has distributed the pigskin to a variety of receivers.
Dylan Haggy leads the team with 13 receptions, good for 177 yards, and three touchdowns.
Others who have caught a handful of passes include Joe Covac, Hunter Albright and Cade Houseman.
“Nichols spreads the ball around,” said Cotter.
The Panther coach said his defense won’t do anything differently when confronting the Jets’ playmakers.
“It’s just going to be another week of sound, fundamental football,” said Cotter. “We just have to make sure we’re in the right spots and doing our jobs.”
Northeastern will use 4-3 and 4-4 defensive fronts with both two and three coverages in the secondary.
“It’s an aggressive defense,” said Cotter. “However, I think we can run the ball up the middle against them.
“If they do put in a thicker box, we can throw to our receivers.”
The Panthers have had success moving the ball both through their infantry and aerial attacks.
Mason Cushman, who is out for a couple of weeks with an injury, leads the ground game with 376 yards.
Fairbanks, though, has had several others step up to carry the ball in his absence.
Brogran Green has carried the ball 29 times for 313 yards and five TDs, while Riordin Stauffer has added 202 on 35 attempts.
“It’s been running back by committee,” said Cotter.
Quarterback Braxton Wilhelm, who has completed 49 passes for 728 yards, isn’t afraid to pull down the ball and use his legs.
He’s carried it 30 times for 161 yards.
Cotter said the Panthers have improved the most over the past few weeks in their fundamental execution of the game plan.
“We’ve gotten better at it the past three weeks,” he said. “We just need to continue that and play with a lot of effort.
“We will have the same approach going into the second half of the season,” said Cotter.