News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
In his senior season, Stone Memorial running back Maddox Oquendo has wowed fans with his play and head coach Derek Samber said fans can expect more of the same.
In week six, Oquendo rushed for 296 yards and three touchdowns. Samber said he is sure that Oquendo’s going to deliver on Fridays.
“Maddox is a consistent kid, so I think fans can expect what they’ve been seeing,” Samber said. “A kid that’s dynamic with the ball in his hands and does a good job when he’s not getting the football of blocking and running his routes regardless. So. I’d expect to continue to see that from him.”
The Panthers have needed every bit of Oquendo’s offensive production this season as the team graduated several senior contributors to the offense. Samber said with a relatively young roster that Oquendo’s presence alone makes a difference at practice.
“He does such a good job taking coaching,” Samber said. “He’s a tremendous athlete, but has taken coaching. His running style and approach is really fitting our offense better than it ever has because of the young man that he is and the work he puts in.”
This season Oquendo has multiple 50+ yard runs and has carried or caught the ball 20 or more times in a majority of the Panthers games that have seen them go 4-2. Samber noted the respect he has for Oquendo for being an undersized back who has had to battle back from adversity.
“Maddox is a warrior,” Samber said. “He missed most of his sophomore year due to a broken collarbone and his junior year he was a piece that was used with several dynamic seniors we had at the skilled positions. He’s really been our bell cow this year.”
