Upperman, Stone Prepare For Week 10 Showdown

Stone Memorial Head Coach Derek Samber said the team’s biggest test of the season comes Friday night when (8-0) Upperman visits Crossville.

Before the bye, Stone suffered a week eight loss to York. Samber said the time away was crucial for the team ahead of facing a stout Bees defense.

“They’re really physical, they’re well coached, they’re disciplined, they tackle well and are good in coverage,” Samber said. “They’re talented and big, so there’s certainly a lot of challenges with playing Upperman. We just got to hope to execute at our best possible level and hope its enough to move the ball and move it across the goal line.”

This season while the Panthers have averaged 31 points a game, the Baxter Bees have only allowed 11.5 a contest. Upperman head coach Adam Caine said Stone possesses one of the region’s premier athletes in senior Maddox Oquendo, a player that has impressed Caine with his rushing numbers.

“Be ready, because he’s somebody that can truly take over a game,” Caine said. “I think he’s had close to 300 yards in a couple games this year. So, if we don’t show up with our A game, he’s going to run right through us.”

Caine said Oquendo is a complete back that has a good feel for cut-back lanes and has strong legs to break tackles and gain yards after contact.

The last time these two teams faced off in 2022, the Bees lost a close 15-14 contest. Caine said the loss left a bitter taste in the team’s mouth, a taste that still lingers.

“Half of these kids were on that team,” Caine said. “It was not a good feeling coming off the field and some of their guys had a lot to say about it to us after the game. And so, those things kind of stick in your mind and hopefully our kids can compartmentalize all that stuff and get themselves hyper focused and ready to play.”