The West Ottawa football team had a season of opportunity in 2025.
But it ended up a season of missed opportunities – in heartbreaking fashion.
It started in Week 1 with a 30-27 loss to Grand Ledge – the third one-score loss to Grand Ledge in a row and the most heartbreaking as the Panthers were stopped on the 1-yard line as time expired.
Week 2 brough Zeeland West. The Panthers played stellar defense, holding the Dux to 21 points until the final second of the game where a Hail Mary pass bounced off a West Ottawa defender into the hands of Brandon Holman, giving the Dux a 28-24 win in stunning fashion.
So West Ottawa started 0-2 instead of 2-0 by the slimmest of margins. A 9-7 loss to Jenison was another missed opportunity as the defense allowed just three field goals.
In the OK Red Conference, every opportunity is paramount. The Panthers know they are facing perennial state powers Rockford, Hudsonville, East Kentwood and Grandville every year.
With the playoff points system, the Panthers have more opportunities to make the playoffs as they did three years ago despite a 4-5 record.
Here are the three keys for the Panthers this season:
Staying healthy
In the OK Red, everything is magnified. Injuries can become crushing as the Panthers found out quickly last season.
Star linebacker Elijah Reynolds, who now plays at Central Michigan, missed most of his junior year with an injury and that happened again during his senior season.
He was the anchor of the defense and it changed everything for the Panthers, making them vulnerable up the middle against the run or the pass.
Passing fancy
West Ottawa quarterback Abel Anaya has a ton of talent and a year of experience.
That will have to continue as the Panthers aim to execute some more big-play strikes. Anaya can also run the ball well and that will be key to balancing the attack.
Decision making will be the next step for Anaya, who has already shown the ability to make things happen.
Defensive line must be sharp
The OK Red is full of athletic players on both sides of the ball.
Most of the teams can pass the ball well, so the key will be run defense.
The West Ottawa defensive line will be key in stuffing the run, either getting to the ball carrier, or setting up spaces for linebackers to race in and make a tackle.
The defense was good last year, at times great. That will need to continue in the OK Red gauntlet.
Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: High school football previews: 3 keys for West Ottawa Panthers this season
Reporting by Dan D’Addona, Holland Sentinel / The Holland Sentinel
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By Dan D'Addona, Holland Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
