STEVENS POINT – The Stevens Point Panthers are closing in on their first 5-0 start since 2016 – and can reach it with a win over Hudson of the Big Rivers Conference on Friday, Sept. 19, at Georke Park.
The Panthers, coming off wins over Eau Claire Memorial and Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln, have been an offensive juggernaut.
Even with a new, but equipped junior quarterback under center in Trent Breitbach, moving the ball has been a regularity. The Panthers offense has posted 56 points in two consecutive wins – and so far this season, have yet to score fewer than 40 points in each of their four wins.
It’s a collective effort that Stevens Point coach Ryan Eigenberger said starts at the line of scrimmage, and behind the Panthers productive offensive line, the entire offense is flourishing.
Through five games, Breitbach is up to 22 total touchdowns, 12 rushing touchdowns – both among the top of the leader boards in the state. Panthers receiver Johnny Ananaidis is up to six touchdowns.
“I think we’re just seeing all of our guys, offense and defense, the sophomores, juniors and seniors, everybody on the team really just buy into the program and buy into each other,” Eigenberger. “I think it’s paid off so far this year. Coming into the year with not a ton of experience, these guys now have gotten some under their belt, and they’ve looked really good doing it.
“So we’re just really excited for the opportunity that these guys have had and will continue to have here in the second half of the season.”
Hudson at Stevens Point, Sept. 19
There’s a little extra motivation this week for the Panthers, on top of the opportunity to see how they stack up against an opponent just as hot as they are coming in.
On the road at Hudson (4-0, 2-0 conference) last season, Stevens Point walked away with a one-possession, 21-14 loss to the Raiders. This year they will be looking for a different outcome.
Eigenberger preaches physicality, and expects nothing less from Hudson and long-tenured coach Adam Kowles’s group.
“They swarm on defense, and they move real fast on offense, so they’re really dynamic on both sides of the ball,” Eigenberger said. “They’re always ready to play. For the last two years we’ve had some really fun games against them, and that’s what we’ve been trying to get our guys ready for.
“It’s just going to be a whole other animal, one of those Friday night games where you never know what’s going to happen on the scoreboard, and every single play is going to have these little nuances in it of a missed block there, or a block made there, and a tackle there. And I think it’s going to come down to who wins up front on Friday night.”
The Panthers look forward to the opportunity of challenging one of the premier programs in the northern part of the state, and what it can mean for the rest of their season.
“Whether it’s a win or loss, I think if we go out there and we play physical and we play together, we believe in our values within the program,” Eigenberger said.
“That’s something you can always hang your hat on. Those are the things that we really believe in. So I think obviously a win gets some of those young guys that are now on week five a little bit more excitement and confidence, which is awesome. But, no matter what happens, we just want to play our game and do what we do.”
Contact or send game stats/info to Sports Reporter Alfred Smith III at alfred.smith@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @AlfredS_III.
This article originally appeared on Stevens Point Journal: ‘Whole other level’: Unbeaten SPASH expects heavyweight fight vs. undefeated Hudson
Reporting by Alfred Smith III, Stevens Point Journal / Stevens Point Journal
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