Here’s a look at the Panhandle Panthers heading into the 2025 football season. Press Pass Sports reporter Lee Baker was able to get a word in with head coach Dane Ashley, who is entering his 11th year running the Panthers program. Ashley talks about building the program, his quarterback Broxton Robinson and what it is going to take to make a deep playoff run.

2024 resume

Head coach: Dane Ashley, 11th year at Panhandle, 86-36. 11th year overall.
2024 Record: 10-2 overall, 4-1 in District 1-2A Division I. Class 2A Division I area finalist.

Returning starters 

Offense: 8
Defense: 7
Season opener: at Clarendon, 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29.

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Players to watch

Broxton Robinson, 6-1, 190-pounds, QB-LB, Sr.

Robinson has been the measuring stick at Panhandle entering his third year as the starting quarterback and linebacker. The extremely talented athlete even had a tremendous summer by announcing to continue his football career at Army. The Panther’s heart and soul has started 24 games under center and at linebacker. Last season alone, Robinson threw for 2,090 yards with 20 touchdown passes and rushed for 1,214 yards. He also racked up 90 tackles on defense.

Gavin Brookshire, 5-11, 245-pounds, OL-DL, Sr.

Brookshire is one of the more developed and dependable two-way linemen coach Ashley has built in the Panhandle program. Last season, Brookshire graded out at 96 percent on the offensive line with 25 pancake blocks. On the defensive side of things, Brookshire had 34 tackles with three sacks.

Caden Armes, 5-10, 165-pounds, WR-DB, Sr.

The multi-sport athlete had quite first season at Panhandle on both sides of the ball. At the receiver position, Armes snagged 33 catches for 722 yards with 11 touchdowns. In the secondary, he made 20 tackles, had four pass breakups with an interception.