By Myra Bean

North Panola head coach Derek King is approaching tonight’s district game with Palmer like a team who has a 4-0 season.

“We are approaching Palmer with the mindset that north Panola has not won a road game since these seniors were freshmen. We are approaching it with the aspect no matter who they have played they are 4-0. They have learned how to win,” King said.

Palmer shut out its first two opponents Coahoma Agricultural 50-0 and O’Bannon, 36-0. Their closest game was a 30-24 win over West Tallahatchie September 7. Their last game was a 42-13 win over Riverside September 14. The Dragons have had two open dates,  August 17 and last week.

Aaron Holden is in his fourth year of coaching Palmer and the team has posted 6-4 records each of the last three years. Last year they finished 2-3 in the district and finished fourth for a playoff berth. Palmer lost to Kossuth in the first round of playoffs.

North Panola and Palmer met in district action and Palmer won 22-0.

To turn that around this year, King said on defense it is all about assignments because Palmer runs the wishbone.

The Cougar offense has to keep putting up big numbers. Last week, sophomore Willie Hibbler started his first game as quarterback. Overall, he did well, according to King.

“He made good reads. He held onto the ball and committed no turnovers,” King said.

The team responded well to Hibbler at the quarterback position because he has been a starter in other positions, according to the first year coach.

“It was not as hard of a transition as I thought it would be. He stepped right in. I think the air of confidence that he carries himself helped him out,” King added.

No certain person has been assigned to be his backup at this point. It will be done by “committee,” King said.

Hibbler, along with injured Jatavious Farmer, were also starting receivers. Farmer suffered a broken leg and torn tendons against South Pontotoc September 14.

“We still have Jaquay Daniels and Dameon Phillips starting and Robert Oliver,” King said.

As injuries have depleted the Cougar team, King said the team is realizing they have to be ready.

“It only takes one play for your number to be called. More or less they have to understand and you have to be ready. We have done cross over drills where we have guys playing in different positions,” King said.

“It has been a good experience for the guys to see how quickly they can adjust,” he added. “They also understand and respect that the guys who had those positions are leaders.”

Junior outside linebacker Brandon Conner underwent surgery for a torn ACL on Tuesday.

After the back-to-back wins,  the Cougars are confident, according to King.

Daniels went through the fieldhouse Wednesday afternoon saying that the team loved winning two in a row.

“We respect they are 4-0 but we see this as a team that stands in our way of getting to the playoffs,” King said.

One more request from King and the players was that the fans join them on the road to play this rival game.

“We loved the crowd at homecoming and the excitement,” King said. “We want the fans to come out and support us at a road game.”

Kickoff for tonight’s game is 7:30 p.m.