“Can we do it Again?”

“Can we do it Again?”

Driving the Streets of Oak Grove on a Friday night, you can see the Panther Pride!  You can feel the love and support from the community!  Homecoming Parade is something we all look forward to, as Commercial Bank and other local businesses dress in Orange and black and stand on the corner’s and cheer our Boy’s On!

We’ll never forget the Excitement we felt as Oak Grove Panthers came so close as they finished second for the state championship back in 1986 and 1990.  I work with some of the parents here at commercial bank and the stories they tell of their boys that year, they were warned not to, but the whole team all decided to do it......The next day the whole team walked out on the field sporting their Mohawks, the parents may not have thought it was humorous then, but now they can laugh about it as they tell the story....

After losing to Maryville during the 2013 playoffs, the coaches called for a team meeting.  The team gathered in a weight room, and began preparation for the 2014 season.  The coaches insisted the session would be a look to the future rather than a remembrance of the past.

In St. Louis, Seniors swapped stories of the past four seasons as they were inside the Edward Jones Dome.  The conversation led them to 2011, when Coach Pat Richard arrived in Oak Grove, and laid out his long term vision of the Panthers playing for state championships year after year.

The first one came that Friday! "When Coach Richard always talked about winning state, I always questioned it in my head,” Senior Brinegar said. "Now that we're here, it's unreal." Oak Grove (13-2) claimed its first state championship by racking up 417 total yards, 348 on the ground.  The Panthers used a 22-point blitz in a span of 4 minutes and 11 seconds in the second quarter to take the lead for good 29-21.  History was made!!!

And the Question awaits.......Can we do it Again?  Today the streets are filling, as we get ready for the parade to begin.  Parents are setting out their chairs and marking their spots to watch their boys ride on the Float!  Proud Parents and Commercial Bank of Oak Grove is Proud to show our support along with the community for Our Panthers!

Good Luck Panthers!