“This is a game we wish we could have back to play again.”

“It was a really tough way to end a very successful season,” said Sheridan Panthers’ head coach Tyler Lott after the team’s 28-0 first round playoff loss to St. Regis-Mullan. “We unfortunately somewhat beat ourselves with too many costly mistakes and turnovers. You’ve got to play good football in the playoffs and we just simply didn’t. This is a game we wish we could have back to play again.”

Lott reflected the regrets of his team over the poor performance, but was quick to put his focus back on the efforts that made the season successful to that point. 

“We had great leadership this year and our team chemistry was top-notch. Our seniors, James Reedy, Haze Hardy, and Brayt Wood spearheaded this environment and I can confidently say it played a huge part in our success,” said Lott of his graduating class. ”Their enthusiasm and effort was contagious and it inspired a culture that cared. Just a really great trio of guys that helped push this program in a successful and positive direction. I loved coaching them and am sad to see them go. They will be missed. “

For Lott, it was the effort the players put in inspired by their senior leadership that paid off in their earning a playoff spot.

“This team started working clear back in the spring, with strong turnouts for team lifts,” he said. “We put in work over the summer as well. All season we worked toward becoming a better football team and no doubt we achieved it. We became a more football savvy group overall. Every week I could see improvements in different facets of the game.”

He took the end of season interview as an opportunity to highlight the accomplishments of his defense over the course of the season. 

“Our defense improved the most and became our strength,” Lott explained. “We had 50 tackles for loss, 17 forced turnovers, 2 defensive touchdowns, pitched a shutout, and only gave up 155 points over the course of the regular season. All of which are big improvements from last year. Good defense is crucial to being successful and we really made that our identity and took pride in it. Stopping the run and improving our pass defense made us a worthy opponent.”

After the pain of the road playoff loss started to fade, Lott was able to turn his attention towards the future of the program. 

“It’s hard to look ahead, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited about the future,” he began. “We have made major progress over the last two years and only losing three seniors means that we are bringing back a great core of players. If we can continue on the trajectory we’ve set, build on our culture, and put in the work required, I believe we have some big games ahead of us. Sophomores Logan McDougal, Charlie Larsen, Eirik Reedy, and Brody Decker all started both ways for me and have the potential to really push this program to the next level if they put in the work. Juniors Tanner Christensen, Jace Allhands, and Briggs Munns have big shoes to fill with the seniors leaving, but they have great experience and the potential to lead us to new heights.”