Kickoff for Vian's home-opener is set for 7:30 p.m. No. 15-ranked Vian and Panama are both 1-0 entering the game.
The two schools played every year from 1992 through 2005, including a run of eight seasons when they met in the opening game of the season. Vian won the most recent game against the Razorbacks, when the 2005 Class A state semifinalists defeated Panama 62-0 on the way to the District A-7 title.
Three years later, both schools are now in Class 2A. Panama moved up over the offseason and will compete in District 2A-6 this fall. Vian head coach Brandon Tyler said he's glad to have Panama back on the schedule.
"They're coming into the district we were in the last two years, so we would have been playing them anyway if we didn't move to a new district," said Tyler. "They should be a good opponent and Panama is pretty close, so it's a good little rivalry."
The Razorbacks went 9-3 in 2007 and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. Mike Davidson is in his first season as Panama's head coach and has the team off to a 1-0 start.
"They were hit hard by graduation and lost their coach, but they're doing some good things," noted Tyler.
Panama topped Quinton 26-18 last week as senior running back James Ritter scored three touchdowns. Ritter carried the ball 23 times for 104 yards and two scores and also caught a 70-yard TD pass from his brother, quarterback Sydney Ritter. Sydney completed 4-of-9 passes for 124 yards in the Razorbacks' win.
"They're a couple of Vian kids," Tyler said of the Ritter brothers. "They were here and moved down there a while back. It's going to be a homecoming for them, but our kids are ready for the challenge."
Kyle Tiffey is a presence for Panama at tight end and defensive end for Panama, while James Ritter plays linebacker.
"They're a 5-2 on defense and that's something we've seen before but they run it pretty well," said Tyler. "Their other linebacker, B.J. Lewis, broke his arm and isn't going to play against us, but controlling those two (Tiffey and Ritter) on defense will be one of the keys for us."
Tyler said he was pleased with Vian's 42-6 win at Hartshorne last week and the team is focused on doing even better against Panama.
"Our main thing is getting Vian better. We made some mistakes last week, but it's nothing we can't correct and that's what we'll be trying to do," said Tyler.
