Derby's 5-0 Panthers return to Panther Stadium at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, for a homecoming matchup against Valley Center.

Running back Da'Von Morrison carried 34 times for a program record 380 yards in Derby's 34-13 win over Maize South on Friday, Oct. 2. The yardage set a program record. But head coach Brandon Clark, reviewing film from that game, told the Derby Informer that the Panthers still have work to do.

"We had way too many penalties. Our kids were going hard at times, but our tempo wasn't what we wanted either," Clark said. "I thought our offensive line struggled at times, even though Da'Von ran for 380 yards … we definitely need to block better."

Derby (4-0 in Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Division I play) led throughout the Maize South game but watched the Mavericks cut the lead to 14-13 early in the third quarter before the Panthers pulled away with a 20-point surge.

The homecoming opponent brings a different challenge. Valley Center (2-3, 1-2 AVCTL-I) won a 38-34 comeback over Campus and leans on 6-foot-5 quarterback Isaac Duncan, who can stretch the field with throws to wide receivers RayJ Logan Jr. and Spencer Crumrine.

Clark said his defense has shut down opposing run games but needs to limit explosive plays against the Hornets' passing attack. He pointed to missed tackles on the quarterback as a specific concern from the Maize South film.

On offense, Clark wants faster tempo between snaps. He described players walking to the line of scrimmage and wide receivers slow to look at the sideline for the next play call. He said repetition in practice should tighten that up.

The Panthers haven't played at Panther Stadium since Sept. 18, spending the past two weeks on the road at Maize and Maize South. Clark said the home crowd has been a factor all season. Derby's student section packed the visiting stands at Maize South to the point where they ran out of room.

"The guys are not letting homecoming be a distraction because they know their job is to win on Friday," Clark said.