The Fort Zumwalt North football team has had quite a run over the last 12 years.

In Joe Bacon’s first five seasons as head coach, the Panthers compiled a below average record of 21-27 before things turned around with an 8-3 mark in 2013.

That kicked off an incredible string of seven straight seasons from 2014-2020 with double-digit victory totals, a span that included a sparkling 78-11 record and a Class 5 runner-up finish in 2016. It was a seven-year run that made North the envy of most football programs in the area.

“I'd say it's a combination of a lot of things. I think what we do schematically is very good on offense and defense and (special teams), so that's important. But a bigger part is I feel like we have a pretty high bar when it does come to character and expectations of the

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