By Myra Bean
Chris Conner is one of four seniors on the North Panola Cougars’ team and  his hands are full this year leading an inexperienced squad.

However, having his dad, Chris, and uncle Barry as assistant coaches helps ease some of the burden of the starting running back/defensive back.

Conner said his dad has been coaching him since he was little in youth football.

“He taught me everything that I know,” Conner said. “I want to be like him when I grow up.”

Conner credits Barry for teaching him how to be a running back in the peewee league. Barry Conner is a former member of the South Panola football team and played on the 1993 state championship team.

Not only is his father coaching, but his brother Brandon is the third quarterback on the team.

“I never thought I would be playing with my little  brother,” Conner said. “It is great playing with him.”

The Conner name is spread throughout the athletic system as younger brother Justin is making a name for himself on the junior high Cougar team.

At North Panola High, Chris Conner is not just a football player. He runs on the track team and is in his third year in the ROTC program at school.

It is in the latter field which he hopes to make his future career. Conner is planning a career in the Army but has not decided if he will go directly after high school or go to college first and then the military.