Pioneer lost a lot to graduation from last year's team that played in the Class 1A state championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium, but one of their best players in the trenches has returned for his senior year.
Mikaden Tolosa shined in the season opener at Lewis Cass, helping the Panthers win in their fourth straight Clash of Cass County with a 20-15 comeback victory.
Tolosa, a 5-foot-8, 206-pound senior, brings a unique skillset to the football field for the Panthers with his combination of size, strength, athleticism and tenacity.
"We lost a lot of two-way players last year and he's one of those veterans guys that's been a staple of our O-line and D-line the last couple years, an all-state player we're expecting big things from him this year," Pioneer coach Adam Berry said. "He really showed what he could do this past Friday night. He was our defensive player of the game. He had that huge sack to essentially seal the game and just coming from that backside making plays. And not only defensively, but just being that staple on the offensive line and just having that grit."
Tolosa was credited with 10 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss and a 15-yard sack in the win over Cass.

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