Maumee releases 2025 football schedule

By JEREMY SCHNEIDER

IMA SPORTS

The Maumee football team released its 2025 schedule on Thursday, and there was plenty of moving and shaking in the upcoming slate of games.

The Panthers will once again open the season against former Northern Lakes League opponent Springfield. The Blue Devils visit Kazmaier Stadium on August 22.

The non-conference schedule got a face lift in Weeks 2 and 3, though. Maumee picked up another NLL team for Week 2, replacing Bryan (1-9 in 2024) with a trip to Napoleon (7-6). The Panthers then host Waite (1-9) in Week 3; the Indians replace Bowsher (3-7).

The Northern Buckeye Conference schedule flipped for the Panthers. Over the last two years, they faced the two giants of the conference, Oak Harbor (12-1) and Eastwood (11-2), in back-to-back weeks to open the NBC. Now, Maumee will travel to Oak Harbor in Week 9 before hosting Eastwood in Week 10.

Add in a road trip to Otsego (5-6) in Week 8, and the Panthers close the ‘25 schedule with three straight games against playoff teams from last year that won a combined 28 of 37 games.

Maumee will ease into the NBC schedule this year, with Weeks 4 through 7 featuring one game against a team with a winning record last season – Week 5 at Genoa (6-5). The Panthers host Lake in Week 4, travel to Rossford in Week 6 and host Fostoria in Week 7.

Maumee’s opponents last year finished with a combined 47-58 record. This year’s opponents closed out the season with a 51-59 record, and half of those teams made the playoffs.

In terms of divisional breakdown, the Panthers will play two Division II opponents (Springfield and Waite), three Division IV teams (Napoleon, Rossford and Otsego), and five Division V opponents (Lake, Genoa, Fostoria, Oak Harbor and Eastwood).

Maumee qualified for the Division III playoff last season, breaking a long playoff drought. It finished 8-3 on the season with a loss to Lexington in the first round.

The Panthers will return five starters on offense and four on defense, including quarterback Ben Kubicz, who was named honorable mention All-NBC. Also back are Will Kubicz (wide receiver, defensive back), Ryan Patterson (offensive tackle, defensive end), Jackson Schneider (offensive guard, defensive end), Brock Heard (tight end, linebacker), Eli Dodson (wide receiver, defensive back) and Cohen Jones (linebacker, running back).

Photo courtesy of Pride of the Panthers

Reach IMA at insidemaumeeathletics@gmail.com