After sustaining an injury in Week 1, Paradise quarterback Ayden Winters has helped lead the Paradise Panthers to their second consecutive run to the 3A Division I Region I final. MIKE HALL | FOR THE MESSENGER
Paradise quarterback Ayden Winters took on a new role at the start of his senior campaign — one that has taught him several lessons both on and off the field.
After sustaining an injury in Week 1, Winters recently resumed his role as the starting signal-caller and has helped Paradise power its way into the fourth round of the 3A Division I playoffs.
Paradise earned its second straight trip to the Region I final by knocking off Jim Ned 10-7 Nov. 29 at Springtown High School’s Porcupine Stadium.
“It feels great to get back to the regional final for the second year in a row,” Winters said. “Jim Ned was a really good team, but we knew we had to just take it one play at a time and not get ahead of ourselves. We knew the offense was going to struggle, but we’d get points on the board. We’ve got a lot of faith in our defense, and the O-Line did great — they may be small, but they’re strong.”
Serving as the Panthers’ second option at receiver in the 2023 campaign (846 yards, 7 TDs), Winters — who also was the team’s backup signal caller — moved under center this season as Paradise looked to replace former quarterback and 2024 All-Wise MVP Austin Iglesias (3,553 total yards, 54 TDs).
Winters, who has garnered interest from several college programs at receiver, stepped up to the challenge and took the reins of the Panthers’ offense.
“Coach [Joe] Koch and I sat down and talked for a while,” he said. “At this time, [quarterback] Ayden [Olalde] was still pretty young, but he was good. Coach told me they were going to try him at first, so that I wouldn’t have to move, but I knew deep down that I was going to have to play that position — I knew I was capable of doing it.”
On Paradise’s first offensive drive in the team’s 38-7 season-opening road win against Gainesville, Winters suffered a knee injury, forcing him to the sidelines for an extended amount of time.
“I got rolled up on during the fourth play of the game, and had a Grade 3-4 MCL tear that was hanging on by a thread,” Winters said. “I ended up being out for three weeks. I was really mad and bummed… Thankfully, I didn’t have to have surgery. I was very determined to get back as quickly and healthy as possible just to help my team.”
During his time off the field, Paradise saw the emergence of Olalde at quarterback. In his first varsity campaign, the sophomore completed 80 of his 146 passing attempts for 1,304 yards and 13 touchdowns with seven interceptions, and totaled 623 rushing yards and eight scores on 128 carries.
With Olalde’s success under center, Winters returned to the Panthers in Week 6 against Bowie as a receiver, where he played the final five games of the District 4-3AI schedule, accumulating 282 yards and two touchdowns on 17 receptions.
“I liked being able to play some receiver again,” he said. “Coming off the injury, it was definitely a big mental battle — my mind kept telling me to take it easy, but I knew that my knee was fine.”
Winters’ services at quarterback were called upon again after Olalde was injured in the Battle of Texas 114 league finale against Boyd. The change back proved to be the right move, as Winters has led the Panthers to postseason wins over Clyde (47-0), Bushland (21-17) and Jim Ned (10-7).
During the Panthers’ playoff run, he’s gone 21-of-36 for 404 yards and five touchdowns, with just two picks, and has rushed 31 times for 152 yards and one score.
“I’m a senior, so I feel like it’s my responsibility to lead the team,” Winters said. “I want to do my part, and I feel like we’re a little bit of a better team with me back there. It actually felt pretty natural for me to be at quarterback. I do feel like the game has slowed down for me since I returned, and I’m able to see a little bit more and feel comfortable.”
Battling through several injuries both in football and basketball while suiting up for the Panthers, Winters has relied on his faith to help him persevere.
“I’m a Christian, and I know that God has a plan for me,” he said. “I know that whatever He has for me is the right plan, and that everything happens for a reason. I just really tried to keep looking at the positive during my injuries. I’ve learned to just patiently wait, work hard and keep going.”
The Panthers will try to claim their first state bid in program history Friday, as Paradise (11-2) faces Shallowater in the 3AI Region I final 7 p.m. at Shotwell Stadium in Abilene.
“I know we’re the better team,” Winters said. “I know we’re going to play harder, and that our coaches are going to prepare us better. We have speed on them, so if we can get around the edge, I think we’ll do our thing. Our linemen and our defense will for sure hold our own. They have a couple of key athletes, but I think we can shut them down. We’ll go from there, and God will lead us where He wants us.”
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