This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is junior running back Markus Thomas. Last week, Thomas rushed for 206 yards in Orange’s season-opening game at Southeast Alamance. It was the most yards for an Orange running back since Hunter Pettiford ran for 203 yards in a win over Southern Durham on September 28, 2018. On Friday night, Thomas ran for 210 yards in a victory over Chapel Hill, scoring two touchdowns. Last season, Thomas adjusted to the new Wing-T offense of head coach Fritz Hessenthaler. He finished the season with 979 rushing yards and scored seven touchdowns. He recorded his first 100-yard game against Chapel Hill in Hillsborough, where he ran for 156 yards and two touchdowns. On October 17, 2025, Thomas rushed for 96 yards and scored the game-winning touchdown against South Granville on Senior Night. He also ran for 124 yards on 20 carries in a 38-12 win at Carrboro, which was Hessenthaler’s first victory as Orange head coach. Thomas ran for 156 yards and two touchdowns at Cedar Ridge in a 46-0 Orange victory, which put the Panthers in the 5A State Playoffs. Thomas is on pace to become Orange’s first 1,000 yard rusher since Marinate Beasley, who rushed for 1,040 yards in Orange’s 2016 season. Thomas is a three-sport athlete for also wrestles and runs track & field.
