Any time Jackson County loses, according to quarterback Kyle Daniel, it lights a fire under the team that fuels them to come back and win the next week.

Both losses this season for the Panthers have been followed by big wins, the most recent coming Friday when the team bounced back from a 35-6 loss to North Oconee to defeat Franklin County 32-29.

Daniel played a large part in the win, completing 24 of 43 passes for a career-high 443 yards and four touchdowns against the Lions despite a difficult first half. For his efforts, Daniel has been named The Times Player of the Week.

Some teams prefer to play at home in front of their own fans, but Daniel believes that finally being on the road after a long home stand helped the team win.

“It was good for us to finally get on the road,” Daniel said. “You can kind of focus more about what you have to do, and not focus on the field and the fans.”

First-year head coach Benji Harrison said that Daniel’s focus overall has improved throughout the year and that he and the rest of the team have been eager to learn and work hard since the very beginning.

“I think this team is really hungry,” Harrison said. “When you’re driven by that hunger, they give you a better effort.”

As for Daniel, Harrison said he is becoming more comfortable with the offense and developing into his role. He leads by example, according to Harrison, but he is more vocal now than he was initially, and he is getting better at reading the defense.

“He understands when he makes a mistake and the reason he makes a mistake,” Harrison said. “He’s quick to take the blame when they don’t play well.”

Daniel and Harrison both agree that Daniel didn’t play his best in the first half against Franklin County, and Daniel knew that he needed to fix some little things like footwork to succeed against the Lions.

After halftime, Daniel was able to connect with the rest of the offense to put up the numbers needed to win.

“He didn’t really have a choice to play bad,” Harrison said. “He hung in there, and it shows a lot about his character. He’s a competitor, and he wants to be a part of the turnaround.”

Part of the turnaround for this Jackson County program, however, involves a tough region schedule that Harrison and Daniel said will get tougher each week.

“That was a big win for us because going into the season, our goal was to make the playoffs,” Daniel said, “We can’t let up now.”

The Panthers have a bye this week before traveling to Hart County on Oct. 19 in Hartwell, where they will keep pressing to keep their postseason hopes alive.