Westfield looks to take advantage of increase in numbers this season

New Beginnings

 

The banners signifying the past successes of the

Westfield Hornets football program are displayed all around the Hornets Nest,

the school’s on campus football stadium. The last time the Hornets won a region

title was in 2015, the last state title they won was a year earlier and for the

past two seasons there has been little reasons to no reason to celebrate

Hornets football.

 

The Hornets have won a grand total of three games

in the past two seasons and heading into the 2018 season the program, led by

head coach Jamey Watson, knows this can be the start of a better run of play

with the mix of experience and talent they currently have on hand. “This year’s

senior class has done an excellent job of preparing for the season,” said

Watson during a recent interview. We have had a really good summer and we are

hoping to continue to progress.” The Hornets recently started summer  with

plans advance to two-a-days next week. The expectations of the public may not

be high but inside of the program there are plans to be better than last year,

better than expected and that starts with having enough young men to be able to

shuttle players and off the field during the summer and later during the

season. “There have been a lot more kids this year,” said Watson of the boys

currently working and others that expected back in town in time for preseason

camp. The 42 boys anticipated to be on the team this year gives Watson and his

staff a chance to do things differently on offense and defense. “With bigger

numbers we have more competition at a number of positions,” said Watson.

 

Quarterback Battle

 

One of those positions currently up for grabs will

be quarterback, where Garan Daw, last year’s starter as a junior, and former

Perry High School backup quarterback Christian Corbett, have been going head to

head this summer. Last season the Hornets ran the ball more than they passed it

with former running back Payton Black leading the way en route to an all-region

season. The loss of a player and athlete the caliber of Black is never easy to

get over and Watson knows it. “They will be the toughest to replace,” said

Watson of Black and fellow senior Wyatt Young who alongside Black made up one

of the county’s best secondary pairings (Daw also played cornerback last

season). “They made their teammates better.”

 

The quarterback competition is a friendly one

according to the head coach but there can only be one starter and the knowledge

of the offense, despite a few changes this offseason, still remains more

familiar to Daw. For now. “He and Christian have been competing and they have

handled it well,” said Watson. It has been a good and friendly competition.”

 

Last season Daw played alongside veterans in the

backfield, this year he will be one of the team leaders and go-to players,

regardless if he’s the starting quarterback or at another position. “Garan did

a great job for us last year,” said Watson. The offense will be a bit different

from last year though. Whichever one doesn’t win the spot will still be on the

field.” Corbett played receiver last season, his first at Westfield.

 

The More the merrier

 

The rise in the amount of players on the Westfield

roster will have to make up for the losses of starters from last year’s team.

“With bigger numbers we can play more people on the defensive end,” says

Watson. The Hornets have eight returning starters on defense including

sophomore Michael Fitzpatrick, who along with playing linebacker, played tight

end and is one of the best baseball players in the region. About Fitzpatrick,

who is currently away playing summer baseball, finding a place in the 2018

Hornets offense and defense Watson joked, “He’s going to be on the field

somewhere.”

 

With the majority of the Hornets defense back this

season the team goes from one of the youngest defensive units to one of the

most mature. “We are a little bit older on that side of the ball,” says Watson,

“and we have our defensive tackles and an inside linebacker back along with a

couple guys at defensive back back.”

 

One of those players looking to get back on the

field will be Chris Kinnas who missed all of last season. “Chris will be

working some at safety,” said Watson. Dual-sports athletes Beck Beckham and

Hunter Spence will also be getting the opportunity to play more. Spence did not

play last season. “We have a couple of players that didn’t play that will be on

the team this year,” said Watson. There are spots still open.”

 

Spots open. A quarterback competition. New offense.

This Westfield Hornets football season, if nothing else, will be interesting to

say the least.

 

HHJ News