GAME OF THE WEEK: All eyes on Westfield as they take on Calvary Christian on the road

Westfield is the only team in Houston County playing this week, and they’ll travel down the road to Calvary Christian for their first district road test of the year.

After falling to Deerfield-Windsor and Tiftarea Academy early in the season, the Hornets have really hit their stride with a season-high three-game winning streak.

Last year was the first time Westfield and Calvary Christian had ever played, and it was a dominant 41-0 final in the Hornets’ favor.

There are a couple of differences in this year’s game, including an improved 5-2 record and former Northside-Columbus quarterback Braxton Wilkinson.

Wilkinson is 67-of-118 (56%) for 1,370 yards, so not the most efficient passer, but he takes care of the football with 16 touchdowns to two interceptions through six games.

He’s made some really nice throws on tape and has a good mix of power and accuracy. His release is smooth and he drops the ball right in his receiver’s arms at short and long range, both stationary and on the move.

The Hornets have faced mobile quarterbacks who can scan the field, particularly First Presbyterian Day’s Major Simmons, who Westfield held to 7-of-18 passing for 93 yards.

The Hornets have a potent passing attack of their own led by Brock Johnson and Win Hoots.

Johnson has filled in nicely at quarterback, but he’s much more of a runner than Brayden Gay was. He’s contributed 1,026 total yards and 14 touchdowns, including the go-ahead with under a minute to go against Strong Rock Christian.

Hoots has stepped up not just as the premier receiver, but one of the best players on the team.

Through six games he recorded 29 receptions for 514 yards and six touchdowns, and pulled down a 55-yard pass with about a minute left against Strong Rock Christian to set up the game-winning touchdown.

While the Knights’ improved record might point to a closer contest, and it very well could be, the strength of their wins isn’t much to speak of.

The opponents they’ve beaten have a combined 9-24 record, and one team (Flint River Academy) accounts for four of those.

Once Calvary Christian hit the district schedule they’ve struggled on offense, only scoring 19 points through the two games.

The defense has also let up roughly double the points they did in non-district play, which was 7.8 points allowed per game. The last two they’ve allowed an average of 24.5 points per game.

Westfield has big threats on both sides of the ball, namely Johnson and Hoots to go with tough running back Jackson Hair on offense. All-State linebacker Thatcher Reddick, who had a key tackle late in the game against Strong Rock Christian, is a menace on defense and will likely cause the Knights trouble.

The Hornets ended the 2024 regular season on a five-game winning streak, and they’d be one game away from that with a win at Calvary Christian on Friday.