Westfield football returns home to take on Tiftarea after two-game road trip

Westfield (2-1), after dominating their first two games, lost in a road test against Deerfield-Windsor 33-29 on a 65-yard run with four minutes to go in the fourth quarter.

They’ll look to bounce back this week as they return home to take on Tiftarea Academy (4-0) on Friday.

Here are three things to watch:

1. Explosive plays

Explosive plays are an important part of any team’s chances to win. Just about every coach preaches creating their own and limiting the other team’s.

Westfield lost the Deerfield-Windsor game because of a 65-yard rushing touchdown with about four minutes to go. But, they also had two runs of their own that went 25-plus yards (25 and 36) in the second half.

They also had 20-, 25- and 45-yard passing touchdowns against Southland Academy. Creating those explosive plays, and limiting the ones from Tiftarea’s three threats on the ground, will play a big part in determining Friday’s winner.

2. Triple trouble

The Panthers have the potential to give the Hornets’ defense a lot of problems with their trio of runners.

Quarterback John Robert Walker threw for 2110 yards and rushed for 1017 last year, and scored a total of 38 touchdowns for Tiftarea. If he’s under pressure and can’t find a lane to run he will occasionally throw a ball he shouldn’t, but he’s still a threat all over the field.

They also have a pair of juniors in the backfield who have contributed to the 858 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground: Kaiden Richardson and Caden Grier.

Richardson was RB2 last year running for 458 yards and three touchdowns on 82 carries, and Grier got 29 carries for 105 yards.

The trouble with Tiftarea’s offense, though, is how they can present these three weapons.

In some of the film the Panthers are seen in a split-back shotgun formation; So the quarterback is about five yards back from the center with two backs on either side of him.

Tiftarea used this formation to run the ball, using one back as a lead blocker and having the other run through the same hole. They’ve also used it in max protection, which resulted in a touchdown down the field on a couple of plays.

“It just comes back down to being a sound gap defense,” Westfield football coach Chad Campbell said of limiting the Panthers. “There is ability for all three of them to keep the ball. Normally if they stay in the split backs it’s more like an iso, but if you stay in these gaps and keep your pad level down and play assignment football, you do what you gotta do.”

3. Westfield offensive line

Before the season Campbell said the offensive line was one of his biggest question marks for the team considering how many losses they had at the position.

Through three games, though, he’s pleased with what he’s seen so far.

“To be honest with you I think they’ve played pretty good. We’ve had some young guys step up, grow up a little bit,” Campbell said. “They ain’t played perfect by no means, but they’ve played good enough for us to be where we’re at. I thought they did a good job run blocking against Deerfield, pass protection wasn’t bad…I’m pleased from where they’re at at this point in the year.”

Kickoff is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 13 at 7:30 p.m.