Westmoore Jaguars season preview

Westmoore Jaguars

BY: Steve Marshall

The Jaguars are looking to return to post-season action this year after just missing out each of the last two years. Last year Westmoore started 5-0 before falling to Broken Arrow. The Jags then beat Yukon 50-49 to improve to 6-1 but then lost their last three games to finish 6-4.

Lorenzo Williams enters his fifth season (25 -17) as the head coach at Westmoore and he and the rest of his staff have high expectations this year.

“We have a lot of kids coming back and with that a lot of experience too,” Williams said. “We have several guys on both sides of the football who will be third-year starters.”

On offense, the quarterback will be senior Dayton Wolfe (6’0, 200) who is one of those three year starters Williams mentioned. Wolfe threw for almost 2,300 yards and had an outstanding 27-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio even though he missed the final three games of the season with a knee injury.

One of the top targets for Wolfe will be senior Jaquan Richardson (5’10, 165), averaging almost 26 yards a reception. Junior Jalen Hardison (5’9, 135) and Kevion Williams will help stretch the field allowing the Jags to get the running game going.

Out of the backfield it looks to be “Thunder and Lightning,” featuring juniors Brandon Arnold (5’10, 180), who averaged 5.2 yards per carry, and running mate Kaibren Grant (5’10, 160) to spearhead the running attack.

“Brandon is more of a power runner while Kaibren is the faster of the two,” Williams said. “Both do a good job of catching the ball out of the backfield.”

The offensive line has two returning starters with junior Tyler Koontz (6’0,250) and senior Garret Humann (6’6, 305) who has received a dozen or so offers to play at the next level.

“We have a lot of good looking younger guys,” Williams said. “We’ll look a little bigger upfront too.”

It won’t be easy for the Jaguars to average 34 points per game like they did last year, but, with all the talent and the returning starters, opposing defenses will have their work cut out for them.

Upfront on defense, the Jags will again feature a good number of returning starters in their 3-4 defense including senior Sam Olajide (6’1, 245) who Williams calls a “high motor kid.” Junior Daunmonique Reece (5’9,260) at the nose guard spot is able to get off the block and cause havoc in the backfield. Josh Steward (6’0, 252lbs) who led the team with eight sacks last year also appears on the very solid and impressive D-line.

Westmoore returns all four senior starters at the linebacker spots from last year’s team and have plenty of experience having played since they were sophomores. Senior Keshawn Oliver (5’11,180) will play off the edge for the Jags while Josiah James has a knack for coming up with key turnovers. Sterling Peters (6’0, 190) is the will linebacker and senior Kylen Tennison (6’2, 205lbs) will make the calls from the middle monster back position. Tennison has grown a couple of inches and, according to Williams, has probably put on about 50 pounds since he played as a sophomore.

The secondary is where the Jaguars may be the most vulnerable with a lot of new faces being called upon to help the Westmoore defense that gave up nearly 32 points per game last year.

Junior Tristan Aduddell (5’10, 155) will play at the cover-two corner while junior Jermaine Hardison (5’9,135) started at corner last year but will be likely start at the safety position this year. The other spot is still up for grabs, according to Williams, and the competition will continue into the preseason.

A couple of soccer players, junior Ashton House (6’0, 145lbs) will take care of the punting duties while Jon Conner, a soccer commit to Memphis, will likely handle the place kicking chores.

Williams is counting on the defense to be better this year and is confident the offense will continue to put big numbers on the scoreboard.

“We know we’re going to score thirty points or more in most games, we need the defense to step-up and get some key stops and produce more turnovers for us to have great year,” he said.

The Jaguars are scheduled to open the season at McKinney North, Texas and then battle traditional rivals Moore and Southmoore before beginning district play at Broken Arrow. -19SM