25-6A REGION 4
WESTWOOD
By Rodney Rodriguez Warriors Chief Anthony Wood returns for season 19 after a 1-9 campaign in 2021. The future is bright at Westwood as 15 players return for the 2022 version of the team including 5 offensive starters and 3 on the defense. Sr. 1st Team AD Jack Ziebell - OL anchors the team and will once again be a major force on the team with fellow senior’s 2nd Team AD Grant Jaeger - WR, Brian Romero - LB, Evan Herrera- OL, Hayden Schultz- DB and Emarion Lopez- DB. As has been the case through his tenure Coach Wood has 2 quarterbacks developing and competing for snaps Juniors Owen Norrell and Mike Davis return to help lead the Westwood attack on offense. Juniors Demani Stewart and Ananias Vance will work in the new backfield while Lane Wood and Kaleb Payten will be major factors in the air attack on the outsides. On defense junior Aiden Cheng will have a big role in the veteran secondary. This Warrior team will be young and sophomores Caius CoyLB/TE, Scott Ufflemen- WR, Dylan Cullers- WR and Aebren Whitley will be called upon to be key contributors and appear ready for those roles. Look for a bounce back year for Westwood with depth and key pieces in place times seem to be on the rise along Mellow Meadow Dr.
MCNEIL Coach Scott Hermes enters his third season as the Mavericks Head Coach. In 2021 the Mavericks really seemed to have turned the corner as they finished at 3-7 including two straight wins against Stony Point and Westwood to end the season. Ironically McNeil currently has the longest winning streak in 25-6A. Coach Hermes told IHSFAN, “2021 saw us take steps in the right direction. I expect us to continue to grow and improve in 2022.” The Mavs will return 4 starters on offense and 8 on defense. The offense will have to replace the amazing Luke Hutchison as he will now be playing on Saturdays for Navy. The offense will be led by Sr. QB Brad Whittenberg, Jr. WR Andrew Lesieur and Sr. RB Kaleb Cooper. The defense will be led by Sr. 2nd Team AD DB Aaron Crowe, Jr. 2nd Team AD DB Keegan McBryde, and Jr. LB Bobby Holland. The defense will be the strength of the team and should keep the Mavs close in most games. Someone check the McNeil season rushing record as Kaleb Cooper should both literally and figuratively make a run at a school record breaking season.
24
