Simson Garcia | Sports Editor
Since April 23, Western’s football team has held spring training and practice between McArthur Field and the campus turf field. The team had the opportunity to try out its new roster in a scrimmage on May 12 at Central High School’s football field.
“The secondary and the backers are starting to be in a place where we’d like speed wise and communication wise,” said head coach Arne Ferguson.
After fall ball, 23 upperclassmen left the team, but the Wolves have sprung back to practice 35 first-year redshirts from 2017.
“Any time you lose 23 seniors — especially a receiver like Paul Revis — it’s really good to see some young receivers step up. (Tyler) Sweet had a great day today,” said Ferguson.
The team lost two potential starting quarterbacks to graduation last season. The last two years were spent rotating between seniors Nick Duckworth and Phillip Fenumiai. Next season, the Wolves quarterback depth chart will consist of first-years Ryan Worthley, Jordan Hickman and junior passer Ty Currie.
“Quarterback Ryan (Worthley) did a really nice job with our second group,” commented Ferguson.
Many were added to the defensive back and receiving corps from past recruitment, like wideout Tyler Sweet, first-year, who could boost the team with his catching and speed mechanics. Sweet will play alongside his brother, junior Torreahno Sweet, who was a dual threat as a running back and kick returner in the 2017 season.
The football team will also see the return of multiple upperclassmen. Staying with the team and turning senior in the 2018-19 season is linebacker Bo Highburger, who earned an all-GNAC first team defensive selection in 2017.
Defensive backs Curtis Anderson, incoming sophomore, and Jacob Kantola, incoming senior, also returned for spring training and will add leadership to the team.
Kantola reflected on the first-year group, saying, “Sometimes you get guys who don’t really want to play, but these guys are ready to jump in and have fun. They’re in with the mix.”
The scrimmage session provided ample time for the team to work and get used to each other. The team was divided up into several groups to practice specific plays.
“We were over 100 plays, which is our goal, so they’re getting a lot of work in the spring, which is what they need,” said Ferguson.
Contact the author at journalsports@wou.edu
Photo by: Simson Garcia
