WEST CALDWELL SCHEDULE
(all games at 7:30 p.m.)
August
18—at E. Burke
25—Hibriten
September
1—W. Iredell
8—Ashe County
22—ALEXANDER CENTRAL
29—at S. CALDWELL
October
6—ST. STEPHENS
13—at HICKORY
20—FREEDOM
27—at McDOWELL
November
3—at WATAUGA
By CHRIS HOBBS
HobbsDailyReport.com
Conference: Northwestern 3A-4A.
Head coach: Devore Holman (22-21, 4 years; 0-0 at W. Caldwell, first year).
Last season’s records: 10-3 overall; 6-1 Southern District 7 Athletic 2A, shared championship.
Last season’s results: N. Wilkes, W 41-10; S. Caldwell, W 44-0; at Hibriten, L 7-38; at Hickory Hawks, W 45-8; NEWTON-CONOVER, W 14-12; at BANDYS, W 35-0; at MAIDEN, 35-12; W. LINCOLN, W 35-13; E. LINCOLN W, 42-32; at LINCOLNTON, L 20-33; BUNKER HILL, W 66-0; W. Stokes, W 41-0; E. Lincoln, L 14-34.
SCHOOL FOOTBALL HISTORY
Last season in state playoffs: 2016, 2AA.
Last state playoff victory: 2016, d. W. Stokes 41-0, first round.
All-time state playoff bids: 15.
Conference titles since 1980, last: 11 (5 outright, 6 shares); 2016 Southern District 7 Athletic 2A (share).
BY THE NUMBERS
OVERALL
Returning starters: 16.
Returning lettermen: 20.
OFFENSE
Returning starters: 8.
Leading returning rusher: Jeremy Boyce (246-1,385, 15 TDs).
Leading returning passer: Kaleb Dula (10-20-2, 81, 2 TDs).
Leading returning receiver: Elijah Brooks (45-669, 6 TDs).
Other players to watch: Fabien Elleby (Sr., WR-RB); Jadakiss Hendrix (Sr., RB); Taye Dula (Sr., RB); Isaiah Helms (Jr., OL); Will Gause (Jr., TE).
DEFENSE
Returning starters: 8.
Players to watch: Jeremy Boyce (Sr., DB); Elijah Brooks (Sr., DB); Kaleb Dula (Sr., DB); Jaylon Richardson (Jr., DT); Ethan Horton (Sr., DE); Will Gause (Jr., LB).
OUTLOOK
It’s going to be interesting to see how West Caldwell — after finding great success last year on the heels of many seasons of football frustration – comes through in a return to class 3A.
The Warriors were 3A from the time the school opened in the late 1970s until going 2A in 1993 and were, for the most part, competitive in 2A until about 2003. After winning 10 games in 2002, they didn’t get more than four in any one season until two years ago, when Chip English guided them to a 7-6 record in his second season.
Holman comes in from Davie County, where he had some success, and the cupboard is not empty by any means at West Caldwell.
Boyce is one of the league’s top returnees, as is Brooks, and it’s wait-and-see on how the Warriors can (or if they can) replace what they lost with the graduation of Titus Tucker, who dripped with athleticism.
Folks don’t often mention West Caldwell as a great football program and, yes, it has struggled through the years. But by going 17-9 the last two seasons, it appears the Warriors are turning the corner again.
Their share of the Southern District 7 Athletic 2A title last season was their first conference title since sharing one in the Mountain Valley 2A under head coach Craig Styron in 2002.
Still, the program — for sheer individual talent of players who went on to become college contributors at big-time schools — remains second to none in the Greater Hickory area if you’re looking at the body of its work.