By CHRIS HOBBS
HobbsDailyReport.com
WEST IREDELL SCHEDULE
(all games at 7:30 p.m.)
August
18—Hickory Hawks
25—S. Iredell
September
1—at W. Caldwell
8—at Statesville
15—N. Iredell
22—DRAUGHN
29—at E. BURKE
October
13—PATTON
20—at BUNKER HILL
27—HIBRITEN
November
3—at FRED T. FOARD
Conference: Northwestern Foothills 2A.
Head coach: Monte Simmons (3-19, 2 years).
Last season’s records: 3-8 overall; 1-6 North Piedmont 3A-4A, seventh place.
Last season’s results: at St. Stephens, W 45-24; Wilkes Central, L 20-36; Cramer, L 7-35; at Bunker Hill, W 41-12; LAKE NORMAN, L 13-49; at S. IREDELL, L 7-49; MOORESVILLE, L 0-32; at N. IREDELL, W 28-17; STATESVILLE, L 26-42; at N. LINCOLN, W 41-19; at ALEXANDER CENTRAL, L 25-68.
SCHOOL FOOTBALL HISTORY
Last season in state playoffs: 2011, 3A.
Last state playoff victory: 2007, d. High Point Andrews 29-12, first round.
All-time state playoff bids: 11.
Conference titles since 1980, last: 1; 1986 Foothills 3A.
BY THE NUMBERS
OVERALL
Returning starters: 12.
Returning lettermen: 20.
OFFENSE
Returning starters: 5.
Leading returning rusher: Dillan Davis (143-613, 5 TDs, does not include N. Lincoln game)
Leading returning passer: Dillan Davis (90164-5, 1,076, 12 TDs, does not include N. Lincoln game)
Leading returning receiver: Keenan Bunch (26-252, 4 TDs, does not include N. Lincoln game)
Other players to watch: Bernie Briley (Sr., RB); Colby McHargue (Jr., RB); Chandon Smith (Jr., WR); Shyheim Summers (Sr., WR); Zack Moore (Jr., OL).
DEFENSE
Returning starters: 7.
Players to watch: Chase Gallyon (Sr., DE); Jack Gibson (Jr., LB); Kahlil Turner (Sr., DL); Alex Gilleo (Sr., DE).
OUTLOOK
The Warriors were already expected to be better offensively — with another year of experience for Davis, Bunch and a few others – and adding Briley to the mix (he played last year at Bunker Hill, moved to Iredell County and is immediately eligible) solidifies that they will be exciting to watch.
Simmons is transitioning his offense to a veer option (instead of a zone option) and there are plenty of scoring threats at the line of scrimmage.
“You can’t focus on one player,” Simmons says, “(because) if you focus on one player, you’re going to hurt yourself.”
The Warriors won three games last season – over St. Stephens, Bunker Hill and North Iredell, who combined to go 4-39 – so they have to put potential speed and explosiveness, now on paper, onto the field.
They’ll also have to get better defensively in a hurry. A season ago, they gave up 435 points and were outscored by 204.
West Iredell will be competitive. Its offense is going to be worth the price of admission and its return game – with Briley and Bunch, etc. – could be worth a tip at the gate.
Simmons is excited, saying he expects his offense to start a lot of possessions at the 30.
If the pieces come together and the key speedsters stay healthy, Warriors fans should see some home wins – they were 0-5 at West Iredell last season – and perhaps the best West Iredell team since a 10-3 team in 2006.
The Warriors should earn a state playoff bid, something that haven’t done since 2011.