After a long year of COVID-19 protocols, Westerville South Students are finally allowed back to Paul G. Price Stadium to cheer on their Wildcat Football team. As of Oct.1, the Wildcat Football team is 4 -2. 

The losses belong to the number one and number three teams in the OCC, Hillard Darby (31-34) and Big Walnut (7-38) as of the Week 3 power rankings. The Hillard Darby game was a constant battle. A 22 yard touchdown pass in the third quarter got the ‘Cats going for some time. Junior Jalen Wheeler and Senior Brandon Armstrong both scored after. Late in the fourth quarter, Darby took the lead with a nine yard rushing touchdown.

Senior Captain Tyler O’Reilly said, “The losses are really showing how vulnerable our defense is right now.” The ‘Cats plan to bounce back and stay on top the rest of the season.

Assistant Coach Marques Parks said, “The expectation that we have for our team is that they are good citizens in and out of school, work hard on the football field, and someone our young players can look up to. If we take care of these things, I belie

Last year the ‘Cats made it to the Semi-finals against Massillon High school and lost 45-36. Parks also added, “Our coaching staff and players feel strongly that if we win Monday-Thursday, which we call our workdays, Friday Night…Gameday, will take care of itself.”

 O’Reilly has some big goals in mind for the ‘Cats this season. He said he wants to bring home another OCC title and make it further in the playoffs. 

“Each year we have been so close to making it; this year, I just want to finish and make it to the end.”   

Senior Defensive Tackle Nadir Carpenter has some of the same goals in mind. Carpenter said making it to states is a main priority for him. “ We really have to lock down on defense if we want to go farther. If we all work hard and put in 100%, then we are going to make it far,” he said.

 Carpenter said also he wants to leave the legacy of not just being a talented class,but a class that was dependable, hardworking and a group of leaders. “I came into the program with a good group of guys, it sucks it’s our senior season, but it gives us a reason to just ball out,” he added.

Parks said that besides the wins and trophies, he wants the team to “have the experience of a lifetime”. Parks said he created some of his fondest memories playing sports growing up, and he wants the team to look back when they are in their 20s-30s and reflect on all of the time they put in, the guys they competed with and hope they feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. 

All in all, the Wildcat Football team is working day in and day out to reach the big goals they have set for themselves. The team has four weeks left of regular season conference play and hopes to make a statement in the playoffs.