On Friday, Nov. 7, the Westerville South Wildcats faced off against Canal Winchester riding a six game winning streak and looking for their second straight post season victory.
The Wildcats began the game with possession; but unfortunately, threw an interception just two minutes into the game which led to a Canal Winchester touchdown. However, the extra-point was blocked, giving the Wildcats some more hope, making the score 6-0.
On the next possession, South looked to take the lead back as they drove all the way to Canal Winchester’s 18-yard line, but the drive came to a halt and turned the ball over on downs which led to another touchdown for Canal Winchester, where they also converted a two-point conversion to make the score 14-0.
The first half ended with both teams trading turnovers and punts, halting any momentum. Canal Winchester started the second half with another touchdown and made the extra point to put them up 21-0.
After South turned the ball over on downs and Canal Winchester had to punt, the Wildcats finally scored their first points of the game to begin the fourth quarter with senior Evan Andrews’ 5-yard rushing touchdown. Junior Ethan Rozen made the extra point to make the score now 21-7.
Unfortunately for South, Canal Winchester then proceeded to go on a seven minute touchdown drive which put them up 28-7 with only four minutes remaining.
However, about just two minutes later, Andrews completed a 20-yard touchdown pass to senior Jhalil Armstrong in which Rozen made the extra point to make the score 28-14.
South then proceeded to force a quick punt where they got the ball back with about a minute remaining. They then went on and scored another touchdown where Andrews completed a 5-yard pass to senior Hassan Kaba. Rozen made the extra point to make the score 28-21.
Sadly, this would be the end of the road for the Wildcats as time shortly expired, giving the Wildcats their first loss since Sept. 19, and their last loss of the season.
The Wildcats finished the season with a 9-3 record which was their best since 2022. But coming from second year head coach Eric Calland who took this team from a 5-6 record last year to an outstanding 9-3 record stated, “As a coach you are always striving to be better and you are never really satisfied, but I do feel really good about the experience that our players and students got to have this fall.” While this team had nearly a perfect record until their unfortunate playoff loss, they’re still striving to be better in so many ways.
This year the Wildcats are graduating a whopping 17 seniors. With lots of those seniors playing key roles on this team. But don’t count the future Wildcats out.
Coming from senior London Vickroy, “I think if the young guys continue to follow in the footsteps of the team that came before them, they will be alright.”
The younger guys on this team are still stars in their own right with many notable players like junior LB Elliot Bakirci, junior DE Cameron Patterson and junior RB Ian Gordon.
Vickroy believes “If the focus remains on discipline and being the best team you can be every day of the week and they continue to run like a family, then I have faith that they will be able to achieve the same things we did this year if not more.”
This team had a stellar season, coming together as more than a team becoming a family. Congratulations to the Wildcats on an amazing season and to the graduating seniors good luck with whatever the future holds for you guys.
