Westside Football Preview

Football Preview 2017

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WATTS, Okla. — The Watts (Okla.) Engineers won't sneak up on anyone in 2017. Watts started the 2016 season by winning its first five games — the school's first 5-0 start since 1983. But the schedule got tougher down the stretch and the Engineers finished the season with two wins their last six games to finish the season 7-4 overall. Watts lost at Davenport (Okla.) 52-6 in the opening round of the Oklahoma Class B playoffs. Matt Stilwell, in his third season as Watts head football coach, is hoping last year's strong start and flat finish are a motivator for the Engineers in 2017. "That's what we're preaching," Stil - well said. "Don't be satisfied with what we did. It's not how you start, it's how you finish. We started 5-0 and then blew a 24-point lead at Arko- ma (in Week 6). Some adversity set us back." Prior to last season, Watts had gone a com- bined 7-41 over the previous five seasons, and a couple of those wins came via forfeit. Stilwell said last year's success is something to be proud of. "It's got to be something we build on and not be satisfied with," he said. "That's one thing with this here. We ha - ven't had a lot of success, so we've got to keep working and not let last year's success be a pitfall for us. We've got to earn everything we get. Nobody's going to lay down for the Watts Engineers." The good news for Watts is that they have several players returning from last year's team, and they've got strong numbers in the program. As of early August, more than 20 En - gineers were reporting for practices, which are solid numbers for eight-man football. "Having 20 kids is good numbers," Stilwell said. "Having some success helps keep the kids out. We have a big senior and junior group that have been through the fire of losing seasons and then last year's playoff season. We've kept that core together. We have a good core of kids to work with. "It's been a lot easier to get the kids to buy in and work hard - er. Success breeds success. It makes it easier when the kids see the fruits of their labor. It's hard to stay motivated when you're not winning games." Defensively Watts will run the same 4-1-3 hybrid defense it ran last year. The Engineers only gave up 42 points over their first five games a year ago. That total rose drastically over the final six games of the season as the Engineers played better teams, but Stilwell said the Engineers still played pretty well defensively. "For a long time we were in the top 10 in Class B defensively," He said. "Once the schedule got tougher, we gave up some points, but we still held teams underneath their average, and we can score with the best of them." Watts returns three of its four defen - sive linemen from last year. "That should be our strong suit," Stilwell said of the defensive front. Senior Clifton Wil - liams (5-foot-6, 170 pounds) was District B-8's Defensive Line- man of the Year last season. He returns at a defensive tackle position. Junior Jason Estep (5-8, 145) also plays inside despite being undersized. "He's 145 pounds soaking wet," Stil- well said of Estep. "He's a tough farm kid." Senior Adarain Ad- ams (6-2, 181) mans a defensive end position. Adams is long, lanky and tough to move off the block, Stilwell said. Senior William Fewell (5-10, 220) and fresh - man Kyle Woods (5-10, 150) are competing for playing time at the other defensive end position. DATE OPPONENT TIME Sept. 1 Welch 7:00 p.m. Sept. 8 at Copan 7:30 p.m. Sept. 15 Oaks 7:00 p.m. Sept. 22 Life Christian 7:00 p.m. Sept. 29 at Prue 7:00 p.m. Oct. 6 Arkoma* 7:00 p.m. Oct. 12 at Cave Springs* 7:00 p.m. Oct. 19 Porum* 7:00 p.m. Oct. 27 at Keota* 7:00 p.m. Nov. 3 Gans* 7:00 p.m. *Denotes Oklahoma District 8B game WATTS ENGINEERS DATE OPPONENT DATE OPPONENT DATE OPPONENT DATE OPPONENT 2017 V sity Schedule 2017 Football Preview Wednesday, August 23, 2017 n 15 The Herald-Leader/Westside Eagle Observer Watts enjoyed success, wants more in 2017 n The Engineers started 5-0 last year and finished 7-4. By Graham Thomas Staff Writer n gthomas@nwadg.com Graham Thomas/Herald-Leader The Watts (Okla.) Engineers open the 2017 football season Sept. 1 at home against Welch (Okla.). Stilwell Harlin Fernandez Wright See WATTS on Page 17

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