Reloading for fall

Potent Pirate offense aims to be stronger for 2008 campaign

By Shiela K. Haynes
Contributing writer

The Pirates kicked off spring football training on May 2.

After a successful 2007 campaign, Wylie’s athletes have worked during the offseason to further improve speed, strength and size.

A good number of returning varsity athletes will step into the same roles they filled last season, but there are also positions up for grabs.

UIL rules allow 4A and 5A schools to hold 18 spring practices within a period of 30 consecutive days. Players can dress out in helmets and pads and contact drills are allowed throughout the period.

Athletes will continue spring drills throughout the month.

The extra effort culminates in the annual spring games, which are scheduled for Friday, May 30. The freshman game begins at 5 p.m. followed by the varsity game at 6 p.m.

Head coach Bill Howard said, “The key ingredient to any football team, whether you’re tackling or running, is confidence. This year our kids have a lot more confidence.

I believe we’ll be better tacklers and better catching the ball. I think we will be better at executing. Confidence is the key. If a kid is confident in what he’s doing, he’s going to be a good player.”

Part of that confidence will come from experience. Jerod Monk reprises his role as quarterback.

Wylie has not had a two-year starter at the position since 2002, when Stephen Pearce was calling the signals.

At 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, Monk has considerable size coupled with strength and endurance.

Howard said, “When you have a confident, experienced quarterback, he’s a much better leader, and he understands the offense much better. Second, the team knows the direction things are going.”

Monk will have three experienced targets in the passing game. Justin Thompson and Colby Harper are returning starters. Both made significant contributions to the team’s success in 2007. Zeke Kirk, a varsity player who saw limited action last season, is vying for a starting spot for 2008.

Howard said good chemistry is a positive with this group.

Logan Lambert also steps in at receiver. Lambert spent most of last fall as the signal caller for JV Black. He is quick with excellent overall speed, and he has good instincts.

Thompson and Lambert are pegged as outside receivers while Harper and Kirk are likely to work inside.

Noah Cheshier will be an impact player for the Pirates. He is expected to catch a few passes, along with filling a litany of other roles.

Howard said, “He’s a very versatile athlete. He has very good hands. He’s very strong and has great size. The best thing about Noah is his mental attitude — he’s a football player. The way Noah looks at the game, the way he practices and the way he plays, the attitude he has is what separates him from a lot of guys.”

During his freshman year, Cheshier started at quarterback for the Maroon squad. He started at inside linebacker last fall while backing up at quarterback.

However, a season-ending injury to the squad’s top back in the first district contest necessitated Cheshier’s move to offense.

For the 2008 campaign, in addition to backing up Monk and playing a little wide receiver, Cheshier will line up at tight end and running back.

Nick Knott and Johnny Jones are the frontrunners for starting running back. Howard said each brings something different to the position.

Knott is fast and has good vision. Jones is bigger but also fast. Both athletes honed their skills on the JV Black last year.

Knott stepped up to varsity as a defensive player for a portion of the 2007 season but went back down to gain additional experience as a back. Howard credits the pair for much of the JV Black offense’s success.

Standing between Monk and the opposition will be a solid but slightly revamped offensive line. Three members of a very solid 2007 line will graduate.

Brandon Pollay steps in at center. Pollay makes the jump from defensive line, the position he played on JV Black, but he should be an asset.

He is strong, has great balance and good quick hands and is an intelligent player.

Howard said, “He’s very good in the hips and with leverage. He wants to be a starter, and he has a chance to be a leader.”

Michael Boyefio and Heath Smith, both experienced varsity players, will line up at the tackle positions.

“They are the cornerstones of the outside,” said Howard.

Paul Finnie, another player who picked up significant varsity playing time last fall, looks to start on the inside.

Howard said he has three good candidates for the other guard position in Elias Umana, Caleb Moore and Zach Robinson.

“Those seven are going to be on our front line,” said Howard. “Up front, we’re going to be smarter. We have a chance to be better technicians up front. We lost a lot of leadership, and that’s what I’m looking for in the spring.

We need some of these guys to step up and be leaders.”

Overall, the offense should look forward to a successful fall.

“We have a chance to be really solid this year. The key is execution,” said Howard.

Note: Defensive and special teams preview will run in the May 21 edition.

Back to top >>

Varsity schedule released

Wylie will enter the 2008 season as a member of District 8-5A, where they’ll face some familiar foes in Allen, Plano, Plano West and Plano East. Newcomers to the party will be McKinney Boyd and Dallas Jesuit, a private school.

The Pirates open the 2008 campaign at Hebron on Aug. 29. The home opener will be against Arlington Seguin on Sept. 5.

They play at Mesquite Horn Sept. 12 and host Rowlett Sept. 19. The district opener will be Sept. 27 at home versus McKinney Boyd.

They face the Wildcats at Plano Oct 3 and meet Jesuit at home Oct. 10. The Pirates will be at Plano East Oct. 17. After an open date Oct. 24, they have Plano West at home Oct. 31 and wrap up the regular season at Allen Nov. 7.

\