If you ask West Plains Football Coach Matt Perkins how it feels to coach the Zizzers these days, he’ll tell you it’s not so bad.
“It’s kind of fun, to be honest with you, it’s just kind of fun,” Perkins said.
That’s because the Zizzers should be primed for a big year on the gridiron.
“We’ve got some amazing high character guys, high energy guys and some really good football players that people just don’t know about,” Perkins said.
Plus, there are three players that people do know about who are set to lead the team.
A deep and talented roster includes not one, not two, but three first team all-state returners.
“They’re just as good as you could ask for,” Perkins added.
Quarterback Dagen Kenslow, running back/linebacker Connor Lair, and offensive tackle Jaylon James give West Plains elite talent at several key positions.
“To be able to return back like this with a bunch of best friends, family, it’s awesome and it’s going to be awesome when we achieve that goal together,” Dagen said.
That goal is one all teams dream of: to win a state title.
Last year, the Zizzers went 10-2 but lost in the state quarterfinals.
“We’ve made it deep in the playoffs a couple years, but we’ve gotten knocked out recently so I think we’ve got a chip on our shoulder to make it all the way and do what’s not been done,” Connor said.
It’s a theme resonating throughout the Zizzers program.
Despite recent success, there’s no sense of accomplishment.
“That’s something that we’ve harped on with our kids, that we haven’t done anything,” Perkins said.
“We haven’t won [a] state [title] yet, so there’s nothing to enjoy,” Connor added.
Adding to their motivation, these three seniors say they’ve been eyeing this year as their chance to win it all.
“It’s a goal we’ve had since we were playing back in mighty mites, you know, being little,” Dagen said.
“It was like ‘senior year, I can’t wait until senior year gets here’,” Jaylon said. “And it’s here now and we’re like ‘oh my gosh, we’re seniors’.”
That means the wait is over, and if these Zizzers have their way, it means their time is now.
