By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
West Plains will enter a new era with Joel Wyatt taking over in Zizzerland.
Wyatt brings extensive experience in Missouri, racking up a 113-32 record with stops in Malden, Kennett and Willow Springs. He takes over a program that has won at least eight games in seven of the last eight seasons with district championships and double-digit wins in three of the last four.
While Wyatt shares some similarities with former West Plains head coaches Steve Ary and Matt Perkins, his brand of football will look a little different.
“I’ve tried to establish that we’re gonna be a blue-collar, physical team,” said Wyatt. “We’re gonna hang our hat on the weight room and out-working people. The benefits are having an expectation to win and that they are used to lifting every day.
“We will be a little different than Ary and Perkins teams in that we will get under center, we will huddle, and we will play with an attached tight end. We want to establish the run first and make big plays off the play-action pass game.”
West Plains did graduate 25 lettermen and 15 starters, suggesting that there will be a rebuild. However, there is ample talent returning as Wyatt looks to put his system in place.
The skill positions on offense are loaded.
Senior Heston Miller (6-1, 200) returns after earning All-State honors as a junior. He turned 42 receptions into 751 yards and 10 touchdowns. Also added 464 yards and six touchdowns on the ground.
Senior tight end Watson Hafer (6-4, 205) was an All-Ozark Conference selection last year, finishing the season with 18 receptions for 353 yards and six touchdowns.
Both are future college football players.
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“We hope to move Heston around and put him in multiple positions to get him the football,” said Wyatt. “He’s a special talent that can take it the distance when he gets loose as well as break tackles with his 200lb frame. He will be called upon to play cornerback and safety as well.
“Watson will also play multiple positions for us. He has the ability to play with his hand in the ground at tight end and also flex out for us; Great hands and is a great blocker in space. We are expecting big things from him. He will also be asked to play on the defensive side of the ball at outside linebacker or defensive back.”
Senior Jesse Hudson (WR/DB) and Carter McCracken (RB/LB) both return after earning All-OC honors as juniors.
Senior Lucas Conyers (RB/DB) and JJ Self (WR/DB), juniors Briggs Hughston (WR/DB), Ozzy Watkins (WR/DB), Lance Norton (TE/LB) and Dawson Howell (FB) will all figure into the equation as well.
Senior Aiden Simpson will take over at quarterback.
Senior Magnus Sanders (6-0, 350) will provide leadership for an inexperienced offensive line group. Classmates Garrett Mahan (6-6, 240), Woody Rogers (5-10, 270), Justin Tuck (5-11, 230) and Conner Finch, junior Dylan Brigman, as well as sophomores Peyton Reynolds, Aaron Hargrove (6-3, 330) and Maddox Hawkins are in the mix on both sides of the trenches.
Seniors Myles Foster (6-4, 225) and Quinsey Doolittle, as well as junior Taigen Green, will look to revamp a new look defensively. Foster had 66 tackles and 10 tackles for loss last year. Green added 27 tackles and eight PBUs with an interception as a sophomore.
Wyatt has also been impressed with the play of senior Logan Sitzes, juniors Dawson Howell and the aforementioned Hughston, and sophomore Alex Judd.
“We will be a base four man front,” said Wyatt. “We want to be aggressive and with Coach Dixon taking over as defensive coordinator he will place an emphasis on being physical and playing hard.”
West Plains lost one of the most accomplished senior classes in program history. Adjusting to a new system in one of the best conferences in Missouri is never an easy task.
Wyatt knows he has his work cut out for him, but is excited about the journey ahead.
“The Ozark Conference is a very competitive league with multiple styles of play, especially on the offensive side of the ball,” said Wyatt. “With new coaches there’s always a little bit of uncertainty of what that person runs or what his tendencies are.
We have a good nucleus of senior players coming back. We have to be in shape and we have to be injury free. We are playing way more two-way players this year than what West Plains has played in the past. We have to find some depth at certain positions and stay healthy, as well as getting better up front on the offensive side of the ball. We have four new starters at those positions.”
Camdenton will host West Plains, Jeff City and Smith-Cotton in a jamboree on Aug. 19. West Plains will host Bolivar on Aug. 26 to open the 2022 season.
