The Akron-Westfield football team is entering 2025 looking to build off the ending of last year and putting away the beginning.
The Westerners started 2024 with an 0-6 record but were able to salvage something of the season winning their last three games. Head coach John Sievert says he can already see the determination in his players to make sure they do not have a start to 2025 like they did in 2024.
The new two-year cycle of districts and schedules starts this season, and the Westerners are in a completely new district. They will not compete with local teams like Gehlen Catholic or MMCRU in district play. Rather, the Westerners will head south a lot to take on teams like Woodbury Central, Logan-Magnolia, and IKM-Manning. Coach Sievert says a new district brings new challenges that his team is willing to embrace.
In 2024, the Westerners went when Tatum Wilken went. The Westerner signal caller accounted for nearly 90% of the team’s total offense and had a hand in 22 of their 26 offensive touchdowns. Coach Sievert says he left big shoes to fill at the quarterback position, but there are two guys currently competing for the right to step into those shoes.
Line play is going to be crucial towards success for Akron-Westfield whether that comes on the offensive or defensive side of the ball. Coach Sievert says depth could be an issue, but the guys looking to get playing time have proven they are ready to go.
Defensively, Akron-Westfield returns three of their top four tacklers from last year in juniors Kaden Netley, Brodie Hoffman, and Alex Baker. Coach Sievert says those guys have gotten bigger and stronger in the offseason.
Running the ball without Tatum Wilken was a challenge most of the year for Akron-Westfield last year. To counter that, Coach Sievert says his team is taking an extra beat to make sure the running game is stronger all around heading into week one.
Akron-Westfield starts the new year off on Friday, August 29 with a non-district matchup in Marcus against MMCRU. Kickoff will be at 7:00 PM.
