This is the 15th of The Athlete’s Connection’s 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug. 28. Today, Chad Washington takes a look at District 20-5A playoff contender Westside.

 
Westside has made the playoffs six years running, but in their eight years of existence the Wolves haven’t yet made that strong playoff push that sometimes can put a program among the elite in the area.

In 2007, the Wolves started 4-1, but district losses to Madison, Lamar and Chavez knocked them to a 6-4 record and a 14-7 loss to Eisenhower in the bi-district round of the playoffs.

Westside head coach Mark Byrd has lofty goals for the Wolves this year, which include not only contending for the District 20-5A championship and going more than two games deep into the playoffs, but taking those first steps into becoming a dominant force in the Houston area.

“There’s no reason that Westside shouldn’t be a playoff team,” Byrd said. “We’re going to be the top two or top three (in district) every year. Other than that, we want to be that three-round or four-round team. And if we don’t have the nucleus of kids to push for that this year, then (we will) next year.”

With only 16 returning lettermen and four starters back on both offense and defense, it looks like a rebuilding job. But Westside has a good load of speed and skill in its underclassmen to be a better team this year and possibly next year.

“We got a lot of energy and a lot of speed defensively,” Byrd said. “Offensively, we have to regroup because we have only two starters back. On defense, we have a lot of kids that can get on the field, but we have only three starters back.”

The star of the offense has to be senior wide receiver Kevin Brooks, who has 4.5 speed and had 600 yards receiving and eight touchdowns last year. He is already generating a buzz among some college recruiters, according to Byrd.

“(Kevin has) got the numbers, he’s got people calling him right and left asking to come play for him,” he said.

The running game will depend if junior Frank Williams can repeat his 1,300-yard performance in 2007. Meanwhile, the Wolves will have to rely on new quarterback Otis Seals to help get the offense going.

 “We got a brand new quarterback that is 6-foot-5, 190 pounds,” Byrd said. “He came from California into our JV team pretty raw, but he’s going to be our leader for right now.”

The offensive line will have five new starters, including center Victor Hernandez, tackle Chas Codrington and guard Chris Herbert.

Byrd has a big goal for his defense, who will have skill up front and speed in the backfield. “We put a lot of speed on the field and we have a lot of depth,” he said. “Right now, we could get 18 to 22 kids on the field.

“This year, our goal is to lead HISD in total defense, in 4A and 5A.”

On the line, senior defensive end Eric Dago looks to be a top pass rusher for the Wolves after leading the team with 95 tackles last year. The linebackers are the deepest position on the team, with junior Stephen Thompson as the leader. The secondary will be led by senior defensive backs Keith Davis and Chris Redman, who both have great closing speed and will make passing against the Wolves very difficult.

Westside will open the season with two tough 4A teams in Sharpstown and El Campo, then will face even tougher 5A teams in Conroe and Elsik. District play begins Oct. 3 against Lamar at Delmar Stadium, a game which could go a long way toward determining the district title. But the Wolves will also try to avenge last year’s losses to Madison and Chavez.

“There’s always going to be a battle between us and Lamar,” Byrd said. “I think both of us have the same goals and aspirations. We do it with kids that are technically sound, they do it with great athletes. Madison, when they want to play, can be the best as anyone in Houston. Then you got Chavez knocking on the door. They beat us last year, but I felt we had a bad game. And you can’t have bad games in this district.”

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