The West Kings football team came a long way from the season-opening football jamboree at Acadia in late-August. - File
By John DeCoste
Despite a 0-8 record, the coaches of the West Kings Wolverines football team are pleased overall with their first experience with NSSAF high school football.
“We learned a lot, and had more than a few bumps in the road to deal with,” West Kings head coach Aaron Evans said. “As a team and an organization, we held our heads high and never walked off the field discouraged.”
The Wolverines suffered some lopsided defeats – 51-7 to Lockview, 51-0 to J.L. Ilsley, 54-13 to Central Kings, 49-0 to Horton and 55-0 to Auburn Drive – and in all, allowed 340 points while scoring just 50.
On the other hand, West Kings only lost 17-15 to Dr. J.H. Gillis – a game the Wolverines might have won if it had been played later in the season – and 15-8 to fellow expansion team Sydney Academy.
The Wolverines improved from the start of the season to the finish, and were only blanked in three of their eight games.
“I still stand by what I said (in September), that wins and losses wouldn‘t define our season,” Evans said.
“We may not have put any numbers in the win column, but we have been congratulated more than once by opposition coaches, players and officials on how we have conducted ourselves, both on and off the field, even when the outcome of the game should have discouraged even the most veteran team.”
There’s a lot of work to be done to get ready for next year, he added.
“All the coaches and the returning players are looking forward to the challenges that come with returning to the field,” he said.
West Kings had six players - Josh Gracie, Jarad Inman, Lunden Keddy, Justin Parker, Brandon Rafuse and Jacob Schneider) who played their last game of high school football Nov. 2.
“All of them say they wish they had had the opportunity to start (their careers) earlier in high school. They loved every minute of their season,” Evans said.
“I look forward to next season, and have already started to plan for it, even before our year-end banquet for the players.”
