WESTVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) — Replacing just one starter on each side of the ball means high expectations for Westville Football.

“I firmly believe that if we stay injury-free, good things are going to happen,” head coach Guy Goodlove said.

This wealth of experience gives the Tigers confidence they can start this season fast.

“We’re just focused on ourselves, just getting better every day, and just whatever it takes.”
senior Easton Barney said. “We’re going to come out and we’re going to hit it and we’re going to be ready to go.”

“We’re looking good. I really like our speed, our physicality, we all know what we’re doing,” senior Ethan Miller said.

All five returning starters up front will block for second-year starting quarterback Easton Bolin, who’s made big strides since last year’s week one.

That progress was on full display in last year’s opening round of playoffs.

“He’s a different kid, a different quarterback,” Goodlove said. “He kept us in that ball game, we (only) lost that game 40 to 35, and that was because Easton Bolin was back there making plays, and he’s been nothing but spectacular here in practice.”

This Westville team isn’t just experienced, but motivated to win our Friday Football Fever Spotlight Game of the Week after a loss in the opener to the Storm last season.

“The kids out here are the same ones that took it on the chin last year, so I think they remember that,” Goodlove said.

Hopes of a postseason run past the first round are also on these players’ minds heading into week one.

“Our team has been talking about it a lot, us captains,” Miller said. “Obviously, we don’t want to go first round out.” “We’ve done that for the last three years, we want to make it far, so that’s the main goal is state and that’s where everybody wants to be.”

The Tigers face the Storm Friday, August 29, in Catlin with kickoff slated for 7:00 p.m.