No other team’s expectations skyrocketed from June to August like West Seneca West’s did.
It all started in late June when Bishop Timon Athletic Director and Head Football coach Charlie Cumerford resigned from both positions leaving the future of the football program in dire uncertainty.
That left QB Matt Myers, a UB football commit, unsure of where he was going to play his senior year. After more resignations and serval other Timon football players transferred from the school, Myers decided to transfer himself and head back to West Seneca West, where he attended his freshman year.
Head coach Mike Vastola is excited to have a quarterback with his caliber of talent.
“It gives us a guy who has seen a lot of football and knows our guys,” Vastola said of Myers. “He’s a game changer.”
Besides welcoming Myers, the Indians also bring in one of his favorite targets in Juston Johnson.
West Seneca West (4-5, 1-5) had trouble competing in the Class A south division in 2016.
One of the biggest lessons the Indians took from last year, is the importance of finishing games.
“We can’t take any game for granted,” senior Jesse Broad said. “Some of the games last year where we lost by a lot (on the scoreboard) were actually a lot closer. We have to keep fighting until the end if the game.”
According to senior lineman Vincent Draper this group of seniors went undefeated as eighth graders and ever since have been a tight knit group. Myers coming back makes them even tighter.
“We were expecting to have big season before Myers said he was coming back,” Draper said. “These group of seniors have been working together for a really long time and we have a strong bond.”
Vastola was already excited about what his team brought back from 2016, adding Myers and Johnson to the mix brings them to a whole new level.
“We thought we had really good foundation and were a playoff team heading into this year,” Vastola said. “This makes us that more lethal.”
That foundation includes senior Jesse Broad. Last year Broad was a utility player, being a receiver, a kick returner, running back and even playing some QB.
This year with the addition Myers, Broad will be able to focus on being a receiver.
According Vastola, Broad is just one of many guys who can be a multi-threat for the Indians this year.
“It’s the first time in a long time that a (West Seneca) West coach can say they have a lot of weapons,” Vastola said. “We have a lot guys that can run and catch the ball and run good routes. The sky’s the limit with these guys.”
Some of those weapons include Johnson, fellow senior Luke Wilhelm, and juniors Bryan Ball and Kyle Haettich.
The Indians are also expecting big things from players who are coming up from the JV including sophomores Mike Glinski and Liam Scheuer.
Even though outsiders’ expectations have risen, within the West Seneca West locker room the goal remains to be one of the best teams in WNY.
“We always start with the playoffs and go from there,” Vastola said. “When these kids were younger the goal was The Ralph (New Era Field), that hasn’t changed.”
West Seneca West will host Amherst on Friday, September 1st at 7 p.m. to open the season.