Photo: Erin Fox
By Valerie Sliker, courtesy Wagener Monthly
Update: Since the writing of this article, the War Eagles narrowly lost the upper state championship game to Ridge Spring-Monetta. Thus concluded the War Eagles' best season of record. Congratulations to Coach Willie Fox, all assistant coaches and the team.
It’s been an amazing season for the War Eagles. Winning region championship for the second year in a row is a new school record. The undefeated team has won 12 games, the most games WSHS has ever won in a season.
Having won the third round of state playoffs Friday night against Lamar (24 – 12), the War Eagles now play Ridge Spring Monetta at home for the upper state championship. The winner of that game will play for State Champions on December 6, 8:00 pm at Benedict College.
This season’s team has been playing together since age 6, playing for the little league Wagener Wolfpack under the leadership of Coach “Heavy” Swedenburg and Coach “Tiger” Landy. These boys grew up working together as a team with the foundations taught to them at a young age. Coach Willie Fox has been working with them for the past five years and both last year and this year have been the culmination of over a decade of hard work and excellent coaching. Playing together for so long is evident in the way they work together on the field.
Coach Fox corrals the guys into focusing on one game at a time, trying not to think too far down the line, with this little concession when he said, “We have a chance to do something really special if we keep it up.” Fox’s quiet rapport, contained smile and calm demeanor reflects the tamped down excited coach.
Fifteen of the players are graduating Seniors. They have a non-negotiable defensive line and most of the guys who have recorded a carry, have scored a touchdown. It’s been a team effort the whole way.
Jervaris Jakobe Schofield, Westin Williams and Kaleb Shaw were selected for the 7th Annual Border Bowl that will take place on Jan. 11, an Augusta-area Senior football game.
Westin Williams was selected to play in the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives North/South Bowl, a very prestigious honor.
Congratulations to the 3-A All-Region Selections for 2019:
Player of the Year: Westin Williams
Offensive Back of the Year: Kevin Jackson
Offensive Lineman of the Year: Tyquan Jerry
Defensive Lineman of the Year: Elijah Davis
Co-Defensive Back of the Year: Kaleb Shaw
Other All-Region Selections: Jhuatieq Davis, Jakobe Schofield, Roderick Williams, Gaige Starnes, Ethan Stroman, Nigel Brown, AJ Swedenburg.
Coach of the Year: Coach Willie Fox
Congratulations to these players and the whole team. Congratulations, Coach Willie Fox.