Bears Maul Clever Blue Jays

The Willow Springs Bears defeated the Clever Blue Jays with a score of 49-0, starting the year with a win that will hopefully set the precedent for the remaining games. The Bears played the game with an understaffed roster, fielding only 29 players versus Clever's 47. Number 62, Warren Ennis, starts the season injured and unable to play. 

Among the many impressive plays in this shut-out game, Head Coach Joel Wyatt highlighted an interception and touchdown courtesy of Taylor Rothermich (no. 1).  

“Rothermich bust[ed] a long one and [took] it all the way home. I thought he was going to get caught,” Wyatt said. 

Other notable plays included Ian Smith (no.7) bobbing and weaving nimbly through a score of Clever players all the way to a touchdown. Nate McDaniel (no. 35) put six points on the board after taking it all the way from Bear territory to score a touchdown. Gennadiy Dudko proved himself to be a force to be reckoned with on defense when he took down multiple players in a row with one tackle by launching himself horizontally.

The big win this season is hardly surprising. Last year’s home opener saw the Bear shut out the Blue Jays 45 to 0. The short roster, however, is a new problem that the Bears must overcome under their celebrated new coach. 

According to Wyatt, the players to watch this season are Scooter Osborn (no. 55), who he said is a strong player on both offense and defence. Dudko is expected to be an asset on offense. The Bears will rely on Brenden Ferguson, Gavin Ferguson, Landon Crudgington, and Micah Stetina on defense. 

“You can't really put a finger on a particularly good player, but it might start with Scooter or Stetina,”said Coach Wyatt.

Despite the huge win on Friday, there is always room for improvement for this year’s team.

"We have to get stronger in the weightroom department; we have to get stronger, more depth. And we need more people," Wyatt said.

Next Friday, Willow plays their first away game at Marionville.