WATTS, Okla. -- The future is now for the Watts (Okla.) football team in 2015.
The Engineers opened fall camp with only two seniors out of 22 players on their roster, and a pair of young groups waiting at the junior-high levels.
That's the good news for first-year coach Matt Stilwell, who served as an assistant coach for Watts in last year's 2-7 season.
"There's only two seniors on that list," Stilwell said. "There's 20 underclassmen, and a good seventh- and eighth-grade group coming up. We've got a good nucleus if we can just stay the course and keep them all together."
The Engineers have six juniors and eight sophomores who saw extensive playing time in 2014. Add in six more freshman and the future appears to be in good shape for the Engineers.
"Everybody on that list, except the freshmen obviously, got varsity playing time last year," Stilwell said. "So those sophomores have been battle tested as freshman. They were asked to play some last year. They got some time under their belt and been through some of the battles. By the time they're juniors they'll have some years under them. That will pay off in the long run."
The Engineers are moving to a multiple-I offensive formation, that will have some I-formation and single wing basics to it.
"We're adjusting our offense to our personnel," Stilwell said. "Last year we had the big fullback and Bradley Carter and Dakota Dobbs in the backfield, both seniors that could run down hill. This year we're smaller and younger, but I think athletic-wise we've got more skilled kids that can get to the edge in multiple formations."
The Engineers have had a quarterback battle going through fall camp between juniors Cory Couch (5-foot-8, 145) and Clayton Mitchell (6-0, 175). Both quarterbacks offer something different to the Engineers' offense.
"Clayton's more of a pro-style, drop back kid, where Cory's more athletic and agile to run the option with," Stilwell said. "They're in a competition right now to see which one battles it out."
Stilwell said he hopes one of the two will have become the clear-cut front runner for the job after the Engineers host Gans and Regent Prep out of Tulsa in a scrimmage on Aug. 28.
The Engineers will typically have a single back in the backfield along with the quarterback.
Junior Joe Phifer (5-7, 155) is more of an H-back because he may split out wide at receiver some.
"He won't always be in the backfield," Stilwell said. "We'll try and get as many athletes as we can on the field."
Senior Nilson Magana (6-0, 215) offers more of an inside running prescience to contrast the style that Phifer has.
"Nilson will be the run inside, lead back and dive back," Stilwell said. "Joe is a shifty kid that's real athletic and makes some plays in the open field."
The Engineers will try and operate with two wide receivers and they've got several candidates for the spot.
Sophomore Kyle Woods (5-10, 130), junior Kyle Ault (5-8, 140) and freshman Jason Estep (5-8, 125) could see some action there. Mitchell will play wide receiver if he doesn't win the battle at quarterback.
Sophomore Brendon Garriott (5-9, 130) also could play some receiver.
Junior Dillon Johnson (5-10, 200) can play tight end if the Engineers decide to go with a heavy set.
In eight-man football, teams only have to have five men on the line of scrimmage at the snap of the football, and that can lead to some "pretty creative" formations, Stilwell said.
Sophomores Adarain Adams (6-1, 175) and Anthony Kirk (5-7, 200) also work at tight end.
Along the offensive line, Watts will depend heavily on senior Devon Dodd (6-2, 200), who will anchor the offensive line at a guard position.
Junior Brett Frazier (6-0, 160) is slated to play center, and Stilwell said sophomore Clifton Williams (5-7, 165) is "probably a front runner at the other guard."
Stilwell said freshman Brett Wright (5-5, 220) should challenge for playing time at an offensive guard.
Freshmen Braxton Stanley (5-10, 215), Josh Farmer (5-10, 180), Brandon Poindexter (5-7, 175) and Blake Willis (5-7, 215) are also future Engineer linemen. Junior Blake Aragon, sophomore William Fevel (5-9, 195) also could help on the offensive line.
"We're heavy on big guys," Stilwell said.
Defensively, Watts will play a four-man front on its defensive line.
"To go a three-man D-line, you need a nose guard that can be a two-gap player," Stilwell explained, "and we don't have that stud interior lineman so we'll go more traditional four-man front."
Sophomore Zach Quick (6-0, 240) has made a strong impression at a defensive end spot.
"Zach Quick when he's healthy he's a front runner," Stilwell said. "He played a lot as a freshman and made a big impact."
Magana and Johnson will man the other defensive end spot. Adams also is in the running for playing time at defensive end.
Inside at the defensive tackles will be Dodd, Wright and Tucker.
Stanley, Willis, Frazier, Farmer and Aragon are also candidates to play on the defensive line.
Williams and Mitchell will man to the two linebacker positions on the field.
Poindexter and Kirk also play linebacker for the Engineers.
Couch and Phifer will man the two high safety positions. Phifer finished with a team-high seven interceptions for Watts in 2014, including three in the opening game against Cave Springs.
"Phifer is a ballhawk back there in the secondary," Stilwell said. "He's probably one of the most underrated players in our district. He doesn't get a lot of recognition in our district, but as a sophomore last year he had seven interceptions. He was one of the leading tacklers last year. He's good in open space and always seems to find the ball on defense."
"Cory's just one of those tough gritty kids," Stilwell said. "He was here every day in the summer. He works hard. He's not the fastest guy out there and he's not the biggest guy, but he's one of those gritty, tough kids that's going to give you everything he's got. He's got some athletic ability and he works at it. He wants to be good. He wants to be a team player. He wants to be successful, which is kids we need on this team to hold us together and help lead these young guys."
Estep, Garriott, Woods and Ault will also play in the secondary.
Stilwell said in a perfect world he'd like to limit the amount of players having to go both ways.
"But I also firmly believe you've got to put your best eight out there," he said. "A lot of these kids, they're young and they'll be good players to give them a blow and give those starters a break."
J.J. Johnson will serve as Watts offensive coordinator for 2015. He also was hired as head boys basketball coach.
Stilwell will be defensive coordinator, and he's also brought back former Engineers head coach Doug Ward to help coach.
"I dragged Coach Ward back out of retirement to help me," Stilwell said. "He still had the fire. He just didn't want the headache of being head coach. I told him to let me worry about that. I just want him to coach.
"I'm defensive coordinator, but he might as well be co-defensive coordinator. He puts in a lot of work on the defensive side of the ball. He's a wealth of knowledge. He's a good X's and O's guy."
The Engineers open their season at Cave Springs on Sept. 3.
"We're a young team in a real tough district," he said. "But we're going to have those growing pains and stay the course. It will pay off in the end."
Sports on 08/26/2015