What to know about Westville before the Tigers kick off their season Friday night at home against Salt Fork:
Their quarterback is ...Easton Bolin. Westville has a young team this year, and the most important position on the field is no different. But if what veteran coach Guy Goodlove has already seen is any indication, his sophomore quarterback will be just fine.
"Easton's been very coachable. He's done everything we've asked him to do," said Goodlove, about to start his 30th season in charge of the Tigers. "Very gifted athlete. The one thing he doesn't have is Friday night experience. He's a quick learner, and he works hard."
Bolin said he's soaking everything in, "just listening to everything they have to tell me."
After all, he does have some pretty big shoes to fill. Drew Wichtowski graduated after earning Class 2A All-State First-Team honors. Goodlove described Bolin's situation as he was given the answers to the test, and now it's up to him to perform.
"You see pictures on the wall of all the great athletes, and you want to be like them someday," Bolin said. "It's kind of nerve-wracking to live up to a lot of those names."
Their quarterback of the defense is ...another Easton, but this time it's junior middle linebacker Easton Barney. The third-year starter has worked his way through the defensive ranks, beginning as a defensive back his freshman year and moving to outside linebacker as a sophomore before landing in the middle this season.
Goodlove said the great thing about Barney is that he's a straight-A student, and those smarts translate to the football field in his ability to know everyone's jobs.
"If you have a responsibility, he knows what you're supposed to do," Goodlove said. "He knows scouting reports, and he knows what the other team is going to be doing. It's like having another coach on the field. This is his third year starting, so it's not like it's new. I feel real confident there."
The Tigers will have guys flying all over the field this season, as their defensive unit has numerous fast and athletic players, including multiple state track qualifiers.
"We may not be bigger than anybody, but nobody's going to be able to keep up with us the whole length of the game," senior linebacker Jaden Whorrall said.
A successful season means ...
setting the tone for the rest of Westville athletics. The Tigers did just that last year, as the volleyball, baseball and softball teams all had historic seasons, with plenty of solid performances in between, after the football team went 8-2. All the success makes the athletes eager for the next step.
"It makes us want to be even better," Bolin said. "Last year in baseball, we went to sectionals, and we want to go to state next year. In football, we only made it to the first round, and we want to go way past that."
Goodlove is starting his third decade at the helm of the Tiger football program, a number that made him jokingly roll his eyes and comment on his age. He's seen just about everything, including going from back-to-back 0-9 seasons to start his tenure to consecutive 2A state finals appearances in 2006 and 2007, 16 playoff berths and six double-digit-win campaigns.
His players know the history, and they just want to keep adding to it.
"You want to make your own mark, and I think that's something we can do," Whorrall said. "Trying to live up to all the other names can get a little bit intimidating, but it's nice playing for a school with such a prestigious history."
Follow the Tigers
Westville's 2024 schedule
DATE OPPONENT TIME
Aug. 30 vs. Salt Fork 7 p.m.
Sept. 6 at BHRA 7 p.m.
Sept. 13 at Momence 7 p.m.
Sept. 20 vs. Georgetown-RF/Chrisman 7 p.m.
Sept. 27 vs. Oakwood 7 p.m.
Oct. 4 at Clifton Central 7 p.m.
Oct. 11 at Watseka 7 p.m.
Oct. 18 vs. Hoopeston Area/A-P 7 p.m.
Oct. 25 at Iroquois West 7 p.m.
Meet the staff
➜ Head coach: Guy Goodlove
➜ Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks/defensive backs coach: Dylan Allen
➜ Defensive coordinator/offensive line/defensive line coach: Devin Gay
➜ Linebackers/running backs coach: Brayden Weaver
➜ Linebackers/running backs coach: Mike Acord
Zach Piatt