High school football: Westlake needs defense to be strong in 2024
Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald
Westlake's defense sacks Pleasant Grove quarterback Carson Rasmussen, who loses the ball in the end zone during a high school football game on Friday, September 22, 2023. The ball was actually blown dead at the 1-yard line.WESTLAKE THUNDER
Head Coach: Arnold Ale (2nd Year)
2023 Record: 2-10 overall, 0-5 in 6A Region 3
2023 Playoffs: No. 17 seed, lost to No. 1 American Fork, 42-13, in 6A second round
Players to Watch: Lennox Naea, (Sr. DB), Nusi Taumoepeau (Sr. LB), Sale Fano (Sr. DE), Beckham Featherstone (Sr. DE), Matai Tongi (Sr. OL).
Outlook: The pattern for Westlake football has been all-too-familiar in recent years: Struggle in Region 3, get a lower seed in the 6A playoffs, defeat a team from another league in the first round, then lose in the second round.
While the Thunder would love to rise higher in 2024, it won’t be easy.
The Westlake defense will need to lead the way, with six returning starters and some excellent playmakers in the mix. If athletes like senior linebacker Nusi Taumoepeau and senior defensive lineman Sale Fano can create havoc for opponents, it would go a long way toward getting the Thunder some wins.
But the offense is a big question mark as it doesn’t have a ton of experience. Westlake will need it to get things figured out quickly and score consistently as well as avoid costly mistakes.
The Thunder will hope to build some confidence in the preseason as it takes on Weber, Alta, Cedar Valley, Herriman and Downey, Calif., before hitting the Region 3 gauntlet.
