Linebacker Thomas Webster.

Quick Facts

Head coach: Brock Clay (second year, 9-5)

2017 record: 9-5. 4-1

2017 finish: Lost to East Central in the second round of the MHSAA Class 4A playoffs

League: MHSAA Region 5-4A

Keys to the Season

•Linemen — “We’re replacing four out of our five starting offensive line (from last year) and two out of four on the defensive line,” head coach Brock Clay said. “With the new guys playing, how quickly can they compete at the level we expect to play at?”

•Ball control — “We can’t have turnovers,” Clay said. He went on to say that turnovers at any point in the season are difficult to overcome, but it’s especially costly early in the season, when you’re trying to prevent bad habits from forming.

“We don’t want to turn it over early in the season because it presents negative issues.” 

•Special teams play — “We can’t give up big plays on special teams,” Clay said.

Key Offensive Players

•Senior Kaleb Walters is the lone returning starting on the offensive line, and he’s been the Knights’ left tackle for the past two years. “He’ll be leading a group of guys that are newcomers to high school football.” 

•Taylor Turnage, senior, started half of West Lauderdale’s games in 2017 at running back, and with the loss of Kurt Rackley due to graduation, Turnage will be needed in order to have a productive run game. “He understands the type of running game we’re looking for,” Clay said. 

•Austin Davidson, senior, and Eli Bryan, junior, will both take snaps at quarterback as the Knights look to replace Turbo McKee.

•Jason McKinney and Bradley Ott will headline a veteran receiving corps for West Lauderdale.

Key Defensive Players

•Linebacking corps — Seniors Thomas Webster and Hays Perkins and junior Austin Wilkinson all took a large majority of the snaps for West Lauderdale last year, and all will be back this year. Sophomore Zach Walker will also see time as well.

“All four of those kids have started a lot of ball games, so they’ll be a strength,” Clay said. 

•Defensive line — Seniors Kamron Rackley and Luke Lott are returning starters.

“Both played a lot of ball games last year, and both started several games last year,” Clay said. “They’re two returners we’re really counting on to get things going for us up front.”

•Defensive back — Senior TJ Hersey is a team captain and three-year starter, and Phillip Naylor will play in the backfield as well.

“We’ll rely heavily on them,” Clay said. “They’ve been a part of a lot of wins at West Lauderdale. They’ll be teaching the younger kids that are stepping up and playing in those roles what’s going on and how we dothings”

Outlook

“We want to play West Lauderdale football,” Clay said. “We want to be competitive in every ball game and out-hustle every team we play and be who we are. That’s what we try to do. We’re not going to go out there to try to win state on game one. We’ll try to win each play, and hopefully that contributes to each down, each quarter and hopefully each game.”