Their opponents would testify to that, as Seminole had to in Friday night’s District 2-4A Division II opener at Happy State Bank Stadium.
Operating under expectations which don’t usually accompany a second-year program, the Wolves are continuing to live up to the hype, and perhaps then some. They scored 38 unanswered points against a previously unbeaten Seminole team en route to a 48-23 victory to establish themselves as the team to beat for the district championship.
This comes barely over a year after the school opened and surprised many by finishing second to Seminole in district last season. While the novelty factor has worn off, West Plains (6-1, 1-0 in district) is now getting the job done simply by outplaying opponents on each side of the ball.
“It’s more about us focusing on getting better every day,” West Plains coach Adam Cummings said. “Compared to last year it’s just a maturity factor. We’re older and we’ve got a year under our belt in terms of a program and our kids are understanding the big picture of what we’re trying to get done. It’s the process of becoming one percent better each day and buying into everything we’re asking them to do.”
Seminole (6-1, 0-1) was the third straight previously unbeaten opponent to fall to the Wolves this season. Since West Plains lost the season opener in a shootout against Bushland, the Wolves have been perfect themselves, and it will take a strong effort from somebody in district play to blemish their record.
Both teams only punted once, the Wolves got theirs out of the way quickly, after having their opening drive stall in Seminole territory. The Indians responded by marching down the field for a 29-yard field goal by Rowin Donaldson for a 3-0 lead.
After that, it was all West Plains, though. The Wolves scored touchdowns on their next four possessions, with Jordi Hernandez finishing the first three drives with scoring runs.
West Plains answered Seminole’s score with a 1-yard run by Hernandez late in the first quarter to take a 7-3 lead. Hernandez later scored on runs of 23 and 2 yards in the second quarter to give the Wolves a 21-3 lead, as he had 106 yards on 13 carries, 94 of them in the first half.
“I thought our offensive line did their job and they executed to their best potential,” Hernandez said. “Because of that I was just able to do my thing and get around everybody and get the yards that I needed. I knew it was going to be there. I think we just needed the chemistry we needed to build and we’re just more confident as a program since it’s out second year.”
Ladd returned his pick to the Seminole 18-yard line, and on the next play, Reid Macon hit Kyron Wooten in the end zone on a scoring pass for a 28-3 lead.
The Wolves served notice that they weren’t going to let up in the second half right off the bat. On Seminole’s first possession, West Plains recovered an errant shotgun snap at the Seminole 29, and the Wolves quickly took advantage again, as Macon hit Jensen Phillips in the end zone for another score to make it 35-3
Macon had a typically efficient game, completing 15-of-22 passes for 196 yards.
“It all starts up front for sure,” Macon said. “Our O-line does a great job giving me so much time throwing the ball. Our receivers are getting open and it gives me time to let them make plays. (Offensive coordinator Jeff) Lyles sets up the game plan for us with those little dump passes to set up those deep balls.”
Kicker Joseph Estrada concluded the 38-0 run with a 46-yard field goal midway through the third quarter, the first of his two field goals, to make it 38-3 and make the outcome a formality.
Seminole made the score more respectable in the second half with three touchdowns by Logan McCormick. He ran for a score and caught two touchdowns from backup quarterback Braden Gonzales.
“I felt like there were some things where we were a little bit sloppy,” said Seminole coach Greg Poynor, the former head coach at Pampa. “We had a couple of bad snaps and we hadn’t had that all year. Give (the Wolves) credit because some of that was caused by them. They’re playing with a lot of confidence and they’ve got a lot of talent on that team.”