Western football foretelling the future

By Thomas Huitt-Johnson

The future looks great for the football team — but not like in years past — Western actually has a reason to be optimistic now.

Halfway through the season, the Griffons sat at 3-2 and needed to win every game to have a sure shot at making the post-season playoffs for the first time in back-to-back years. They did that, behind a young but experienced group.

With the majority of the team starting as juniors, Western lost to Northwest Missouri State by six points in the first round of the playoffs. In the process, however, Western won seven straight games and hosted its first ever playoff game. That was the first step. The next step — win one.

“This is one of the finest years I will ever remember,” Western coach Jerry Partridge said. “We don’t get to play on, but that time’s coming. It will happen.”

Western ends the year tying the school record with nine wins. The Griffons, once 2-2, fought an uphill battle just to make it to the playoffs, as they won seven straight, including a victory over their rival — Northwest.

Still, the Griffons see only better opportunities awaiting them, as they bring back a core of juniors that take three years of post-season experience with them. Michael Hill, Jeremy Weston, David Bass, Ben Pister and Tarrell Downing, as well as their starting O-Line which includes tackle Macon Allan and much of their defense, all return for the Griffons to try at winning a playoff game and perhaps move on further. Teaming up at cornerback with Weston will be senior Ben Jackson, who stepped up in the final three games of the year to help Western make its run.

“I think we’re right on the verge,” cornerback Ben Jackson said. “We’re returning a lot of guys next year on both sides of the football. It’s just like Coach said, we’re right on the verge. It’s one or two plays that actually is holding this team back, and I feel like next year — with all the returners we got coming back — it’s going to be a great team.”

The offense should look much the same. Partridge referred to trying to upgrade the O-Line as a priority, but for the most part, besides losing Adam Clausen at wide receiver, Western returns its group. Hill will start at running back, Travis Partridge will remain at quarterback, Tarrell Downing and Tyron Crockum will team up at receiver along with T.J. Fannin, who was lost for the season during Western’s game against Missouri Southern.

Jerry Partridge believes that the offense will improve with another year of experience, and the defense should also play better. The team loses its starting linebackers, but has Yomi Alli, who came on late to become one of the more known players on the team. Western only loses Jack Long in the secondary. The D-Line remains intact. However, most of these players are juniors and only have one more year eligibility.

“Missouri Western will certainly be back next year with our huge senior class,” Partridge said. “I got a really good football team coming back next year. I just hate it for the seniors.”

Greg Zuerlein, who has a D-II record for most consecutive field goals made, as well as a college record at all levels for 50-plus field goals made (9), agrees with his coach. He transferred to Western once his old school, Nebraska-Omaha, closed down its football program. Zuerlein, a senior, looks to be kicking on Sundays now.

“[Western] is a great place to be,” Zuerlein said. “I wished I had more eligibility to play here, ’cause I really like it, and they’re going to do great things in the future.”