The 2011 prep football season is finally here and the Belleville West Maroons open up this seasons campaign in Evansville Indiana against the Reitz Memorial Tigers. West has previously played Memorial twice in the early 2000's suffering a 47-6 loss in Evansville and beating the Tigers 7-0 at home. Memorial (0-1) lost it's first game of the year last week at Jasper 29-0. This will be the Maroons first game under new head coach Cameron Pettus. Pettus has a new defensive coordinator in Kris Stephens, but they will still employ the same 3-4 defense West has ran since Pettus came to West as the defensive coordinator in 2008. New offensive coordinator Jason Burinak has worked hard all summer with the offense to install a new pro style system.
First year starter Kyle Leadlove will take over the quarterbacking duties for the Maroons, and the 6'3 180 pound senior has all of the tools to succeed in the new offense. The Maroons will feature a stable of running backs with former quarterback and senior Deonte McCarvey and freshman sensation Antoine Davis leading the way. Senior Jeremy Hill and junior Kieth Harris with also see plenty of carries coming out of the crowded backfield this year. At receiver the Maroons have 6'3 170 pound senior Ray Scott, who is poised for a breakout year in a new system that will utilize his size and speed to stretch the field. Scott was a member of the 2010 state champion 4x100 relay team for West. Tight End Donnie Foster has had a great summer and looks to provide a security blanket for Leadlove, with Pierre Gee-Tucker also chipping in. Other receivers that will contribute for the Maroons this year will be senior Cody Anderson and juniors Marquis Brown, Demechio Spraggins, Nick Simmonds, Ronald Parham and Tevin Suggs. Sophomore Brendon Saak has also impressed enough to get into the varsity lineup. Up front the Maroons will be led by seniors Nathan Matzenbacher (Tackle), Andrew Johns (Guard), Logan Glaeser (Guard) and juniors Ross Dosier (Tackle) and Ian Kinney (Center). This group has worked hard all summer in the new system and has gotten better as the summer progressed.
West will be led on defense by a linebacker corp that could be one of the best in the Southwest Conference. Sophomore Tori Millender and Junior Tremont Davis will patrol the middle of the field for West at the middle linebacker spots while juniors Gee-Tucker and Keihige Allen will hold down the outside linebacker spots. This is a very athletic, physical group of linebackers with high football IQ's. The defensive line will feature junior Marquis Cherry at nose tackle and juniors Jaarashiah Quarles and Teron Johnson playing the defensive end spots. Foster also plays defensive end and saw plenty of action on varsity last year as a sophomore. The secondary will have junior Keelan Baxton and senior David Johnson manning the corner spots with McCarvey and sophomore Kyle Sweeney playing back at the safety positions. Seniors Jvonta Williams and Louis Holloman will provide depth at saftey with junior Brylon Owens and sophomore Lavante Smith being the back ups at the corner spots.
This is a young team with a lot of talent. The future is bright in the Belleville West football program. The Maroons fully intend on making some noise in the Southwestern Conference this year, and on making it deeper into the playoffs. West made school history last year by making the playoffs for the third consecutive year.
It's a GREAT day to be a MAROON!
