Preps special
Eagles stay positive despite losses
By BOB PUTNAM
Published September 3, 2004
[Times photo: Scott Keeler]
Mike Workman helps his teamates push the blocking sled during practice
LARGO - By changing the offense and the mind-set of his players, Indian Rocks Christian coach Chris Westerfield helped the program gain respect last season.
After going 5-25 from 2000-02, the Golden Eagles finished 5-5 and played the elite teams in their district close. That had Westerfield expecting bigger things this season.
In the spring, he decided to play Nature Coast Tech, a Hernando County public school in a larger classification, to see how his team would perform.IRC rolled up nearly 400 yards against a second-year school playing varsity for the first time.
Then came the summer, and the vibe changed.
Huston Blackwell, who gained 210 all-purpose yards and scored three times against Nature Coast Tech, transferred to Clearwater Central Catholic. Dominic Madry, the projected quarterback, decided to attend Osceola.
Those losses, coupled with the departure of Matt Sitton, the county's leading scorer last season, make things tougher for Westerfield.
"We've had to replace some people, but our attitude is not going to change," Westerfield said. "We're going out expecting to win."
Kyle DeArmon takes over at quarterback and will hand off to Jimmy Davis, a track star. David Orrico will take Sitton's place at kicker. "We still have enough talent to do something," Westerfield said.
[Last modified September 1, 2004, 08:22:26]
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