Cougars celebrate season with awards banquet

By Editor | November 10, 2022 |

By KENT COULTAS
Scott County Times
West Central’s football team concluded its 2022 football season with a team banquet Oct. 3 at the Winchester American Legion.
Head Coach Matt Coultas thanked his wife, Lori, who had endured the last 24 football seasons with him. Coultas also mention how his son, Grant, who is a sophomore on the team, never gets away from Coach Coultas.
Coultas introduced the assistant coaches; Defensive coordinator and athletic director Grant DeWitt, special team’s coach Jeremy Reardon, Line coach John Marshall, linebacker coach Brady Shelts and line coaches Scott Shipman and Jared Mogg.
Coultas also thanked the American Legion for the use of its building; Superintendent Blakenship and principals Denny Vortman and Spencer Range; school office workers Maryon Shaw, Loree Herring and Tonya Sanders; statisticians Randy Barnett and Kent Coultas; film crew Jamie Arnold and Jackson Dahman; chain gang members Phil Pratt, Dick Coon, Chris Meyer and Shiloh Savage and others; play by play announcers Mark Clayton and Thad Walker; streaming crew Dakota Chumley, Aaron Littig and Denny Vortman; Cheerleading sponsor Candy Miller and cheerleaders; the coaching staff; and the team mothers who provided the team meals.
West Central finished 4-5 and third in the WIVC South Division. All five teams that beat West Central made the playoffs.
Coultas mentioned the highlights of the season including beating Triopia for the third straight time, breaking team records against Pleasant Hill, beating former assistant coach Brian VanMeter and North Green, beating Carrollton 52-0 and making a goal line stand against Routt.
Tyson Brown threw for a West Central record 239 against Pleasant Hill, and Zack Evans caught six passes for a record 167 yards in that game.
Conner Turner set a program record with three kickoff returns for touchdowns during the years.
Zack Evans set a program record with 488 receiving yards this season despite missing the first three games.
Brown finished with 941 passing yards and 11 touchdowns for the season. He threw for 1,863 yards and 22 touchdowns in his four years. All are second most in program history.
Coultas finished by announcing the award winners for the season.
Jesse Lott and Wyatt Schafer received WIVC Sportsmanship Awards.
Twelve players were named to the WIVC All-Academic team (Must have a 3.0 GPA and varsity member): Chase Ccawford, Jake Bangert, Jackson Surratt, Conner Turner, Jesse Lott, Owen Barber, Carson Brown, Tyson Brown, Grant Coultas, Hayden Jefferson, Will Mason and Landyn Woods.
Players who were selected WIVC South Honorable Mention: Nolan Melanson (T), Rylen Shaw (T), Jake Bangert (G), Hayden Jefferson (WR), Jake Banger (DL), Nolan Melanson (DL), Tyson Brown (LB), Conner Turner (KR/PR).
WIVC South Second team selections: Owen Barber (G), Chance Little (RB), Zack Evans (WR), Owen Barber (LB), and Mason Berry (DB).
WIVC South First team selections: Mason Berry (RB), KJ Spencer (DL), Chance Little (LB) and Tyson Brown (Flex position).
All-State All-Academic team (Must be a varsity team member, have been selected First Team All-Conference with a 3.5 GPA): Tyson Brown.
Team awards included: Tyson Brown (QB), Owen Barber (OL), KJ Spencer (DL), Mason Berry (RB), Owen Barber (LB), Mason Berry (DB), Zack Evans (TE/WR), Hayden Jefferson (Special Teams), Landyn Woods (Newcomer Award), Nolan Melonson (Cougar) and Tyson Brown (Most Valuable Player).
Coultas concluded by thanking seniors for being a part of the football program for the past four years and said the weight room would soon be open for returning players.