Turning the web page: Westwood Patriots football team looks for renewed success with new coaches, players | Information, Sports activities, Jobs

Bundled-up Westwood fans wait anxiously during a break in the action of the Patriots’ MHSAA Division 7 football playoff game against Traverse City St. Francis at Thirlby Field in Traverse City on Nov. 13. (Traverse City Record-Eagle photo by James Cook )

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2022 schedule

All times Eastern

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Westwood’s Jerzee Karki catches this pass from Zach Beckman in the first quarter with the Charlevoix sideline in the background during their MHSAA Division 7 playoff game at the Patriots’ field in Ishpeming on Nov. 6. (Photo courtesy Daryl T. Jarvinen)

Friday, Aug. 26 — at Houghton, 7 pm

Thursday, Sept. 1 — IRON MOUNTAIN, 7 pm

Friday, Sept 9 — at Calumet, 7 pm

Friday, Sept. 16 — ISHPEMING, 7 pm

Friday, Sept. 23 — at Manistique, 7 pm

Westwood’s Jayce Arseneau sacks Charlevoix quarterback Caleb Struck late in the third quarter of their MHSAA Division 7 playoff game at the Patriots’ field in Ishpeming on Nov. 6. (Photo courtesy Daryl T. Jarvinen)

Friday, Sept. 30 — HANCOCK, 7 pm

friday, october 7 — at L’Anse, 7 pm

friday, october 14 — BARK RIVER-HARRIS, 7 pm

Thursday, Oct. 20 — at Negaunee, 7 pm

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Westwood defender Bryce Markham, right, looks to track down Ishpeming’s Hunter Smith, center, during their high school football game played on Sept. 17, 2021, at the Ishpeming Playgrounds. (Journal file photo by Justin Marietti)

ISHPEMING — A new era is underway for the Westwood High School football program after the departure of head coach Scott Syrjala and graduation of the school’s winningest class ever.

Jacob Wolf has taken over as head coach and does so with a lot of new faces in key spots. Since taking the position in April, he said it has been a positive learning experience.

“It’s been exciting, I’ve learned a lot,” Wolf said. “I’m thankful to have a great staff that helps a lot, they’ve been around while and will play pivotal roles for us this year.”

Despite losing such a great class that led Westwood to their first ever MHSAA district tournament title, a number of players from that team have shown up at this summer’s practices to help out. It won’t be the old show of Zach Beckman and Zach Carlson running rampant on opposing defenses, but they have leant their knowledge and experience at practice.

“A lot of these guys have been helping for a long time now,” Wolf said. “I’m thankful and blessed to have them around; they could’ve easily not come back, so it’s been nice to have them.”

Assistant coach Jacob Wolf, in back at left wearing white, huddles with the Westwood Patriots football team as head coach Scott Syrjala, front right, speaks during a past season. Wolf was named Westwood head varsity coach in mid-April 2022. (Photo courtesy Jacob Wolf)

This fall’s Patriots will be different in terms of personnel, but it’s guaranteed that they’re still going to try and run the ball down opponents’ throats. Wolf wasn’t ready to name who the quarterback will be, but he did mention who he expects to be in Westwood’s typical two-man backfield — Jerzee Karki, Jayce Arseneau, Andrew Niemi and maybe a bit of Bryce Markham.

What will also be working in the Patriots’ favor is retaining two linemen who were starters last season — Max Wiljanen and Nick Salzwedel. WHS did lose three starters on the line from a season ago, but the communication and attention to detail by the current group makes Wolf believe that this is where this team can carve its own niche.

“We can bring a better knowledge of understanding what’s going on up front,” Wolf said. “Coach (Brad) Wiljanen does a great job, he’s done a great job forever here. We seem to be communicating better right now than we have in years prior, talking and understanding certain situations of what to do.”

The Patriots kick off the season Friday night at Houghton, a team that always seems hard to tell what it will be like. From there, Westwood will be tested in two big games with Iron Mountain and Calumet before facing off with next-door Ishpeming in Week 4.

In a more navigable part of the schedule, Westwood next has home games against Hancock and Bark River-Harris and road games at Manistique and L’Anse. It will be important for the Patriots to come out of that stretch feeling good, because a tough test awaits at Negaunee to close out the regular season in Week 9.

Jacob Wolf

Losing such a talented class, it would be easy for many to doubt the chances of success for this year’s Westwood team. A lot of guys who had roles last season on a smaller level are ones that Wolf looks to bloom into solid players this year.

In preparation for that and trying to become the best they can be, sticking to the little things is what Wolf looks at as the key to success.

“We have a great opportunity to step up and assume more responsibility and accountability to take this head-on,” Wolf said. “We’ve always been process driven, I talk about linemen assignment and effort a lot, but through that, success can develop.”

Travis Nelson can be reached by email at tnelson@miningjournal. not.

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