He still coaches one of the newest programs in the county, but coming out of spring practice, you get the sense that Frank Hepler thinks his West Forsyth team is starting to find its groove.

“The good thing is the consistency of the program right now because of [it being] the third year,” Hepler said.
“I’ve been able to keep the coaching staff together. The kids that have been with us have been with us from the begining, at least the kids that worked with us in the spring ... so that’s a luxury for a coaching staff.”

This year’s Wolverine seniors were toiling as sophomores when the program played a junior varsity schedule in 2007, while Hepler’s core of coordinators and position coaches has also remained intact.

“I think that’s a key, looking at great programs ... be it pro, college or high school, it’s the consistency learning curve from year to year,” Hepler said.

Working with the same players for three years has allowed the Wolverine coaching staff to implement more and more of the playbook as the kids’ physical conditioning and football knowledge increase.

Hepler said coaches implemented about 50 percent of their offensive strategy two years ago, and about 73 percent in West’s first varsity season last year.

So what about now?

“We’re close to about 100 percent with what we want to do with our offense, and same with our defense,” Hepler said.

The Wolverines might have a deeper appreciation of X’s and O’s this season, but they’ll be without arguably their best player from a year ago, in quarterback Lance Baker.

Hepler says the starting job under center is a two-horse race at the moment, between juniors Cole Carter and Will Canady.

Hepler describes both players as very good athletes, with experience rotating on the JV.

“They know [the system] really well and they’ve grown really well,” the coach said.

“We told them going into the summer they’re both neck-and-neck and we want them to compete. They’re equal in so many different areas that we haven’t really picked a full-fledged starter right now.”

Hepler said that, while he’ll miss Baker, he sees the hole at quarterback as the kind of problem that coaches should enjoy tackling.

“We’re excited. I like it when you have that kind of a challenge in front of you,” Hepler said.

Waiting in the wings, Blake Burkett, Chase Bender and Jon Kassar will handle the play-calling on JV and back up the varsity quarterbacks, Hepler said.

The offensive line finds itself in rebuilding mode this season after graduating three starters, with newcomers like Zane Williams and Ben Boyd likely to help anchor it.

Despite the relative inexperience of its members, though, Hepler said he felt the O-line was the team’s strong point after the team’s intrasquad spring game.

Hepler is also excited about rising sophomore John Lake, a 6-foot-6, 220-pound tight end.

“Long kid, runs well, great hands,” the coach said of Lake.

During the coming months, focus will be on weight training and conditioning each morning during the week, Hepler said.

“We’ve just got to keep working on our strength and our speed. Opening up with North Forsyth, being one of the big schools, a [Class] AAAAA school, we’ve got to get stronger to compete with them,” Hepler said.

“Football we’ll work on in August, but right now, strength and speed [are the focus].”

E-mail BJ Corbitt at bjcorbitt@forsythnews.com.