Whittell High football players need to stay healthy to contend
By Brain Nordli, Reno Gazette-Journal
Whittell’s season might come down to staying healthy.
Like many 2A schools, Whittell struggles with depth, but this season it only has 18 players and many that are playing football for the first time. In coach Jeff Jones’ first season as coach in 2010, the team struggled with injuries and mistakes finishing 2-7. Jones said the team has a few more returners this year that could make them more competitive.
“If we stay healthy and don’t have mental mistakes that we had last year, I think we can be 4-4 at least,” Jones said.
The Warriors have three returning offensive linemen, including fourth-year player Hunter Morgan. Morgan tore his anterior cruciate ligament last season causing him to miss four games. Instead an inexperienced safety stepped into his role, which he said could have been the difference between winning three more games. Jones said the lack of players has also forced him to start freshman or other inexperienced players.
“We have a good 10-11 football players, and after that, we’re hurting a little bit,” Jones said.
