By Mark Gregory
@Hear_The_Beard
Jaxson Aubrey
OFFENSE
When senior quarterback Alex Tibble was knocked out last season, the Tigers turned to a true freshman to pilot the team. Jaxon Aubry, coach Jason Aubry’s son, now enters his sophomore season as the starter and looks to carry the Tigers to a solid showing during its first season in the Southwest Prairie Conference. Joining Aubry will be fellow sophomore Kevon Dorris, who will see time at running back and wide receiver.
Also catching passes from Aubry this season will be senior wide receiver Johnny Holman and junior receiver/tight end TJ Neal. In his first season as a starter, Aubry will be happy to have three returning offensive linemen to protect him in junior Taje Hymon and seniors Patrick Leaf and Jake Tuider.
DEFENSE
On the defensive side of the ball, Joliet West returns senior defensive lineman Julius Garrett up front. Senior Drew Smith will pace the linebacker corps, while junior Arther Hart returns at defensive back. Senior Marcus Blackmon will play some at linebacker and also in the defensive backfield.
OUTLOOK
Joliet West will join Joliet Central as the teams leave behind the SouthWest Suburban Conference Blue Division and join the SPC, a league that seems to have more natural rivalries. Aside from Central, the other public school located in the Joliet city limits, Plainfield South, is now on the Tigers’ schedule.
West will also face Minooka in league play, a school that shares athletes living in the Village of Shorewood. The other rivalry the Tigers have is one without proximity, but history, as West’s only playoff game in the program’s history ended in a 31-7 loss at new SPC foe Oswego two years ago.
With nine teams in the SPC, football teams will not play teams out of the league. The Tigers will open league play at home against Oswego East as they look to return to the playoffs after a year absence.