Written by: Coach Rob (@KaufmanRobert)
The West Orange Warriors[@WestOrangeFB1], led by outstanding Head Coach Geno Thompson [@Geno_GThompson], are off to a 2-0 start and look primed for a deep playoff run. The Warriors have talent across the field and play an aggressive brand of football in all three phases of the game. I love the mindset of the offensive, defensive, and special teams coordinators, who embrace an ultra-aggressive brand of football. Their relentless attack is a direct reflection of Coach Thompson’s leadership and the way he runs his program.
In their season opener against a legitimate contender [Evans Trojans], West Orange came out on top in a battle of two of the cities top teams, winning 28-18.
Game 1 Standouts
- QB – AJ Chung (So): 20/28, 267 yards, 3 TDs
- WR – Edison Delgado (Sr): 7 receptions, 69 yards, 2 TD’s
- WR – Dakiren Glover (Sr): 2 receptions, 69 yards, 1 TD
- LB – Nolan Turner (Sr): 18 tackles, 12 solo, 3 sacks
- CB – Sean Cannon (Sr): 1 INT
- LB – Nolan Herman (Sr): 1 blocked FG
Week 2 vs. Wekiva High School
Against a young but talented Wekiva squad, what stood out most was the Warriors’ coaching mindset. On the very first offensive snap, they came out running four verticals. Even though the pass was not completed, the receiver was open, and the defense was instantly on its heals. That first play would have made “The Pirate” Mike Leach proud, and I could just imagine the offensive coordinator with a folded-up play sheet, dialing up “6”.
Quarterback AJ Chung [@AjChungQB] continues to impress; aggressive yet poised in the pocket. He shows command of the offense, excellent vision, a strong arm, and throws with extreme confidence. He delivers the ball on time and in rhythm, with solid mechanics and footwork. The offensive line deserves a ton of credit, consistently dominating the line of scrimmage even against extra rushers and really controlled the opponents defensive line.
Running back Jayden Amos [@Jaysmoove334] runs extremely hard and is physical in pass protection, explosive through contact, and decisive with his vision. As the season progresses, I fully expect him to have some monster games. To be elite offensively, you must be able to run the ball, and West Orange has that piece in Amos.
On the perimeter, the Warriors’ receiving corps has depth and is reliable. They consistently create separation, and the QB trusts them to get open and make a play. Yuto Kawamura-Johnson [@yuto_ykj] had a breakout performance with 3 catches, 2 touchdowns, and over 100 yards receiving. Senior Edison Delgado [@Edison_Delgado5] is off to a blazing start with 14 receptions, 262 yards, 5 touchdowns and a 2-point conversion.
Defense
The defense suffocated Wekiva, forcing fumbles, tackles for loss, and interceptions. The moment that set the tone came when Devonte Anderson [@Vonte2_] and Dre Merideth [@DeandreMerideth] delivered a hit straight out of NFL Films Vault. You can hear the old voice of NFL Films, John Facenda, talk about the frozen tundra or the steel curtain defense with a photo of a toothless Jack Lambart. The defensive front owned the line of scrimmage with Namir Coleman[@namir_coleman] blitzing from multiple angles, running sideline-to-sideline, making plays in the backfield, and forcing a fumble. Matheus Kaminski Cordeiro [@matkcordeiro] and the rest of the defensive line consistently were in the backfield. Dylan “Showtime” Hoskins [@showtime_dylan3] added an interception, and LB Micheal Onorata [@OFFICIALMJ_11] capped things off with a scoop and score. This defense is well-coached and flies to the football.
Special Teams
Special teams made their presence felt; blocking a punt, pinning one inside the five, and hitting a 27-yard field goal before halftime. They even pulled off a perfectly executed onside kick recovered by the kicker Caio Lacerda [CaioPL9]. Kick coverage was solid, and Amari Allen [@_4tiiiimes] nearly broke a kickoff for a touchdown. Outside of one missed extra point, which was corrected by a two-point conversion, this unit delivered impact and energy.
Coaches Spotlight
Defensive Coordinator Joshua Katz (@CoachJoshKatz) has his group playing fast and physically, bringing pressure from all angles with athletes who are executing! Offensive Coordinator Narlin Clancy [@NarlinClancy] runs an aggressive scheme that threatens defenses vertically and horizontally with any route combination in the book. While I am not sure who runs special teams, that coach deserves a lot of credit, the Warriors’ special teams unit is disciplined, opportunistic, and clearly well-prepared. Together this staff compliments Coach Thompson’s vision and gives the Warriors an edge in all three phases.
Play Design Note
One concept they ran is very similar to what I use in my own playbook. It is a great design for a QB who can read the field. I use this as a two-route post-snap read with #1 and #2 working in sync as one read, and #3 functioning as a pseudo second option. This play has a ton of counters that the Warriors possess. This play was wiped out by a false start, though I did not see it on film. Either way, it’s a big hitter play design #salute.
