Wilson Hall hoping to get healthy for its final three region games
Barons offense is being led by quarterback Nolan Gooch
Sumter – The Wilson Hall football team already has three losses this season, more than it had either of the two previous years. However, where it matters the most – in SCISA Region 1-AAA – the Barons are 1-0.
With three region games remaining, WH head coach Adam Jarecki hopes his team can finish off the run to a region championship. To do that though, they have to overcome something.
“We've got to get our guys healthy,” said Jarecki, who has led Wilson Hall to three straight AAA state title games. I like where we’re at. We beat Florence Christian (School by a 21-17 count), a very tough team in our region. We’re sitting pretty good, but we’re beat up pretty bad.”
None of the injuries during the season have been of the debilitating variety. It’s just been ones that keep people out a few games and leads to constant reshuffling of the lineup.
“We're playing hard,” Jarecki said. “If we just take care of us we'll be where want to be. We graduated 18 last year, so we knew it would be a whole new ball game. We’ve just got to get healthy.”
The Barons, 4-3 on the season, play at Spartanburg Christian Academy on October 9 and go to Trinity Collegiate on October 23 before playing host to 7-0 Northside Christian Academy on October 30.
Junior Nolan Gooch is in his first season as the starter at quarterback. Through the first six games, he had completed 41 of 73 passes for 811 yards and eight touchdowns while rushing for 295 yards and five touchdowns on 53 carries.
“Gooch has done a nice job at quarterback,” Jarecki said.
WH has several options in running the football in its option attack. Junior Cameron Wilsey was the leading rushers with 356 yards and five TDs on 66 attempts. Junior Michael Hunter had 239 yards and two scores on 46 totes, junior Shep Vincent had 179 yards and one touchdown on 34 rushes, and sophomore Jack Gratz had 111 yards and a TD on seven carries.
Junior Blane Batt was the top pass catcher with 14 for 266 yards and two scores. Vincent had nine catches for 258 yards and four touchdowns, and Hunter had six receptions for 151 yards and one TD.
“Peyton Gilley has done a great job on defense,” Jarecki said of the senior linebacker. He led the team in tackles with 45 to go with four tackles for loss and a quarterback sack.
Senior Reese Wilson led in TFLs with five and sacks with two, while Wilsey had four TFLs among his 23 stops. Junior Wilson Mims was second in tackles with 26 while Vincent had two interceptions.
