Captain Ryan Gold (6) - Big, physical, and tough, Ryan is the cornerstone of the Westwood Defense. When it was time to vote on captains towards the end of last season, Gold acheived a unanimous vote for captain. A superb leader, he is able to inspire his teammates to work just as hard as he does in practice and on the field. Few teams in the TVL would dare to run up the middle against the middle linebacker who benches no less than 300 pounds. For some, it is terrifying just to hear him yell, "TEN JUMPING JACKS" during warm-ups. Ryan is the kind of person that one is just glad to have on his side.

 

 

Captain Kevin O'Connor (88) - Along with Ryan Gold and Brian Kelly, Kevin is a captain of the Westwood football team. Easily one of the tallest, fastest, and strongest kids on the team, he is a well-rounded athlete. Also the senior class president, Okie displays his courage and prowess in the classroom as well as in the huddle. Kevin is quite a handful for any offensive tackle in the league. If you are strong, he will rush off the end and disrupt the backfield quickly. If you are fast, he will get by you through pure force. Kev is watched by quarterbacks and punters around the league, as more than once they have felt his wrath through painful sacks and blocked punts. Kevin is another cornerstone of the Westwood defense, which has only allowed 9.8 points per game through 4 games.

 

 

Brian McDonald (60) - Parallel to Kevin at DE is Brian McDonald. BMac is strong but silent, and would rather speak with his actions on the field. When teams double team Okie, BMac is sure to wreak havoc on running backs behind the line of scrimmage. The tandem of Okie and BMac forces offenses without decent tackles to keep tight ends or blockers in the backfield, making the secondary's job a lot easier. Missing last year's season due to a broken leg, Brian returns this year after long workouts and rehabilitation to become a greater force in the inpenetrable Westwood D.

 

 

Nick Sestito (2) - Short and Stout, one might normally expect Tito to be a cornerback instead of a linebacker. In fact, he once was a decent corner, until one fateful day. Already disliked by then DB coach Coach Ferguson, he dived for the ball instead of the receiver in a JV game, allowing the player to score. He never took the field again as a defensive back again. Reports indicate that his name was dead last on the depth chart, below even the freshmen. In training camp this year, Nick has finally found his niche. He goes to prove that size doesnt matter in football, its heart that counts. Sestito may not be big like Ryan Gold, but he plays physically and fills the right holes at the right time. Running backs everywhere are confunded as they cant see the guy that tackled them on a run up the middle.

 

 

Kevin Morrison (75) - This 300 pound nose tackle for the Wolverines is the epitomy of the word, "beast." Teammates refer to him as the "Night Train," not because of racial prejudice, but rather due to his silent assassin type tackles. Teams don't prepare for him in their gameplan, but immediately regret it afterwards. Running backs don't even know what hit them until K-Mo's immense mass is removed from their flailing bodies on the ground. However, Westwood frequently runs a 4-4 defense, in which Kevin is forced to sit out. Always a fan favorite, one loud cheer from the den can only mean one thing: here comes the Night Train.

 

 

Matthew White (22) - Matt has been Coach Hallion's prodigy student since freshman year. With countless years of Pop Warner experience under his belt, (a figurative belt, it is common belief that he does not own any belts.) Whitey has been through more grueling hours of double sessions than most of us have lived. In freshman year, his talents were quickly recognized and got playing time on the varsity level along with such characters as Amadeus Guerrero and Jason Urdang. In fact, he amazingly skipped JV time altogether. This year, Matthew becomes a key player in Hallion's complicated defensive scheme, as his speed can be utilized to blitz unsuspecting quarterbacks.

 

 

Nick Laham (52) - Nick is the brother of the legend himself, Chris Laham, so naturally we know the same fantastic blood runs through his veins. Nick has been compared to the likeness of a bear, with abnormal growth for his age and full grown facial hair that grown men only wish they had. Be careful when you line up against Bear, for there is a certain danger you may get mauled. The injury-prone Laham also punts and kicks for Westwood, often pinning offenses deep in their own territory.

 

 

Matt Shanahan (41) - Matt is a lovable, kindhearted person who also causes pain and suffering to offenses. When he bounces his head from left to right, he looks like a friendly jack-in-the-box. However this jack is less than friendly, like the ones in the horror movies where it pops up with a mean grin with an axe and murders your children in their sleep. That only happens to opponents, though. In practice, and in the locker room, anyone can get along with Shanny; people can disregard his history and what he does on weekends. Allegations in the past have arisen over whether or not he actually has syphyllis, and over whether or not he enjoys the company of men. But they were all in good fun. (or were they?) Shanahan starts at outside linebacker for the Wolverines, on a manhunt for quarterbacks and their families.

 

 

Andrew Mellor (55) - Andrew is frequently refered to as "Goose" for God knows what reason. Teammates also use Spanish to mess with him, for a reason beyond comprehension. "Me llamo Goose, me gusta flocking" - Tito. "Me llamo Goose, me gusta mating con otros geese." - Kevin O'Connor. "Me llamo Goose, me gusta Indian chicks." So what does all this mean? If you're wondering this, so is Mellor. Just a few thoughts in his brain: What are they saying? Why are they laughing? Who is this "Goose" character? Mell may be out of it sometimes, but on the field he gets his wits together. An expert linebacker, he was largely responsible for Westwood's plogging of Norton's star running back John Norcott in Week 5. He is not afraid of hitting and shows no trepidation or recognition towards anyone. Let's hope he remembers the way back to the locker room.

 

 

 

Ryan Walsh (21) - Walshy is the younger brother of Westwood's speedy back Connor Walsh. Ryan was blessed with good looks, even more so than his brother. From the first day of practice, he was beloved by all the seniors as if he were a pet iguana. His prowess on Kickoff and Punt earned him the nickname "CREETCH" later turned "SCREETCH." From Wikipedia, the term "creature" is a colloquil word for "animal" or sometimes "monster." It also refers to a legendary thing that is created by a creator diety. The more you think about it, the more Creech satisfies these conditions. Truly, he is created by a higher being, set loose to wreak havoc on anyone he meets. In two years, his name will be feared around the league as the Legendary Wildebeast of the Woods in the West. He even has a play named after him now (the punt block). When asked by Coach Hallion whether or not the name offends him, he did nought but make creature sounds. Seniors keep asking him to do something to which he flatly replies: "no"; I am still waiting to see what that is. Ryan is also a diehard Lost fan, so diehard that he once sent a foolish, foolish man to the General Hospital after being told that Sawyer was gay. The man lies in a vegetative state and will likely never be able to poop properly again. Lawful action is unable to be taken because assault is defined as "a crime of violence against a fellow human being." Creech may be a creech but he has a good soul and is a good friend. His monstrocity will be vital to the Wolverine's D next year.

 

 

Tom O'Connor (24) - Starting at cornerback as a junior last year, Tom proved to coaches that his talents are indispensable. A quick decision maker, Okie will without a doubt get to the ball in a split second. It is when he gets there that is the problem. Tom must have some Rosenberg blood in him, because a football is made out of pigskin. His apparent repulsion to catching the football can't be helped, so lets all have some toleration. Westwood may seem like a racist town, but we are all good people on the inside. I mean, the KKK passed out those flyers all over Massachusetts, right? Not just ours? And some people applied for membership, only as a joke, right? Tom will play out his last year at Westwood High at cornerback and starts in doubles.