It’s time for War Eagle football!

Team is looking to make a championship run

War Eagle Jeremiah Thomas picks off a Madison pass and returns it to midfield. On the next play, the War Eagles would score on a pass from Haden Klees to Delvon Zanders. PHOTO BY GERALD BROWN


Quarterback Haden Klees scrambles out of the backfield.


First play in the preseason game: War Eagle Nehemiah Chandler returns the opening kickoff for a touchdown.


Students in the student section. Stands were packed.

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN Editor

This year’s War Eagle team is loaded with weapons.
And speed.

“There are big hopes,” says Head Football Coach Scott Klees, who adds: “I think we have the ability make a run for a state championship.”
A talented team and some high expectations. The potential drawback is whether the team has the depth behind the starters to make a run.
How good the backups play with determine how far the War Eagles can go in the season and playoffs.
Last year’s run ended when then-junior quarterback Haden Klees (son of the coach) suffered a season-ending injury – a broken collarbone. (Well, not completely season ending: he did come in for a series or two later in the season with that broken collarbone when backup QB Owen Klees, his younger brother, was taken out of a game after the referee thought he may have suffered concussion. With no other real option, Coach Klees sent Haden into that game and says now that he could feel his wife’s eyes from the stands boring into him. Haden was pressured in that game but threw the ball away rather than take any hits – much to the coach’s relief.)
Before Haden’s injury, the War Eagles were 7-1, ranked No. 2 in the state, and with Haden among the top quarterbacks in the state for passing. In only eight games, he amassed some gaudy numbers  throwing for almost 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Haden, who has committed to Samford University, says he’s ready.
(And Coach Klees says this year Owen is ready to step in if his brother goes down. “Owen’s ready to go,” Klees says. In most programs, Owen would be the No. 1 quarterback, the coach says.)
A lot of the passes thrown last year went to receiver Samron Brinson, who had 707 yards receiving and 13 touchdowns.
“He faced double-coverage from other teams,” Klees says. “They knew the ball was coming to him – and he still got open!”
Both Haden Klees and Brinson were named to the watchlist for this year’s All-Big Bend Offensive Player of the Year.
On the other side of the ball, linebacker Tanner Lanier is on the watchlist for Defensive Player of the Year. Last year, he had 108 tackles and 5 sacks.
“On defense, Tanner Lanier is leader,” Klees says. “We’ll go as far as he takes us.”
Playing both sides of the ball as receiver and defensive back is Nehemiah Chandler, who is a Georgia Tech commit as a defensive back.
Slot receivers include Jeremiah Thomas, who made second-team All-Big Bend last year on both offense and defense, and Delvon Sanders. And more receivers in Gabe Carter and Devontae Roberts, who played at Rickards last year but is back at Wakulla.
And running the ball is Bradley Kelly, a bruising runner who tends to take on tacklers. (Klees says Kelly’s running style reminds him of Jerome Bettis, aka “the Bus.”)
“Any of these guys can play,” Klees says. “The problem is getting each of them enough touches.”
He adds that this is, by far, the fastest team he’s ever had. And he clarifies that he means overall team speed.)
A Klees-coached team is typically physical. Asked about that, the coach pauses and admits, “Right now, we’re not.”
But, he says, he’s working on it.
A game circled on a lot of player’s schedules is the Thursday night, Aug. 31 game in Orlando against Balboa High School from San Francisco. The game will be played at the Austin-Tindall Sports Complex in Kissimmee.
Balboa was California state champs two years ago and made a run in the playoffs last year, Klees says.
He notes that the Balboa linemen average 6’3” and 300 pounds.

Klees says that the first couple of weeks of the regular season are going to be a learning curve for players and coaches. That’s normal, but it’s exacerbated by four new assistant coaches on the staff – and Klees is still down two coaches.

SEASON OPENER
AT CHILES

This is going to be a big game, Klees says of the seasoner opener against the Chiles Timberwolves. Nine of the 11 starters on Chiles’ defense returned – and they are very good on defense.
While the Timberwolves lost some players on offense, Klees says they have “a new quarterback who’s the real deal. He’s one of the fastest kids in the Tallahassee.”
“We’ll have to play at a high level to win,” he says.”
Klees is expecting a tough game again.
“The game last year came down to overtime,” he said.

COACH'S CORNER

Wakulla Head Football Coach Scott Klees

FROM THE COACH

Scouting report: Chiles has a good defense with 9 of 11 players returning. They also have a new QB who’s the real deal, one of the fastest kids in Tallahassee.
Keys to victory: No turnovers, that’s most important. And play physical.
Last week: The scrimmage with Madison showed areas of play that need improvement.