In just the fourth year of its existence, North Webster High School’s football program finds itself in the midst of an historic season.
When the plan to consolidate the schools in the northern part of Webster Parish went into effect, it wasn’t exactly met with open arms. However, things have worked out pretty well.
This year North Webster (10-3) finds themselves in the semi-finals after a jaw-dropping performance from Devin White (347 yards, 4 TD’s) last week against Patterson. Now, they’ll go up against the same Amite team they met in last year’s final game.
A win would send the Knights to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and the support from northern Webster Parish has been humbling for coach John Ware.
“It’s monumental,” Ware said. “We haven’t really talked about it in that sense. We know we’re making history as we go but we’re trying to keep the focus on this game. No matter what happens we’ve had a great football season. You don’t get these opportunities very often. They don’t come around very often.”
The opponent for the Knights will look mighty familiar.
Amite has a lot of the same players back from last year’s team that defeated the Knights, 34-19. Ware said that this year’s Amite team is built to run the football and play smothering defense.
“They run the football on offense,” Ware said. “If they can sit there and run on you that’s what they’ll do. If they have to pass they’ll spread you out. Defensively they’re very, very good. They’re not giving up many points at all on the season. They have athletes and they can go.”
North Webster will counter with a stingy defense of their own and another lethal dose of Devin White and company.
“Everything’s right there in front of us,” Ware said. “When you get to the semi-finals everybody is good so you have to play your best. If we can do that I think we have a good shot.”