#SWARM: A Westlake State Dynasty

[young22]

Quote: Originally Posted by SilverBullet19

great win against Houston, but a tough break against Buffalo. Based on the numbers, they are a really good team though.

Good to see you back man, thanks for checking in.

[SilverBullet19]

Quote: Originally Posted by young22

Good to see you back man, thanks for checking in.

thanks man, I had a couple weeks away for my wedding and honeymoon. Back to gaming and the real world, lol.

[young22]

Quote: Originally Posted by SilverBullet19

thanks man, I had a couple weeks away for my wedding and honeymoon. Back to gaming and the real world, lol.

Congrats on that bro. Grown man ****. Looking forward to seeing what happens with Sonoma.

Sent from my SM-G386W using Operation Sports mobile app

[young22]

2016 Season Recap

Westlake State continued their rapid rise in 2016, going 11-3 and finishing the year ranked #12 in the nation.

They started 3-1 in conference play, falling only to then #2 Clemson in a blowout, despite QB Joey Williams turning the ball over 14 times in those first 4 games. He set the single game record for QB rushing yards, with 347 in a win over Illinois.

The Swarm ripped up the MAC, going 8-1 in conference play, with their only loss coming in week 14, a 37-34 loss to Western Michigan. The Swarm were held under 40 points just once in their 9 MAC games, and most of that was due to the play of Williams. In 9 MAC games, Williams completed 61% of his throws for 2,282 yards, 24 scores to 8 picks, and ran for 1,506 yards and 13 scores.

There was some adversity however. Freshman Jason Berry created some locker room trouble early on when he insulted Williams and the coaching staff, feeling slighted due to a perceived lack of touches. Berry rebounded well after his 2 game suspension, and finished the year with 955 yards rushing. Injuries started to become a problem later in the year, with the team losing wideouts Ben Reid and Jeremy Poole, as well as Williams being hampered by a twisted ankle for a couple games.

Despite throwing for 3244 yards, 31 scores, and running for 2508 yards and another 22 scores, Joey Williams did not win the Heisman. That honor went to Texas senior Shane Buechele, who threw for 3386 yards, 41 scores, and ran for 724 and 7 scores. It was the turnovers that did Williams in, as he threw 20 picks and lost 16 fumbles, whereas Buechele turned the ball over just 5 times. Williams took home his second straight Maxwell, and his first Walter Camp.

The season ended with a 37-24 Orange Bowl loss to Oregon. Despite the loss, the future looks bright in Westlake.

2016 SEASON SCHEDULE AND RESULTS

Week 2 vs Mid Tenn State: W 31-17

After starting slow, Joey Williams turned it around and upset the reigning national runners-up to kick of his sophomore campaign. The Blue Raiders were held under 200 yards passing, as John Urzua stayed conservative, and was pressured by Dre'Mont Jones (6 TAK, 3 TFL, sack), Dion Goldbourne (2 sacks), and others all day. Ruben Garnett (14 carries, 87 yards, TD) was good, but Middle Tennessee didn't feed him. The Swarm were able to take advantage of their underdog status in this one, MTSU wasn't prepared.

POTG: Joey Williams - 13/22, 168 yards, 2 TD, INT, 23 carries, 166 yards, TD

Week 3 @ #2 Clemson: L 20-66

The Swarm were ripped apart, as Joey Williams (16/27, TD, 4 INT, 19 carries, 63 yards, 2 FUM) threw 3 first quarter picks, and there was no coming back from that. Clemson was up 35-17 at the half behind 2 scores from TE Max Sherman (6 catches, 66 yards, 2 TD), and a 3rd quarter fake punt for a TD took all the wind out of the Swarm's sails.

Jason Berry (9 carries, 37 yards, 4 catches, 24 yards) decided to make disparaging remarks on Twitter about Williams and head coach Davonnie Banks after this game, and was suspended 2 games.

POTG: Zerrick Cooper - 17/20, 185 yards, 4 TD, 10 carries, 79 yards, TD

Week 4 vs Illinois: W 48-28

This game was when turnovers started getting out of hand. After 6 against Clemson, Joey Williams (13/24, 151 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT, 38 carries, 347 yards, 3 TD, 3 FUM), turned it over 5 more times. But, Williams ran for 347 yards, a new single game record for a QB, and his 5 total scores were enough to overcome the turnovers. Despite passing for 300 yards, Daniel Santacaterina (29/44, 300 yards, 2 TD) only put up 28 points on the Swarm, and one of those scores was as time expired. Michael Freeman (6 TAK, TFL, 2 DEF) dropped 2 easy picks in this game, one of which would have almost certainly gone back for 6. Dre'Mont Jones (3 TAK, 2 TFL, sack) continued to be disruptive.

POTG: Joey Williams - 13/24, 151 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT, 38 carries, 347 yards, 3 TD, 3 FUM

Week 4 @ #23 Houston: W 45-38

This was another case of a team coming in unprepared to play the Swarm. #23 Houston had a ton of weapons, and coming in, looked like they'd rip apart the Swarm. But they scored just 10 offensive points through the first 3 quarters, despite 3 Joey Williams (13/23, 158 yards, INT, 32 carries, 266 yards, 5 TD, 3 FUM) fumbles in the first half. Williams made up for the fumbles, running for 4 scores in the second half, including a 60 yarder.
Bowman Sells (25/40, 254 yards, 3 TD, INT) led a 4th quarter rally, but ultimately the Cougars came up short.

POTG: Joey Williams - 13/23, 158 yards, INT, 32 carries, 266 yards, 5 TD, 3 FUM

Week 7 vs Buffalo: W 48-9

This one was ugly. Jason Berry came back from suspension and ran for 161 yards and 2 scores on just 15 carries. Dre'Mont Jones had a school-record 5 sacks, and the Swarm as a team had 8. Corner Michael Freeman was disruptive, deflecting a pass and forcing a fumble. Joey Williams (17/26, 180 yards, 2 TD, 20 carries, 153 yards, 2 TD, 2 FUM) continued to have fumble problems. At this point he had fumbled 10 times in 5 games. He fumbled 10 times in all of 2015. Ben Reid had a career day, with 9 grabs for 124 yards and 2 scores.

POTG: Jason Berry - 15 carries, 161 yards, 2 TD

Week 8 vs Eastern Michigan: W 40-34

This is a game that shouldn't have been close. The Swarm turned it over 6 times. All of them were on Joey Williams. (9/20, 215 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT, 26 carries, 190 yards, TD, 3 FUM). The secondary allowed EMU QB James Pensyl to complete 34 of 43 passes for 309 yards and 2 scores, picking him off once. But Ryan Doyle (13 TAK, 4 TFL, 2 sacks) and Louis Lloyd (13 TAK, 4 TFL) kept the run in check, holding EMU under 150 yards on the game. Rob Lane came up with the pick on a Hail Mary attempt. Davonnie Banks expressed frustration with Williams postgame. Here's the quote:

Quote: Originally Posted by Davonnie Banks

Joey needs to get it together. Bottom line. We can beat up on MAC teams because we're better athletes, and more talented. Joey is the type of athlete to go #1 in the draft. But he needs to relax, and make reads, not just chuck it and hope for the best, because that's what it looked like today. We can't beat top teams if we turn it over 6 times. We should've won that game by 30+.

POTG: Ryan Doyle - 13 TAK, 4 TFL, 2 sacks


Williams lets it fly

Week 9 vs NIU: W 52-14

Joey Williams (14/23, 306 yards, 5 TD, INT, 23 carries, 192 yards, TD, FUM) heard Davonnie Banks' message telling him to get it together loud and clear. Williams sliced up NIU, throwing for 300 yards for the first time this season, as well as a school-record 5 scores, as he found Chad Cotton 6 times for 205 yards and 3 scores, in a breakout game for the true freshman wideout. NIU's Avery Thompson threw for just 160 yards on 21/28 passing, as the Swarm were all over anything deep, with Michael Freeman (5 TAK, 2 TFL, INT, DEF) finally getting his first pick of the season.

POTG: Joey Williams - 14/23, 306 yards, 5 TD, INT, 23 carries, 192 yards, TD, FUM

Week 10 @ Ohio: W 41-33

Ohio were surprisingly good. They scored first, as Quinton Maxwell (34-41, 376 yards, 4 TD, INT) found Kody Harris (6 catches, 96 yards, 2 TD) in the back of the endzone. Westlake State scored 17 unanswered, as Joey Williams (15/28, 189 yards, 3 TD, 23 carries, 198 yards, 2 TD) threw and ran for a TD, then led his team to a field goal, but Ohio scored 10 points in the last 50 seconds of the first to tie it up at 17 heading into the half.

The Swarm were having none of that, scoring 21 unanswered in the 3rd, with Williams passing for 2 scores, and running another one in. Ohio would outscore the Swarm 16-3 in the 4th, but it was too little, too late as the Swarm continued to roll.

POTG: Joey Williams - 15/28, 189 yards, 3 TD, 23 carries, 198 yards, 2 TD, FUM

Week 11 vs Ball State: W 55-17

The Swarm avenged their 68-34 loss at Ball State last year, with their starters putting up 55 in 3 quarters, as Joey Williams (16/29, 242 yards, 3 TD, 26 carries, 188 yards, TD) was locked in. Jason Berry went for 134 yards and 2 scores on just 12 carries, including a 68 yards score where he went untouched.

But the most impactful player was perhaps FS Matt Schneider. Schneider picked off Dennis Plitt (23/54, 363 yards, 2 TD, 4 INT) 3 times, and took one back for 6. He stopped several drives before they even began.

Malik Dunner, who ripped up the Swarm for 150+ yards in one half last year, was held to 85 yards on 16 carries this time around.

POTG: Matt Schneider - 7 TAK, 3 INT, TD

Week 12 @ Central Michigan: W 65-48

This was the most offense packed snow game I've ever seen. CMU actually led after the 1st quarter, 20-14. The Swarm came back to outscore them 20-7 in the second, making it just a 1 score game heading into the break.

CMU QB Jake Johnson carved up Westlake's secondary for 469 yards and 4 scores on 40/59 passing. He was picked off twice, once by Michael Freeman (5 TAK, 2 TFL, INT), and once by Gregory Black (3 TAK, INT).

Westlake State didn't punt once in this game, as 2 Joey Williams picks (20/32, 368 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT, 22 carries, 221 yards, 2 TD, FUM) were the only time their offense left the field without points. Jason Berry ran for 3 scores, and had 49 yards on 14 carries.

POTG: Joey Williams - 20/32, 368 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT, 22 carries, 221 yards, 2 TD, FUM

Week 11 at Akron: W 63-21

The Swarm returned to InfoCision Stadium, where they played home games in 2013 and 2014, and demolished Akron. Dime corner Jarvis Chavez (TAK, INT-TD) stepped in front of a screen, and took it 56 yards to the house on Akron's 4th offensive play. After a punt, Joey Williams ( led a drive that was capped by a passing score to Chance Skinner, who had 128 yards and 3 scores on 5 catches.

Another pick-6, this time the first in the career of Michael Freeman (4 TAK, INT-TD) really ended the game. The Swarm would go on to score 28 more points in the quarter, as Skinner caught another TD pass, Jason Berry (12 carries, 69 yards, TD) ran for a score, Joey Williams (11/18, 171 yards, 3 TD, 11 carries, 104 yards, TD) ran for one, and finally FS Matt Schneider ran one in from 17 yards out on a wildcat play.

The Zips actually tied the second half, 14-14, but the damage had been done, as the Swarm won their 10th straight game.

POTG: Chance Skinner - 5 catches, 128 yards, 3 TD

Week 14 vs Western Michigan: L 34-37

I knew the Swarm would drop at least one game they shouldn't, and here on Senior day, they lost a tough one to Western Michigan. Westlake State came out sloppy, and WMU ripped them apart in the first half, racing out to a 17-3 lead behind the arm of Jon Wassink. (34/41, 388 yards, 2 TD, 13 carries, 82 yards, TD) Westlake State finally scored a TD in the 3rd, as Chance Skinner (6 catches, 124 yards, TD) made a tough grab in the endzone, but WMU scored just 31 seconds later, on a Davon Tucker run. (15 carries, 31 yards, TD)

The teams swapped field goals, and the score was 27-13 WMU after 3 quarters. Jason Berry (10 carries, 80 yards, 2 TD) sprung a big 36 yard score that gave the Swarm some life, and after a Wassink rushing score, Williams drove down the field and found Chad Cotton in the endzone on a 3rd and goal from the 3. The Swarm got a stop, but on their next drive were faced with a 3rd and 10. Williams rolled right, shed a sack, and found Chance Skinner 58 yards downfield, to set up a rushing score from Jason Berry.

But, with 32 seconds left, WMU were able to get downfield, after a Louis Lloyd facemask set up an easy 34 yard gamewinning field goal.


Chad Cotton's spectacular TD grab tied it with 32 seconds to go

Joey Williams suffered a twisted ankle in this game. (Basically, I edited down some of his attributes for the MAC title game)

POTG: Jon Wassink - 34/41, 388 yards, 2 TD, 13 carries, 82 yards, TD

MAC Championship Game vs Western Michigan: W 45-20

With a twisted left ankle, a hobbled Joey Williams (21/34, 352 yards, TD, 23 carries, 151 yards, 3 TD) put together possibly his best performance of the season, and brought Westlake State their first ever conference title.

With 2 rushing scores in the first quarter, Williams appeared unbothered by his ankle injury. WMU scored once in the quarter, a passing TD to Rodney Graves. (4 catches, 45 yards, TD, 2 drops)

A big second quarter would put all the momentum on the Swarm's side and effectively end this game prematurely. Down to the Swarm 17 yard line, Jon Wassink (26/38, 328 yards, TD, 2 INT), looked to the end zone, but it was Swarm safety Matt Schneider who would come up with that jump ball. Westlake State capitalized, with Joey Williams capping off their drive with his 3rd rushing TD of the day, breaking his own Westlake State single-season record from a year ago.

On the Broncos' next drive, Wassink once again made a poor throw, and this one was picked off by Jarvis Chavez, who would take it 97 yards to the house.

It was over from there. WMU tacked on a rushing score before the half, but Westlake State outscored them 17-6 in the second half.

POTG: Joey Williams - 21/34, 352 yards, TD, 23 carries, 151 yards, 3 TD


Davonnie Banks and the Swarm are presented with the MAC trophy

Orange Bowl vs Oregon: L 24-37

We all knew Westlake State would lose this one. The upstart MAC team wasn't even supposed to be conference champions, let alone go to a BCS bowl. But timely big plays swung games for them, and they found themselves playing #7, 11-1 Oregon in the Orange Bowl.

It started off terribly for the Swarm, with Dillon Mitchell (2 catches, 78 yards, TD) catching a screen pass, slipping a tackle, and going 68 yards for a quick score. Joey Williams (17/37, 254 yards, 2 TD, 4 INT) would throw a pick, and Oregon QB Travis Jonsen (16/18, 174 yards, 2 TD) had a short field to work with, and found Tyrone Wallace (4 catches, 49 yards, TD) 5 plays later for a 4 yard score.

But the Swarm would rip off 10 straight points after a field goal, then a Matt Schneider (9 TAK, FF) forced fumble that set up a 63 yard drive which would end with a Jason Berry (9 carries, 55 yards, TD) rushing score.

Oregon kicked a couple field goals, then true freshman Raishawn Moore (10 carries, 97 yards, TD) broke a tackle and took a dive 46 yards, making it 27-10 in Oregon's favor.

Westlake State made a valiant comeback effort, with Williams throwing 2 touchdowns to Chad Cotton. (6 catches, 130 yards, 2 TD) But another pick iced the game, as Oregon would score another touchdown, then get a stop and kick a field goal.

Davonnie Banks had nothing but praise for his team.

Quote: Originally Posted by Davonnie Banks

I ain't got nothing but good things to say about these guys. We were supposed to be OK, maybe 8-9 wins, maybe compete for the MAC, but we won 11 games, got ranked, and made a BCS bowl. Out of our entire team, we only lose like 5 starters. We'll be even better next year, and Joey will get his Heisman.

Jason Berry spoke publicly about his Twitter incident for the first time, expressing his gratitude that he was allowed to play, and showing his support for Joey Williams.

Quote: Originally Posted by Jason Berry

I'm glad I was able to come back and play this season. I said some things that were dumb, that were out of frustration after a loss. I ain't really talked about it, I don't really want to, but since y'all keep asking me, that's what i'll say about it. Joey is a special player, him not winning the Heisman is wild to me. I was a bit disrespectful to him, but we good now.

Swarm Team Awards

MVP: Joey Williams

OPOY: Joey Williams

DPOY: Dre'mont Jones

Iron Man: Louis Lloyd

Offensive Achievement: Joey Williams, Jason Berry, Chad Cotton

Defensive Achievement: Dre'Mont Jones, Louis Lloyd, Matt Schneider

[young22]

Season stats, awards, stat leaders from around the nation, All-Americans, CCG and bowl recap coming later tonight if I get my essay done quick. Offseason maybe tomorrow, if not probably not until next weekend.

Also, the way I'll do it from now will be Week 1-8 recap, a recruiting update and Around the Nation, then a recap of Week 9-Bowl Week.