#SWARM - RELOADED

[moose141]

Re: #SWARM - RELOADED

Great to see that your defense was able to really put together a pretty solid shut down performance in the second half! No question that BJ is always going to get you to the 30+ point mark, but having your defense actually limit your opponents is the real key. Great to see that against a really strong opponent. I would expect you to handle ECU, but they're been a thorn in your side for the last few years so you need to be on upset alert!

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - RELOADED

B.J.'s Big Day: Henderson sets school records as Swarm edge out ECU

572, 7 scores for Henderson as run game goes MIA -- Major questions remain about offensive line

Report by Isaac Robinson | October 4th, 2020

B.J. Henderson tore up the ECU secondary

Westlake, OH -- "I hate playing those guys. Hate it," said Dion Barkley minutes after his Swarm eked out a narrow win in yet another high-scoring game against the ECU Pirates, taking this year's matchup by the score of 45-42.

You really wouldn't think this game was close if I told you that B.J. Henderson set Westlake State single game records for passing yards (572) and touchdowns (7) on 30 of 33 passing. And yet, somehow ECU stuck around for 4 quarters, forcing 3 turnovers at opportune times and nearly completing a late rally to send the game to OT after the Swarm thought they'd locked it up.

How? Well, the Pirates held the Swarm to just 36 rushing yards on 29 tries, by far the worst rushing performance of Dion Barkley's tenure in Westlake. This included 7 sacks, giving Henderson a cool -33 rushing yards on the day, offsetting his career day through the air with his worst ever on the ground.

Westlake State went up 14-0 early, with Henderson completing his first 9 passes for over 140 yards and 2 scores, but he threw a lazy pick to a lurking Stephon Dawson to set up an ECU score, before an Eric Monroe fumble had the same result a few minutes later. Westlake State would then score 21 unanswered, aided by a pick of their own, and both teams scored 7 in the 3rd to make it 41-21 Swarm heading into the 4th.

Henderson finds Eric Monroe deep

ECU scored, and then Henderson passed Justin Young's single game passing record of 481 yards, reaching 485 on a 28 yard toss to Eric Monroe, before breaking his own record of 6 passing scores from last season by finding Josh Roach from 14 yards out for TD number 7.

The Pirates scored again, with Dallas DeLoach getting open deep for a 50 yard score, but with just over half a quarter to go, and holding a 14 point lead, Westlake State put in Barrett Phillips. Phillips is expected to start next season, and he didn't do much to get the Swarm faithful excited, throwing a bad pick, taking away the Swarm's shot at a field goal that would have definitively sealed it.

Instead, Dan Davis decided to get hot, completing 5 of 7 passes for 92 yards on a quick touchdown drive, forcing Henderson back into action to seal the win.

He got it done, but not without some theatrics: He fumbled the ball on a scramble which Adam Washington recovered, and then thanks to a false start and a sack, faced a 3rd and 23. Barkley went conservative, dialing up a screen, but freshman back Aaron Jefferson was able to bail out the Swarm, using his athleticism to beat defenders to the sideline for a 45 yard gain to ice the game.

"We've gotta do better late. We have to. We beat the #10 team in the nation last week, shut their [expletive] down for 3 quarters on D," said Henderson. "I don't mind mistakes, I made some today, but I do mind a lack of effort, we have to hold each other accountable. That said, I'm glad to be at 4-0."

Once again, the offensive line comes into question, with Henderson going down 7 times, and Westlake State's running backs being stuffed at or behind the line several times. It worked out today, but the Swarm can't rely on 3rd and long conversions all season.

Henderson was under constant pressure, often before he even finished his dropback

Westlake State travel to Louisiana next week to face off against freshman head coach Scottie Slaughter, who has the Green Wave sitting at 3-1.

Photo Gallery

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - RELOADED

Great to see that your defense was able to really put together a pretty solid shut down performance in the second half! No question that BJ is always going to get you to the 30+ point mark, but having your defense actually limit your opponents is the real key. Great to see that against a really strong opponent. I would expect you to handle ECU, but they're been a thorn in your side for the last few years so you need to be on upset alert!

You were certainly right about upset alert! They always keep it close with us, I can't imagine what'd happen should they get some actual talent haha. B.J. went absolutely nuts as you can see from the recap, but sadly the defense collapsed down the stretch. Ah well, a win's a win.

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - RELOADED

Top Stories

Boomer Sooner! -- In the biggest game yet this season, Oklahoma toppled Texas 45-28 in Austin behind a 303 yard, 4 touchdown performance from Bill Johnson to move to #2 in the top 25, while knocking their bitter rivals down to #7.

SEC Clash -- LSU beat up on Florida 44-13 in a huge game that showed what both teams are made of. Tailback Josh Fitzpatrick ran for 141 yards and 4 scores on 24 carries.

Gut Punch -- #4 Alabama suffered an unthinkable 42-20 blowout loss on the road at Army. This loss all but guarantees an 8th year without a national title for the Crimson Tide. We could be looking at the end of Alabama as a true powerhouse. Florida State suffered their second upset loss in a row, as the Seminoles were demolished 42-21 by 3-1 Maryland.




On The Bubble: Missouri, Tennessee, Florida State, USC, Texas A&M, Houston

Top 25 Dropouts: Florida State (#16), Texas Tech (#25)



POTW

NCAA Offensive: B.J. Henderson (QB, Westlake State) - 30/33, 572 pass yards, 7 TD

NCAA Defensive: Matt Martin (LOLB, New Mexico) - 10 tackles, 6 TFL, 2 sacks, FF, FR

AAC Offensive: B.J. Henderson (QB, Westlake State) - 30/33, 572 pass yards, 7 TD

AAC Defensive: Marvin Hayes (ROLB, Marshall) - 11 tackles, 5 TFL, 2 sacks, FR

Week 7 Marquee Matchups

#4 Minnesota (4-1) @ #15 Northwestern (4-1)

Tennessee (4-1) @ #7 Texas (3-2)

#9 Stanford (5-0) @ #22 Washington (3-1)

Florida State (3-2) @ #5 Miami (5-0)

CAC Results

HC Amir Cohen (Kalispell, young22)

L (3-2) 10-37 @ UNLV (3-2)

B. Jackson: 14 tackles, 4 TFL, sack

Next week: @ SDSU (3-2)

OC Jon Dobzinski (#11 Illinois, joshuahuskers)

W (4-1) 38-31 @ Michigan State (1-3)

N. Fields: 13/23, 246 pass yards, 2 TD, 85 rush yards

Next week: BYE

HC Scottie Slaughter (Tulane, Careless Whisper)

W (3-1) 42-25 @ Louisville (3-1)

J. Maxwell: 16/28, 220 pass yards, 3 tot. TD

Next week: vs #18 Westlake State (4-0)

HC Deuce Vader (Memphis, Deuce2223)

W (3-2) 49-45 @ Cincinnati (2-3)

D. Taylor: 24/32, 271 pass yards, 4 TD, 76 rush yards, TD

Next week: vs Marshall (3-1)

DC John Smith (ECU, parent22)

L (3-2) 42-49 @ #18 Westlake State (4-0)

A. Mansfield: 7 tackles, 4 TFL, 4 sacks

Next week: vs Arkansas State (1-3)

[johnstone1987]

Re: #SWARM - RELOADED

POTW

NCAA Offensive: B.J. Henderson (QB, Westlake State) - 30/33, 572 pass yards, 7 TD

[moose141]

Re: #SWARM - RELOADED

ECU man! Always causing you so much trouble. Thankfully BJ went superhuman in this game, but even he can't escape a turnover or two despite the record setting performance. Good to escape without being upset! Another win or two and Westlake will be creeping up towards the top ten for sure.

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - RELOADED

ECU man! Always causing you so much trouble. Thankfully BJ went superhuman in this game, but even he can't escape a turnover or two despite the record setting performance. Good to escape without being upset! Another win or two and Westlake will be creeping up towards the top ten for sure.

I HATE ECU's offense. My God. It's this gimmicky spread with tons of motion and read option, so annoying. It's a good thing BJ decided he was gonna pop off, because if not we might have lost that one. I'm really angling for 13-0 and a BCS berth, I think we can run the table from here on out as long as we keep up this amazing pass game.

POTW

NCAA Offensive: B.J. Henderson (QB, Westlake State) - 30/33, 572 pass yards, 7 TD

Love it!

Thanks for commenting guys!

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - RELOADED

Westlake State Football Staff Communications

From: Head Scout Wendell Hearn

To: Head Coach Dion Barkley

Subject: Recruiting

Hey Coach! Congrats on being ranked, love to see the program succeeding.

With B.J. Henderson gone next year, QB is the key spot. We don't have a surefire starter, but I've got some guys here who could be our next star.





We have a better shot at Rose, who's given us a verbal commit, but Warren is a far more polished prospect. Rose is similar to what Barrett Phillips was coming in.



McLaughlin could be our next QB's blindside protector, and he's also a verbal commit.





Johnson and Brown will be solid rotational players, and maybe even starters at some point.



Matt Johnson is a great player, but we have Ibrahim Dudley, plus Johnson is leaning towards Kentucky ever so slightly.

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - RELOADED

Report by Isaac Robinson | October 7th, 2020

Swarm pick up quartet of O-linemen, looking for QB of the future


Westlake State's top target is the Hun School's (NJ) QB Kenny Warren

Westlake, OH -- Westlake State are on a high, sitting at 4-0, ranked for the first time in school history, and fresh off of a record-setting performance from B.J. Henderson.

But Henderson's a senior, and will be off to the NFL in just a few months. Barrett Phillips is unproven, and looked bad in his lone drive against ECU. Kevin Houston is OK, but won't ever be a star. So who's the next B.J.? Westlake State hopes it'll be Kenny Warren, a prep school QB from Idaho by way of New Jersey. Warren certainly has the size: he stands 6'3, same as Henderson, and weighs in at 202, just 7 pounds lighter than Henderson at the same age.

But that's where the similarites end. Warren isn't the athlete Henderson is, running a reported 4.6 to Henderson's 4.47, and doesn't have anywhere near the arm. Warren is much more of a high-end game manager than a playmaker. He won't throw picks, but he won't throw bombs either. Warren's floor is higher than what Henderson's was, but his ceiling is also lower.

Option #2 is Zach Rose (6'5, 213, 3*) out of Melvindale, MI. Strong armed, but inaccurate, Rose profiles similarly to Barrett Phillips, but he's much less mobile. He's a project.

But neither of those guys are committed, so let's talk about G Sean Williams (6'4, 286, 3*), T Nic Robinson (6'8, 304, 3*), G Joe Lee (6'4, 302, 3*), and C Shane Butler (6'2, 301, 3*) who are. Robinson is a physical specimen who needs work, whereas Williams and Lee are more polished, less athletic players. Butler was fairly well-rated, but has had a poor senior season. It's anyone's guess how good he'll be.

We'll have more recruiting news for you as it comes.

[moose141]

Re: #SWARM - RELOADED

What’s the playbook ECU is using, the actual ECU playbook or something else? Would like to take a look at that haha.

Exciting signings, definitely needed more OL depth, and the QB prospects are certainly challenging to say the least. Going to have to decide if you want to turn into a more standard offense that at least has the option of a deep ball or a dink and dunk squad with a mobile guy.

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - RELOADED

What’s the playbook ECU is using, the actual ECU playbook or something else? Would like to take a look at that haha.

Exciting signings, definitely needed more OL depth, and the QB prospects are certainly challenging to say the least. Going to have to decide if you want to turn into a more standard offense that at least has the option of a deep ball or a dink and dunk squad with a mobile guy.

Standard ECU. Pretty cool book, tons of motion, jet sweeps, options, and quick hitting passes.

I think I'm gonna transition into more of a pro style offense as the line gets better. Add some Ace and I in there, more shotgun forms, and ditch the pistol (maybe keep a couple sets.) With Henderson gone, ball control is gonna be huge since we won't be putting up 40 a game.

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - RELOADED

Y3 G5 Preview - @ Tulane

Head to head: These teams met back in 2018 on a rainy afternoon in Westlake. Tulane won that game 33-16 as B.J. Henderson threw 3 picks and no touchdowns.

Coach Barkley's Take

Scottie Slaughter's done a hell of a job with this Tulane team. They went 1-11 last year and 3-9 both years before that. They're sitting at 3-1, as Slaughter's spread, ball control offense has allowed the Green Wave to control games so far this season.

JJ Maxwell is the X factor. He's a very talented QB who doesn't always make good decisions, definitely has gunslinger tendencies. His main weapon is senior Joel Parks, a pure possession guy who thrives on short routes. They've got solid tailbacks, and we saw what Chris Duckett can do 2 years ago when he broke off a 33 yard touchdown run against us.

They're solid defensively. Tim Parks is an elite safety, and they've got some front 7 playmakers. I wouldn't expect another 500 yard passing performance, we'll have to lean on the run more today.

We should win here as long as we keep our foot on the gas.

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - RELOADED

5 on the trot for Swarm as they down Tulane 31-21

Report by Isaac Robinson | October 11th, 2020

Quiet day for the offense as Henderson held to just 204 passing yards, Monroe nonexistent -- Landrum, Jefferson leave game, both expected to miss significant time

Robert Coley makes a touchdown grab in the 4th to put the game out of reach. He's already up to 9 receiving scores on the year.

New Orleans, LA -- Westlake State rode a 21 point second quarter and a stellar defensive performance to their 5th win in a row, moving them to 5-0 in 2020. B.J. Henderson was relatively quiet, with just 204 passing yards and 45 rushing yards, but did still account for all 4 Swarm touchdowns on the night.

Tulane were a different kind of test for Dion Barkley's men: a ball-control offense that thrives on running the ball, completing short passes, and eating up clock, the polar opposite from the boom or bust, high-tempo offenses that seem almost ubiquitous in Group of 5 college football nowadays.

"It was a good scheme, I liked it," said Barkley of first-year head coach Scottie Slaughter's offense. "I respect a more old-school game, especially from a young guy like that. [Slaughter is 26, the joint-youngest FBS head coach] I was glad to be able to be a bit more methodical and not feel like my pants were on fire all game."

No one scored in the first quarter, as each team punted thrice, with Henderson starting off terribly, completing just 1 of 6 passes for 4 yards in the opening frame. The Swarm got it going right away in the second though, as Henderson turned a bootleg into a 20 yard gain, before a 22 yard pickup from Aaron Jefferson got the Swarm past midfield and jolted this offense to life. Henderson would find Xavier Meeks in single coverage a few plays later for a 28 yard touchdown to open the scoring.

J.J. Maxwell proceeded to throw a pick, making a head-scratching decision to force the ball in the direction of a double-covered Joel Gray, and Kevin McFarland came up with his second pick in as many games. The Swarm took full advantage, with B.J. Henderson picking up his first rushing score since the season opener at Boise State, running it in from 10 yards out on the 4th play of the ensuing drive.

What was Maxwell thinking?

Tulane would finally get on the board, riding a few big chunks to a scoring drive, capped off by true freshman tight end Rashaun Fisher catching his first college touchdown. Westlake State fired right back though, scoring in just 6 plays (another rushing score from Henderson) after a good return from Frank Nelson started them off at the Tulane 48.

After that explosive 2nd quarter, things slowed down. Tulane scored a touchdown in the 3rd, ending a long drive with a great QB draw call that caught the defense off guard on 3rd and goal, and Westlake State managed only a field goal.

A missed Tulane field goal and a couple of punts ate up some time, and the score was 24-14 early in the 4th, Westlake State ball. A score here would just about end it, and the Swarm got it, with Henderson making a terrific throw from a collapsing pocket on a 3rd and 12, finding Robert Coley for a 27 yard touchdown to cap off a 9 play drive.

Game over. Tulane scored once more to make it 31-21, but it wouldn't be enough.

The Swarm leave with a win, but it comes at a cost: Tailback Aaron Jefferson and corner Mark Landrum both left the game in the second half and did not return. Jefferson has reportedly fractured his tailbone, and Landrum's knee was dislocated on a tackle he made in the 4th. They're both expected to miss upwards of 6 weeks, and may not play again this year.

Westlake State return home to play 2-3 Cincinnati next week.

Photo Gallery

[Careless Whisper]

Re: #SWARM - RELOADED

Not the flashiest win, which is funny to say about a game where Henderson goes for four touchdowns and no turnovers. Nice to see the defense step up and really lead the charge there!

[Deuce2223]

Re: #SWARM - RELOADED

5-0 off to a great start. Now the question is can you keep it up and will BJ go out as a National Champion?