12 Things Harvard-Westlake's Football Team Must Do to Be Successful

1. Harvard-Westlake has to get into the spirit of being on a comeback. Last year, the Wolverines made a big jump from the lightly regarded Del Rey League and the Northwest Division to the larger Mission League and Western Division, and the results were not great – a 2-7-1 overall record, a last-place finish and a streak of six consecutive losses to end the season.

2. The Wolverines need to stay healthy. Injuries killed Harvard-Westlake last season, and the team again is not going to be as deep as league favorites Serra of Gardena or Chaminade of West Hills. At one point last season, about half of the original starters were injured.

3. Coach Vic Eumont must be a great motivator. It’s no fun when you’re expected to finish last again – and that’s the case in the Mission League this season – so the veteran coach needs to find a way to get the most out of his players.

4. Chad Kanoff needs to come through with a good season. As a sophomore last season, the quarterback wrestled away the starting position from returning senior standout Max Heltzer, and Kanoff passed for a total of 863 yards and eight touchdowns. He needs about 2,000 yards if Harvard-Westlake is going to be competitive.

“Chad handled the offense well in a scrimmage on Wednesday, both passing and running, and he made some good decisions,” Eumont said.

5. Jamias Jones needs to break out. He looked great as running back and return specialist last season before injuring an ankle – his 95-yard kick return for a touchdown was one of the biggest plays of the year – and this is his year to shine.

6. Harvard-Westlake needs to start 2-0. The first two games are the toughest of the nonleague season, as the Wolverines play host to City Section power Venice next Friday, followed by a home game against Fairfax of L.A. on Sept. 9, and if the Wolverines succeed, it would be a great way to get things going.

7. The Wolverines must play excellent pass defense, especially when Mission competition begins, and that means returning all-leaguer Charlie Porter and Cameron Komisar need to step up. Otherwise, there are going to be some long nights against Cathedral and quarterback Hayden Rettig, St. Francis and quarterback Jared Lebowitz, Chaminade and quarterback Logan Scott, et al.

8. Tommy Oser and Ducan Shalfot need to block like crazy. They’re two key returnees on the offensive line, and everyone knows football games are won in the trenches.

9. Alex Cadiff needs to do a lot of things. Every time your turn around, he will be playing a different position – running back, receiver, middle linebacker – and he is the kind of scrappy player who would evolve into an inspiration for the whole team.

“He’s doing it all,” Eumont said.

10. Jack Tempo needs to fill some big shoes. He is the new kicker, replacing Will Oliver, one of the area’s top kickers the past two seasons. Oliver is now at Colorado.

11. Andrew Green must be a leader. He’s a senior three-year starter on the defensive line – a position that defines toughness.

12. Most important, Harvard-Westlake must not be intimidated by the likes of Mission powers Serra and Chaminade. It won’t be easy, but perhaps brains can win over brawn.