2024 Preview: West Ashley Wildcats

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1249843' first='Davion' last='Kinard-Taylor'] couldn't bring up the 2024 season without first mentioning how the last one ended.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Ashley was bounced from the playoffs in a second-round game at Carolina Forest in which the Wildcats appeared to have come back from a 21-point halftime deficit, only to have the would-be game-tying touchdown in the late going waved off for an offensive pass interference call.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's a painful finale for a team that felt it had a ton left in the tank.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Our determination this year is to make sure that never happens again. We've got to be more consistent, trust in ourselves,” said Kinard-Taylor (pictured), a senior defensive end. “We've got to keep fighting and lifting each other up and not be scared.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It also motivated the players themselves to take advantage of one of their coaches' best strength.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Building strength.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Donnie Kiefer, himself a longtime weight lifter, has made considerable gains in the weight room his offseason M.O. It's now really playing out for most of a team that saw him take over the program at the height of the pandemic and weight room time was limited.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's no longer an issue, as evidenced by offensive lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1254118' first='Daniel' last='Dounian']</strong> winning a title at the state strength meet earlier this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dounian, though, is only one returning starter on the line. He's joined by <strong>Jimmy Jones</strong> at guard, center <strong>Matt Atkinson</strong> and tackle [player_tooltip player_id='875795' first='Hampton' last='O'Donald'] - not to mention <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1295646' first='Jude' last='Claborn']</strong> at tight end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Their biggest job will be opening holes in the running game while simultaneously protecting quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1254089' first='David' last='Dounian']</strong> and a budding passing game hopes to be much more of a factor this time around.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We've always been able to run the ball. But we've been a little bit one-dimensional,” Kiefer said. “We'd spread people out to run, but we weren't very effective throwing the ball.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If the Wildcats can pressure opponent that way, there's no reason to believe this team won't eclipse its six wins from last year and have the potential for an even better playoff run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1254089' first='David' last='Dounian']</strong> QB, 2025 - After starting the 2023 season as a backups, he was pressed into duty thanks to an injury. All he did was rush for 1,080 yards and 11 touchdowns while mixing in another 770 passing yards and seven more scores. Most impressively? No interceptions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1254118' first='Daniel' last='Dounian']</strong> OL, 2025 - With as much as West Ashley pulls guards, Dounian is a ferocious blocker and a true interior anchor. His skill sets will be even more valuable as the Wildcats break in some new varsity tailbacks after graduations depleted the running back room.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1249843' first='Davion' last='Kinard-Taylor']</strong> DL, 2025 - One of the more highly anticipated players on a stacked defense, Kinard-Taylor had 24 tackles for loss and seven sacks in 12 games as a junior. He's showing even more of a burst than he was and could be in line for some statewide accolades.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1253927' first='Jacob' last='Adams']</strong> K/P, 2025 - West Ashley's brand of football has led to 13 games decided by single digits during Kiefer's tenure. Adams is a weapon who at some point will determine a game late with either a well-placed punt or a big field goal.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='367827' first='Bristol' last='Biegenzahn']</strong> DL/OLB, 2026 - One of our favorite players on this squad, Biegenzahn has a length that makes his abilities stand out that much more. He'll occasionally sub in at tight end, where his reach is also a threat. But his spot on the defensive edge adds some serious flair to the defensive and makes West Ashley that much more dangerous.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18000966/6546785d0dbff90aacece30e' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6680b17f2b841"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BIGGEST LOSS(es)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Roman Hamilton</strong> LB - Hamilton's graduation leaves the Wildcats searching for someone to pick up the slack from his team-leading 90 tackles, and nine tackles for loss.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1274260' first='Bryson' last='Bowers']</strong> LB/RB, 2026 - Bowers is a sophomore with good size who in line to get reps on both sides of the ball as part of a plan to rotate players in and out as much as possible to preserve depth.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tyler Burnette</strong> WR/KR, 2025 - While Burns is a returning starter in the slot, he should dwarf his 2023 production (13 receptions, 153 yards) after building chemistry with the rest of the offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1295653"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6680b17f2d1a2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ranew, who led the team with 194 receiving yards last year, will be looked at to do more than just spread defenses for the running game. He's got excellent hands in traffic and a familiarity with quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1254089' first='David' last='Dounian'] after the two were thrown into action together a year ago. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18097422/653536359a90eb0ad4ae322e' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6680b17f2d1d8"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->