Here's why Watterson football is The Dispatch's Boys Team of the Year
Although the Watterson football team fell short of winning its first state title since 2010 and third overall, the Eagles had numerous reasons to celebrate in 2023.
Watterson (14-2) reached the Division III state final, losing to Toledo Central Catholic 27-7. The Eagles started 9-0 and outscored their first 15 opponents by an average of nearly 25 points per game.
Senior linebacker Dominic Purcell made a state final-record 21 tackles against Central Catholic, capping a season in which he was district Defensive Player of the Year, state co-Defensive Player of the Year and a Mr. Football finalist.
Watterson was named The Dispatch’s Boys Team of the Year during the Central Ohio High School Sports Awards on June 20 at Mershon Auditorium. Purcell also was named Football Athlete of the Year.
Coach Brian Kennedy, who was The Dispatch’s All-Metro Coach of the Year for football, recently reflected on what his team accomplished during his seventh season in charge and throughout his tenure.
Q: What are some of the important things you have learned during your tenure at Watterson?
A: Even though I was older, at first, I thought I was going to come in and I have all these great ideas, I’m going to flip a switch and we’re going to be fine. I didn’t know what I didn’t know. There were a lot of growing pains. I appreciate the administration. They seriously could have fired me that first year it was so bad (going 2-8), but they stuck with me, so it’s worked out. A major thing I’ve learned is you can draw up the greatest offensive or defensive scheme on the whiteboard. You can have the greatest mind ever, but if you can’t execute, it doesn’t matter. The offensive playbook has shrunk. The defensive playbook has shrunk. It’s all about kids understanding what they’re doing and just go play fast.
Q: Is the team still celebrating its accomplishments from a season ago?
A: No, it’s over. We go at 6 a.m. for workouts. (June 3) was our first day. I had a quick talk with the kids, 10 minutes. I said that was a great season, but it doesn’t mean jack squat. All that means is every team that we play has us circled because we went to the state championship game and now everybody wants a piece of us.
Q: What did the class of the 21 seniors from last season mean to you and the program?
A: That was a great group for us. When you look at the last four years, that was the group that got us back to who we are and where we need to be. All those kids in some way contributed to everything we did and the success we had. We have some big holes to fill.
Q: How is your team handling what appears to be a busier offseason for football programs with expanded 7-on-7 opportunities?
A: We have so many kids that are two- and three-sport athletes that we didn’t do anything in the spring. We had guys lifting that weren’t in spring sports, but if someone would have invited us to a 7-on-7 (in the spring), I don’t know if I could have gotten seven guys. ... We can’t do that stuff. Good for all those schools that can. It’s not something for us that we’ll ever take advantage of probably. I don’t want to have football-only kids.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Watterson High School football is Dispatch Boys Team of the Year
