Jul. 5—TRINITY — What’s next? That’s the question the West Morgan football team is asking itself ahead of the 2025 season.
Since head coach Drew Phillips arrived in 2021, each season has been about being better than the one before.
After going 5-5 in his first year, Phillips led the Rebels to a 10-2 season and the second round of the playoffs in 2022. In 2023, he led them to a 12-1 record with their first undefeated regular season since 2002 and first quarterfinals appearance since 1994.
Finally last season, after setting a school record for wins in 2023, they broke that record, going 13-1 and reaching the semifinals for the first time in school history.
Now, as Phillips enters his fifth season with a 40-9 record and a school-record 82% winning percentage, it’s fair to wonder: What is next?
“The thing that we say every year is maximizing our potential,” Phillips said. “Next is just the same mentality that we started with, and that’s one day at a time, one rep at a time.”
“Each year we’ve looked at what stopped us short the previous season: what couldn’t we overcome? I think we’ve done a good job in the offseason of creating an environment of adversity that helps us learn how to overcome those hurdles,” Phillips added. “If you don’t end the season with a blue map, then there’s always something to learn.”
If you follow the pattern, then it’s easy to answer what’s next for West Morgan. With a second round appearance in 2022, quarterfinals in 2023 and semifinals in 2024, the obvious answer would be a trip to the state championship.
A championship berth is certainly on the table. The Rebels return key players such as quarterback Titan Partlow (1,887 yards passing, 26 TDs, 2 INTs as a sophomore), running back MaCarri Johnson (1,402 yards rushing, 27 TDs) and linebacker Cole Thorn (90 tackles, 18 TFL, 5 INTs).
However, for Phillips, the answer to what’s next isn’t simply about what round the Rebels will finish.
“I think the cool part of what’s next is the program aspect,” Phillips said. “We’ve been fortunate to win a lot of games so far in my time here, but now what’s neat is seeing players from those past teams come back and want to continue to be a part of the program. They want to help mentor our young players.”
Phillips said his goal when he was hired was eventually to build a program, not just a team. Five years later, even he admits it’s further along than he would have dreamed.
“Seeing the community buy in, seeing the excitement, it’s greater than I ever envisioned,” Phillips said. “I always wanted a program that the community would be proud of and would want to be a part of, and I think we’ve created that.”
With success though comes expectations, and after 40 wins in four seasons, expectations are as high as they’ve ever been.
Five years ago, a state championship seemed like a pipe dream, but now it’s the ultimate goal.
“The expectations have been raised every year. When I took the job, I didn’t know it would be that way, but I’m sure glad it is,” Phillips said.
— caleb.suggs@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2395. Twitter @CalebSuggs2