Wing-T Still in Fashion at West Deptford

During the past decade, more and more high school football programs moved away from the traditional Wing-T offense and transitioned into more of a spread look. The changes result in a lot more passes being thrown around South Jersey on Friday nights and give receivers something to do other than blocking for tailbacks.

Programs such as Timber Creek and Cedar Creek demonstrated just how good the spread can be when executed properly, piling up points on their way to championship appearances.

It appears likely that the trend of spreading things out offensively is here to stay and that more programs will transition from the traditional Wing-T in favor of a more college-oriented style. Just don’t expect that type of change to come to West Deptford anytime soon.

After all, why change something that has worked to perfection?

Operating almost exclusively from the Wing-T, West Deptford recorded a 12-0 season, winning a Group 2 title along the way.

The Eagles won back-to-back titles by doing what they do best: running the football. Whether it was Gerald Owens up the middle, Josh Cornelius at left tackle or Connor Smith taking a misdirection handoff down the right sideline, just about every running option on the West Deptford roster delivered when called on.

The passing game had it moments during both title runs, but during West Deptford’s two championship games, quarterbacks Jake Hannan and Alex Hilbmann were almost exclusively asked to hand the ball off, combining for just one completed pass.

The Eagles beat down teams by winning the line of scrimmage, thanks to strong and well-conditioned linemen.

“The O-line is magnificent,” said Owens. “They are amazing. We had a couple of injuries but we fought through adversity."

The Wing-T offense is often described as a smash-mouth style of football that uses wishbone formations and counts on tight ends, receivers and running backs who don’t get the ball to serve as blockers.

West Deptford has been so successful at this style because every time a defense thought it could zero in on Owens, Smith would burst by and gain 30 yards.

As important as the Wing-T was to the team’s success, much credit must go to the players for not entering the season overconfident after winning the championship in 2011. Folsom said the team dealt with some of those issues in the preseason, but continued to grow as the season evolved.

“The last four or five weeks, our leadership prevailed,” Folsom said. “We started playing as a team and not as individuals, which sometimes can be the case when you win a title from the year before. Each week you could just see the nucleus of the team pulling the rest of the group together.

"It’s the program that has the best team that wins the state title. It’s not about the individuals and I think that was proven (Saturday).”

The Eagles used a tried-and-true method for ultimate success, Owens said: practice.

“Everything revolves around practice,” Owens said. “You work hard on the practice field, it shows on the game field. We put in the work that we needed to put in to get to this point.”

West Deptford will graduate a talented core of seniors, but also has a host of experienced players slated to return to the field next fall. As a result, the Eagles will almost certainly be the favorite to once again repeat as both Colonial Conference Liberty Division champions and South Jersey champions. It’s a high bar, but one that has been earned and one that everyone involved with the program wants to maintain as a point of pride.

“I’m very proud of our program, our community and what’s going on here,” said Folsom.

For more on the South Jersey Group 2 championship game, see:

• Owens Leads Eagles to Group 2 Title
• Viewfinder: West Deptford Football Repeats as Group 2 Champs
• Viewfinder: West Deptford Football Crushes Cedar Creek
• Video: 'We Willed This Game'
• Viewfinder: West Deptford Marching Band Finishes 2012