The past few football seasons have been tough at Watson Chapel, but the Wildcats took a small step forward last year and will look to do so again this fall.
Watson Chapel won two games in 2024 under new head coach Steven Heard, which was more than the Wildcats had won in the three prior seasons combined.
Senior defensive end Keiran Smith said the Wildcats felt relieved to finally win those two games.
“It gave us confidence that we could do it,” Smith said. “We have the talent to do whatever we put our minds to.”
The Wildcats ended a losing streak which dated back to 2022 in their second game, a 19-7 victory at Crossett. A long, tough slate of Conference 5A Central games followed, but Watson Chapel ended the season by defeating Jacksonville 19-14 at Wildcat Stadium.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
That win over the Titans was Watson Chapel’s first conference victory since 2020, which was also the last season the Wildcats reached the playoffs.
Heard said the win against Jacksonville was important for the Wildcats as they entered the offseason.
“Just doing that at the end of the year, going into the offseason on a win, it just propelled us into the offseason on a good note that let them know that we can win here,” Heard said. “All it takes is hard work and (to) battle through the adversity.”
This offseason has been different from last offseason, and not only because of the win.
Heard was hired late in the school year, so the Wildcats didn’t get much spring practice. That put them behind their opponents in preparing for the 2024 campaign. Now that Heard has been there, Watson Chapel was able to have a full offseason program to get the Wildcats ready for 2025.
Senior quarterback Malachi Rayford said the Wildcats have had more time to get into the playbook and learn Heard’s schemes in more detail.
“Last year was a lot of things we kind of had to just graze upon and move past,” Rayford said. “This year, we can go in deep into every little thing that there is.”
Heard said Watson Chapel lost 21 seniors to graduation last season, so though this was his second offseason, he and his coaches have still had to spend a lot of time teaching the younger players to get them ready for their first varsity action.
Still, the Wildcats have some returning talent, too. Smith and fellow defensive end Demontae Lawrence were all-conference selections last season, as was center Brian Madden. Heard said Madden is one of three returning starters on the offensive line. Rayford is back for his second year as the starting quarterback.
Heard said sophomore Jakilynn Battles should have a great season. Battles, he said, can play any receiver or running back position on offense and any position in the secondary. He is Rayford’s backup quarterback and started against Pine Bluff last year.
Rayford said Battles and several other underclassmen have shown they can play well.
“I’m proud of them, honestly,” Rayford said. “They had a very good season last year in junior high. They get to come up and prove themselves. It’s a good feeling.”
One of the challenges Watson Chapel has faced in trying to rebuild this program is getting players to want to be Wildcats.
In the past, players have transferred out to play at other schools in the region that were having more success, making it tougher for Watson Chapel to build a winning program. Heard said in years past, as many as 10-12 players per season would leave.
He has countered that by trying to build a culture where the players want to be at Watson Chapel and want to play for each other. That work has seemingly paid off, as Heard said he lost just three players to other schools while adding two players who moved into the district.
“They are bought into the system,” Heard said. “When they come out and warm up, me and the coaching staff don’t say nothing. They warm up on their own. They come out, they have the leadership to warm up. They have bought into the system. They live and breathe Chapel right now.”