Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

WEST BRANCH – For the second consecutive season there are significant changes for the West Branch football program.

Matt Hughes takes over as head coach replacing John Nestor who led the program for one season and West Branch makes the jump to Class 2A after reaching the 1A playoffs each of the past 17 seasons.

Those are some notable changes for one of the most consistent programs in the state.

While the new coach and move up in class are significant changes a subtle change in offensive approach is one that West Branch players believe will help the Bears improve on a 3-7 season from a year ago.

“Coach has put a lot of emphasis on running the ball this year,” West Branch senior lineman Michael Montgomery said. “Running the ball is going to be a big focus his year.”

Hughes dedication to the run game has been music to the ears of the 13 returning starters on the West Branch roster.

Particularly Montgomery, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound two-way lineman that will lead West Branch offensive and defensive lines.

“It’s going to be fun,” Montgomery said. “Sometimes it’s nice to get a little break from pass protection with the run. I like getting people off the ball and making holes for our guys.”

West Branch has long been a program predicated on a power running game.

The Bears averaged 208 rushing yards per game while reaching the 1A semifinals and going 11-1 season in 2022.

That number dipped to 171 yards per game during a 6-4 season in 2023 and West Branch averaged 82 yards per game while going 3-7 last season.

“The last few years it was kind of like we were getting teased when we were practicing because we thought we were going to run the ball a lot and once we got in the games it wasn’t run all the time,” West Branch senior running back Cooper Gates said. “This year I think we are going to be a lot more physical team and run the ball a lot more than we have.”

Gates rushed for a team-high 492 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 5.8 yards per carry last season.

Keaton Gates, a 5-foot-10, 165-pound junior and Cooper’s younger brother is expected to be heavily involved in the run game this season after rushing for 165 yards and a touchdown while averaging 4.6 yards per carry last season.

“With myself, Cooper and (Conner) Capper we have guys that can run the ball,” Keaton Gates said. “I think we can be really good so it should be fun.”

The running game starts with a mindset and the guys up front.

Montgomery is expected to anchor a re-built West Branch offensive line that will also feature converted tight end Lincoln Naber (6-2, 220) and seniors Bodee Morehead (5-10, 210) and Finn McCollough (6-0, 215).

“We have to be able to control the trenches,” Hughes said. “We have to be good on the offensive and defensive lines in order to control the game and do everything we need to do.”

Talent and experience returns at the skill positions for West Branch.

Seniors Brennen Dale (6-1, 175) and Nolan Staker (6-3, 180) both started games at quarterback last season.

Dale threw for 265 yards and rushed for 40 yards and a touchdown and Staker threw for 372 yards and five touchdowns.

The top four pass catchers from last season return led by Capper (5-11, 185) who had 25 receptions for 212 yards, Brandon Pedersen (6-1, 175) who caught 15 passes for 330 yards and seven touchdowns and Olivier Trepanier (6-1, 180) who caught 14 passes for 157 yards.

“We need to be tough and play hard,” Keaton Gates said. “We have the talent and we just need to be a team and play hard.”

Seven of the top eight tacklers return from last season led by Cooper Gates and Capper at linebacker who combined for 117 tackles last season.

Keaton Gates led the Bears with two interceptions last season, Naber had 10 tackles for loss and four sacks and Trepanier had 31 tackles.

All will be key parts of a West Branch defense that should be improved after allowing 308 total yards and 29.8 points per game last season.

The expectation is for West Branch to get back on track following last year’s uncharacteristic three-win season.

“We’ve done some team goal setting and I was interesting to see where they were going to come out and they have big aspirations,” Hughes said. “They know what the tradition is at West Branch and they know the mark that they want to leave and they are not leaving any stone unturned right now. They are doing all the little things that they need to do in order to have a great season.”

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