By Chris Mackie

The Clemmons Courier

Standing on a practice field, surveying the swarm of young men in the West Forsyth high school program this season, varsity head football coach Adrian Snow was decidedly low-key when asked to assess the 2014 prospects one day into the official preseason campaign.

“Not too bad – I see some promise in a few areas,” mentioned Snow on the rain-soaked turf during an unseasonably cool Saturday morning. “But it all comes down to how well we work as a team. If we get the kids to understand that, we have a realistic chance.”

The chance Snow referred to is the one all football coaches and teams aspire to in early August — a chance to win every regular season game, a chance to win the conference title and a chance to go deep into the state playoffs.

With the exception of a seven-point loss to East Forsyth in week three, West accomplished all of those things in a memorable 2013 season. Led by a strong defense, the Titans went unbeaten in Central Piedmont play, reached the third round of the 4AA playoffs and finished with an overall record of 12-2.

The first steps towards extending that level of success were taken during assorted workouts and camps this summer. The first test to see how the Titans stack up will take place next Monday night. West Rowan, a traditional 3A powerhouse will visit West for a preseason scrimmage that begins at 6 p.m.

Titan fans who aren’t able to attend that scrimmage will get another chance to see the team in action later next week. They play host to Watauga in a scrimmage on Thursday night. That matchup will also begin at 6.

West will open the season later this month. They travel to meet A.C.Reynolds on August 22nd. 

At left, returning varsity quarterback Darian Slade hands the ball off to Ryan Anderson during a preseason drill. Above, Titan coach Adrian Snow instructs a group of offensive linemen. — Photos by Chris Mackie