CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – 2026 is a pivotal year for West Creek High School football following a difficult 1-9 campaign last season. As the Coyotes look to turn the page, they’ll also carry the memory of offensive lineman Joshua Farmer, who passed away in May.
Farmer was a cornerstone of the West Creek program and a steady presence through years of change on Coyote Trail. One of head coach Michael Booker’s toughest and most passionate players, he left an impact that extended far beyond the football field. As the Coyotes begin a new season, Booker wants his team to honor Farmer’s memory with the way they compete.
“Farmer was one of our most aggressive guys, one of the guys we called ‘Beast.’ That’s going to be a big hole to fill, and I don’t know if we’re ever going to fill it, but we’re going to represent this team this year for Joshua Farmer,” Booker told Clarksville Now. “We shed our tears. We mourned for him. Now it’s time to go out there and play some real good football for him.”
The urgency to improve from last season is already evident just days after the TSSAA dead period ended. West Creek has brought energy and intensity to practice, so physicality shouldn’t be an issue with one of the bigger teams in Montgomery County. Still, culture was the biggest issue last season, and finding the balance between demanding toughness and building players up will be key to turning the program around.
“I know when to be a coach and when to be a daddy,” Booker said. “It’s the same thing I always tell them: I’m going to yell once, hug twice. That’s just what kind of program we are.”
West Creek made one of the best coaching additions of the offseason by hiring former Northeast assistant Shaheen Eversley as offensive line coach. Booker said the Coyotes’ offensive line has been held back not by a lack of talent, but by a “lack of coaching.” With Eversley’s arrival, he believes the unit can finally play up to its potential and give West Creek’s playmakers more opportunities to succeed.
Quarterback Jose Gutierrez-Arroyo could be the biggest beneficiary after battling injuries throughout his junior season. Defensively, the secondary could be West Creek’s strongest position group, led by senior Trevian Anthony and Clarksville Now’s Player to Watch.
Clarksville Now player to watch: Chris Hercules
Chris Hercules embodies the culture Booker is trying to establish more than anyone else on the roster. The senior defensive back plays with a chip on his shoulder and brings relentless intensity every day. He’s a physical safety who can come downhill and make tackles, but also has the instincts and ball skills to line up anywhere in the secondary.
“I love giving 100% effort, no matter what it is,” Hercules said. “Whether it’s a drill, team period or just running sprints, I’m going to give 100% effort. I’m a team player. Anything that can help my team win and help us get to the playoffs this year and have a better record than last year, I’ll do it.”
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There’s little doubt Hercules will make an impact defensively after recording five interceptions during Clarksville High’s 7-on-7 event earlier this week. He also impressed at running back during practice, and if he earns carries during the regular season, he has the potential to become a game-changing offensive weapon.
Clarksville Now record prediction: West Creek 3-7
West Creek faces an uphill climb in Region 5-6A while also taking on some of the top teams from Region 7-5A. The front half of the schedule is especially difficult, making it challenging for a team trying to build confidence early. Maybe the Coyotes can claw their way back toward .500 after a difficult start, but it’s tough to see them overcoming the schedule.
You can burn down a forest in one night, but you have to plant a lot of trees to get it back. Right now, West Creek is in the process of planting trees.
Last season exposed issues that Booker believes started at the top and trickled throughout the program. Those are the kinds of problems that aren’t fixed overnight. This season will answer a lot of questions about the future of West Creek, and perhaps playing for something bigger than themselves can bring this team together along the way.
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