This Week’s Q&A West Branch’s D.J. Dota

West Branch High started coach D.J. Dota’s second season at the helm with three straight losses. But those defeats came to three playoff teams — Kirtland (9-0), New Philadelphia (8-1) and Streetsboro (7-2).

The Warriors recovered from the slow start to bounce back in Northeastern Buckeye Conference play, culminating in a 35-14 upset last week of previously unbeaten Marlington, at the time the top-ranked team in the state in Division III.

Senior running back Brenden Wells rushed for a school record 356 yards in the game and holds the school career marks in touchdowns (44) and rushing yards (3,538).

West Branch, 5-4 overall and 5-1 in the NBC, plays host to neighborhood rival Salem this week and a victory would ensure at least a conference co-championship.

Q. Talk about the big win over Marlington. What was your approach going into the game, what kind of practice week did you have?

A. We told the kids that how we were going to win the game was to have a great practice week. Playing the number one team in the state was motivation enough. We talked about the daily things, what we do, how we play at 7 that night, how we practice, how we execute the game plan. We said what we do and how we do it is more important than who we play. We told them to make sure they continue to get better and we are pretty proud of what the kids did. It turned out well.

Q. What were your preseason expectations and how did the first three losses affect those?

A. Before the season we talked about winning the NBC and being a playoff team. Those first three losses stunned us, we had our backs against the wall. Yes, they are all three playoff teams and all three had tailbacks who were all-state players last year, but where we were, we talked about playing one week at a time. At 0-3 our kids could have packed it in, but they stayed the course, they believed in each other and they believed in our system.

Q. Was there some turning point when you thought that you were going to have a successful season after all?

A. The program has had four losing seasons in a row and we’ve always said that we’ve got to make the right strides. We have talked to the seniors about how it is a process and they are part of the process in teaching the young guys how to play and how to practice. We had a conversation with the seniors the Monday of Week 4 and we told them to let the 0-3 start go. We didn’t think the league was out of reach and in this league, usually if you go undefeated you have a chance at the playoffs. Those were three pretty good teams we played to start out with and we were competitive in all of them. We learned a lot from playing that type of opponent and I don’t know if we beat Marlington if we don’t play those teams.

Q. You have mentioned your seniors. Who in particular are some of the seniors who have taken on leadership roles?

A. Brenden Wells certainly stepped up as a player last week and is closing in on the school’s single-season rushing record. To do that is special considering he missed part of the first game and didn’t play in Weeks 2 and 3 because of a hand injury. Bo Utley, a linebacker, is another who stepped up as a vocal leader. We didn’t have a good defense the first couple of weeks but the guys took the bull by the horns. Jerry Sanor, a cornerback, is another one. The whole senior class did a great job leading and setting an example. Hopefully the younger guys have been paying attention.

Q. Salem has been West Branch’s closest rival over the years and considering the Quakers are winless this season, an upset would make their season. How have you been preparing for this week’s game?

A. We’ve talked this week that this is Salem’s Super Bowl game. We know we are going to get the best game they can play because of the rivalry. They will play hard, and that shows up on film, they play hard and the last couple of weeks they have been getting better. Our kids know they have to bring their A game to win. There is a lot on the line for us, playing for a league title, which West Branch hasn’t won since 2001, and the first winning season since 2007. Last week’s win won’t be as enjoyable if we don’t win this week. We told the kids they will remember a loss to Salem more than they will beating Marlington. This senior class hasn’t beaten Salem since they’ve been in high school, so they know what’s on the line.

Doug Chapin, The Vindicator