Arianna Peper
Junior Editor/Business Manager
Webster’s football team played its first home game on Moss Field, after the renovations were completed, on Friday, Sept. 6. Webster defeated Hazelwood West High School with a score of 15-13.
Before the game started, a ceremony celebrated the opening of the field. At this ceremony, three of the largest donors to the project (Adrian Clayborn, Dave Peacock and Bill Johnson) were recognized.
Athletics director Chris Johnson said construction on Moss Field involved a complete tear down where the bleachers, track and football field were slightly moved back to create more space. In total the project cost around $20 million and was funded by donations as well as tax dollars from members of the community.
Renovations on Moss Field first began in the spring of 2023 which meant the football team had to have its home games at Kirkwood and practice on the grass field by Hixson.
Head varsity football coach Conner White said, “We definitely had to be flexible and adaptable. It was a new thing for us as the staff and for the players. I thought the players handled it as best they could.”
The construction on Moss Field officially ended around late August which allowed it to be open to use for the football season as well as other sports.
Senior Patrick Brown, who is in his fourth year on the team, said, “It’s pretty motivating [to have a new field] because it feels like the community’s really invested a lot into us.”
Johnson said, “It’s gorgeous, lots of different groups are really going to be able to benefit from it, and I think it’s just a sense of pride within the community now.”
Junior Owen Capoccia, who is in his third year playing for the team, said, “It means a lot to everyone on the team just because a lot of people in the community have put so much money and effort into getting this new field.”
Around 2,000 people attended the opening game at Moss Field against Hazelwood West.
“What stood out to me is the support from the community and the audience turn out. Webster has proven to be one of the most loyal fan bases especially throughout the past few years,” junior Will Travers, who is on his third year on the team, said.
About winning the first home game, senior Sean Keegan who is on his fourth year on the team said, “It means everything– it means a lot that the whole community got to witness it and that we have 100% win percentage on the new field, which I think is pretty cool starting off on a strong note.”
White said, “It was an ugly win, but even then again it is still a win. We definitely didn’t play to our full potential, but there were a lot of good things for us to build off of finishing the game and our kids played hard. I was really happy that in front of a home crowd like that we were able to come away with a win.”
Keegan added, “We could’ve played a lot better, and I feel like we should’ve played a lot better and put up more points but our kicker– Eli (Weikel, sophomore,) bailed us out and special teams did too.”
Other players agreed, saying that their win at that game was due to their defense and special teams.
Travers said, “The way we were able to beat Hazelwood West was 100% the defense and special teams. We have some of the best coaches who we believe in as much as they believe in us.”
Brown said, “Everyone was really invested in each other. Our defenses played super well and so did our special teams. Our kicker scored a game-winning field goal and that was super exciting.”
Currently, the team holds a win-lose ratio of 2-2 after winning 42-35 at their most recent game against Northwest High School. The team is still continuing, however, to make improvements and set goals for the rest of the season.
Travers said, “I’ve been following Webster football since I was born, and I’ve had multiple brothers play. I’ve seen many athletic Statesmen teams lose because of our own coaching, but I can say confidently that none of the players would rather play for any other team, community or coaching staff.”
“We, as players, are all in on Coach White and what he’s doing for the program,” Travers added.
Feature Photo: Varsity football lines up to start a play in the home game against Hazelwood West High School on Friday, Sept. 6. Webster won 15-13. Photo by Sam Enlund
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Arianna Peper–News/Opinion EditorThis will be Arianna Peper’s second year on ECHO staff. She made several contributions while taking journalism class her freshman year. |
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