To start the season, the football team lost 41-21 in their first game against Cleveland Magnet High School. In the third quarter
of the game, sophomore starting quarterback Aaryan Mehdi Williams ’27 tore his meniscus and was substituted out of the game due to injury. Backup quarterback Ryan Davidoff ’27 took over for the rest of the game, but he was unable to kickstart a comeback for the Wolverines.
In the Wolverines’ second game against Venice High School, the football team came out victorious 20-17. After
trailing 17-0 late in the first half, they took over in the second half, scoring 20 points while shutting out their opponent. Ellis Robinson ’27 and Kurtis Walter ’27 combined for three touchdowns, and a converted field goal by AJ Salo ’26 pushed the Wolverines past Venice. Prior to the 2024-2025 season, the football team struggled. After finishing 4-5 in the 2023-2024 season, improvements proved imperative, leading to adjustments to the roster and coaching staff during the 2024 offseason. Most notably, the team
shifted to an air raid focused offense under new Offensive Coordinator Kevin Carlsen. As the offensive scheme changed, players had to adapt to the new offensive play style.
Wide receiver and safety Dylan Fullmer ’27 said the team is working on adjusting to the offensive changes implemented over the summer.
“The playbook is very different this year,” Fullmer said. “It is a 60-40 pass to run ratio. It will take practice, but everyone will learn.”
Defensive lineman Asher Taillieu ’27, a transfer from Campbell Hall, stands 6-foot-3 and is 200 pounds. He is a potential threat to opposing linemen and quarterbacks. Taillieu said he cannot wait for the season to start and is hoping the team finds success on the field.
“I’m excited to be coming to Harvard-Westlake and I hope we can have a successful season as a team and make it to the championship,” Taillieu said.
Outside of the overall team play style and game plan, Fullmer said this team connected better this year than they have in previous years.
“The team chemistry is about double last year’s,” Fullmer said. “The team really bonded during camp and we feel like a full team this year. Team chemistry and trust is extremely important for our passes and plays to develop, and when everyone is on the same
page, we feel comfortable. Trust also helps our team morale.”
Lineman Vincenzo Rabizadeh ’25 said the team is optimistic heading into this fall and that he believes their offseason training and a new team dynamic can lead the Wolverines to a winning season. Rabizadeh said their summer practies helped the team feel united, as everybody understood their role on the field going into the new season.
“The team is working well together and my hopes are high for the season,” Rabizadeh said. “Our connections have strengthened through practices and scrimmages. Our chemistry is really important.”
The Wolverines will face Burroughs High School, who are 0-1 this season, at home Sept. 6 in their first home game of the season.
