FLORIDA TOP 25 PREVIEW: No. 19 Western Wildcats team preview

With the 2022 high school football season here we are previewing the Top 25 teams in our Florida Top 25 rankings that we have already debuted on Varsity Sports Network’s Florida Gridiron Report last week. Rankings for the Florida Top 25 will be updated each Wednesday night on the Florida Gridirion Report and on FloridaHSFootball.com along with all classification rankings.

NO. 19 WESTERN WILDCATS

Head Coach: Adam Ratkevich, 8th year

Classification & District: 4M-13

2021 Record: 9-3

Key Athletes: QB Collin Hurst, Sr; OT Roger Reyes, Sr; WR Santana Fleming, Sr; SS Josh Joseph, Sr; CB Jojo Jean, Sr; OL Justin Bodford, Jr; LB Kaleb Stewart, Jr; K Kristian Hobbs, Jr

2022 Schedule

Kickoff 7:00 PM ET unless noted

* – Denotes District Game

Thu. 8/18 (Preseason) – Parkland Stoneman Douglas

Thu. 8/25 (Week 1) – Johns Creek, Ga.

Fri. 9/2 (Week 2) – BYE WEEK

Fri. 9/9 (Week 3) – @ Coconut Creek

Fri. 9/16 (Week 4) – Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas

Fri. 9/23 (Week 5) – @ Coral Springs Taravella*

Fri. 9/30 (Week 6) – @ Sunrise Piper

Fri. 10/7 (Week 7) – @ Plantation American Heritage, 7:30

Fri. 10/14 (Week 8) – Weston Cypress Bay*

Thu. 10/20 (Week 9) – Miramar

Fri. 10/28 (Week 10) – at Coral Springs Coral Glades*

Fri. 11/4 (Week 11) – Plantation

Season Outlook: Western has become one of the most feared teams in Broward County the last few years under Coach Ratkevich’s leadership and once again will have Hurst’s leadership after earning FloridaHSFootball.com first-team Class 8A All-State Honors. Hurst will be part of Ratkevich’s dynamic spread offense that could be one of the best in the state this year. However, one of the biggest areas of concern will be the special teams that Coach Ratkevich feels needs improvement on despite having one of the best kickers in the state in Kristian Hobbs. Overall, the Wildcats have a chance to be in the running for the Class 4M State Championship but will have a tough path in Region 4 in order to get there in 2022.