WEATHERFORD ROOS
Less is more
Pointing at his printed out schedule in his office, Weatherford’ s newest head football coach emphasized,“ Aug. 28.” Marshall Williams’ first game at the Roo helm against Burleson Centennial is the beginning of a new era for the program, and with all optimism, a long one.
Win a district championship. Practice on Thanksgiving. Win a state title. Those are three goals set by Williams for a team that has missed the playoffs the past three seasons. In 2025, the Roos went 1-9.
For those who brush off the idea, recall Joey Florence’ s arrival to Denton Ryan after a 1-9 season for the Raiders in 1999. By the end of 2002, Denton Ryan won 42 games across three seasons and claimed back-to-back state championships.
Turnarounds are possible, and Williams experienced it first hand. Taking over a Keller Timber Creek program that went
18 FIRST DOWN 2026
3-7 in 2019, Williams helped the Falcons to multiple postseason trips and totaled seven wins in his final season before joining Lovejoy as its offensive coordinator.
Along with stops at Burleson, Brewer and Southlake Carroll earlier in his coaching career, Williams has brought his knowledge, but more importantly, his excitement to Weatherford.
“ He didn’ t ease into it,” said running back DJ Quimby about his coach’ s sudden impact on arrival.“ He took the time to know each and every one of us on a personal level.”
The destination of Roo Nation was a goal of Williams for a while, he admitted. One of only 19 6A teams with a singular high school to represent a town, he’ s ready to give Weatherford a winner it so rightfully deserves.
Where the process begins for the Roos is in simplicity and efficiency. Putting in three hours of work into two hour practices. Within that time frame, Weatherford isn’ t disguising what it’ ll do on either side of the ball. Thirty plays is what the Roos strive to perfect before Aug. 28.
What the program will hang its hat on in 2026 is buying in and being willing to do whatever it takes to win. Williams emphasized being humble and hungry, which will make a roster care for each other and very dangerous to stop.
Among the roster is the integration of many JV players from a team that went 7-2 last season. Players like quarterback Braelyn Jones work their way into a starting role, joining the likes of Quimby and wide receiver Jakob Hemphill.
On the other side, defensive end Quinton Martinez starts to build rapport with a lot of new faces that are hungry for a starting spot on varsity.
Quimby smiled when asked about the