MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The Trinity Christian football team has many remarkable young players suiting up every week in the fall, but among them could be a true rising star. That young man is sophomore Levi Teets, a receiver and free safety who helped lead the Warriors (4-3) to their first winning season in program history.
“I thought it was pretty successful, we doubled the [number] of wins we had last season with three less games,” Teets said. “I feel like we’re moving in the right direction, and if we would’ve beat Wahama then we would’ve maybe had a chance to sneak into the playoffs, which is amazing for a second-year program.
“Last season, starting 2-0 then losing eight-straight games I don’t think anyone expected this season to go as well as it did.”
Teets, a 2020 all state honorable mention recipient, was crucial for TCS in every game whether getting big defensive stops or pulling in clutch third-down catches. On offense, he accumulated 396 yards and six touchdowns in the air on 32 catches, an average of 12.4 yards per reception and 56 yards a game. He was sophomore QB Drew Boczek’s main target, helping Boczek nearly hit the 1,000-yard mark. Teets was also a big factor on special teams, leading returners with 121 yards on nine returns – nearly half of the team’s total yardage.
But the real magic was on defense, as Teets led the defense with two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and four interceptions. His defensive prowess is one of the best in single-A, a good sign for the coming years. To him, though, none of his accomplishments would have been possible without his teammates and the coaching staff.
“I wouldn’t be able to do it without the rest of the defense and receivers, and especially without Drew giving me the ball in certain situations,” Teets said. “The coaching staff, they really have made improvements offensively and defensively with the play calling. Our tendencies have gotten better. It’s just such an improvement from last year, so I can’t take any credit for it.”
Though humble, Teets can and should take credit for the work he’s put in. According to first-year head coach Chris Simpson, Teets is one of the top leaders of the program and a player he puts a lot of stock in.
“He’s the piece back there at safety, he’s really doing everything,” Simpson said.
The expectation for Teets and the Warriors, according to Simpson is still “full steam ahead,” but with the understanding that younger players will still get a shot within the system when applicable. For a system that’s essentially been run by young players thus far, Simpson wants to hold onto that for future classes.
“The year-end number for us will never be the true marker because there’s going to be those moments where you get the freshman in the game to get experience or get them playing a new position because you’re up a few touchdowns,” Simpson said. “So the year-end number may not be exactly right, but the experience will never change.
This is all on top of a season that was highly affected by COVID-19. Monongalia County was one of the worst when it came to the spread of the virus, going in the red on the first Friday of the season. Before that, though, Teets and his teammates hit the weight room when allowed, as well as grinder out routes to make sure they had Simpson’s playbook locked down. And while the season ended short of a playoff appearance for the Warriors, Teets now begins to look to the future. He noted he will continue to put in the work to continuously improve his game, focusing heavily on strength and conditioning, as well as route running to make them more crisp and defined.
“With as low of numbers as we have, we all have to be in the best shape possible,” he said. “I’m going to try and continue to get better, be a dominating wide receiver and defensive back throughout every single game the next two years. I’m going to try and lead the team to a state appearance and see what we can do when we get in the playoffs.”
And about making the all state list?
“It’s a blessing. I worked hard to pick it up from my freshman season where I did do some stuff, but it wasn’t to the level it was this season. As I said, my teammates put me in the right situations to fill the lane, make good plays – I just have to thank my teammates and coaches.”
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