The Bethany Bronchos are quickly climbing the Class 4A high school football rankings and they’re doing it thanks to the success of their dual quarterback system of seniors Taylor Heim and Cale Wetwiska.
The dynamic duo have been a nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators to gameplan against. Heim is 6-5, athletic, and a threat to score every time he runs the ball. Wetwiska is an accomplished, 6-2 pocket passer that can really air it out.
The Bronchos have started the season 3-0, averaging 40 points per game in convincing wins against Jones, Oklahoma City Marshall and Woodward. They’re currently ranked sixth in Class 4A according to Prep Redzone Oklahoma.
“They’ve been as good as they can be about it this year,” stated Broncho head coach Jon Arthur about the two splitting time at quarterback. “It’s never been an issue this year for those guys, in terms of them being disappointed when the other guy is out there. They’re excited for the other guy to have success because they know that’s what’s best for us as a group.”
In Bethany’s 42-14 win over Woodward two weeks ago, Heim was 6-for-6 passing with a touchdown, and Wetwiska was 5-of-7 with a TD pass and a long TD run.
“My style is more of a running QB,” said Heim, who has collected a handful of college football scholarship offers. “I can throw it when I need to, but I prefer to run it. Cale can run it, but he likes throwing the ball.”
“We want to do what’s best for the team,” added Wetwiska, who also starts at free safety for the Bronchos. “We just want to win. We don’t really care who’s back there getting the snaps. As long as we’re driving the ball down the field and making teams pay, that’s all that matters.”
The pair have been making teams pay this season. When Wetwiska is under center, Heim moves to outside receiver and creates huge matchup problems for defensive backs. In the Woodward game, Wetwiska connected with Heim in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown.
“We both kind of made eye contact and we both kind of knew who the ball was going to,” admitted Wetwiska. “Taylor knew I was probably going to throw it to the back corner because of the way the corner was playing. That definitely helps a lot, the relationship between Taylor and I. We kind of know what to expect from each other and what we’re going to do with the ball.”
Oftentimes, playing two quarterbacks can create a personal rivalry or split a team down the middle. That’s not the case with these two.
“I feel like we’re really good friends on and off the field,” claimed Heim. “We hang out a lot and have a good relationship.”
“Those two guys, they’re great friends and they don’t care who’s getting the reps,” added Arthur. “As leaders of our team, I think that helps build our culture that those guys understand their role. I think everyone else on the team kind of feeds off that philosophy, so it’s really been good for us in that way.”
Thanks to Heim, Wetwiska and a handful of other experienced upperclassmen, Bethany has the talent and team chemistry needed to make a deep run in the playoffs.
“We just have to keep doing what we’re good at doing, and right now that’s running the ball,” stated Wetwiska. “I mean, let’s just keep running the ball down everyone’s throat and making them pay.”
The Bronchos face their toughest test of the season so far when they take on third-ranked Tuttle Friday night in the district opener for both teams. This Ford Game of the Week matchup will be televised on Cox’s YurView Channel 3 and streamed online.
