As football’s season comes to a close, the team celebrates its record-breaking accomplishments. In particular, quarterback Matthew Guimond (12) achieved a personal goal of his. By passing for 2,408 yards this season, Guimond was ranked fifth for the most yards thrown in San Diego County. His total of 2,408 passing yards distinguished him as one of the most prolific passers in the county. 

“My goal starting the year was to be top 10 in passing yards, and I got top [five],” Guimond said. “I was really happy, and it’s a goal that I worked hard for, and to see all my work pay off is really nice.”

In addition to being ranked in the top five, Guimond also earned another accolade with his team: winning league for the first time ever in Westview history. 

“I think I’ve done pretty good [this season] with my goal,” Guimond said. “So right now, I’m very happy. We also won league, which is the first time in Westview [has won].”

Guimond set his goal early in the season. However, instead of prioritizing personal success, Guimond said his main focus going into games was working collaboratively with his team to win. 

“I would just take it week by week,” he said. “I think that’s the big thing, to not worry too much about the stats. Just worry about what you need to do to get those stats, just focus on winning games, and then the stats come.”

In his first year as the team’s starting quarterback, Guimond said he underestimated the responsibility of leading the offense. For the team to succeed, he had to make sure all of his teammates were working in cohesion.

“I think the main thing I focused on [was] making sure that everyone on the offense is on the same page,” Guimond said. “Last year, we had a lot of guys running the wrong routes or missing assignments, and so just making sure that everyone on the offense is where they need to be, and confident with what they’re doing is really important. I can’t do my job without the help of all the other guys.”

Guimond said that his position on the team taught him many important lessons, helping him to improve both as a quarterback and a student leader. 

“You can’t be a quarterback and not have leadership traits,” Guimond said. “I think that’s been the spot where I’ve grown most this year in my leadership and making sure that everyone is seen, everyone is heard. I’ve learned a lot of lessons, mainly that everyone adds value to the team. As a quarterback, I can really see how everyone’s jobs really matter. You can’t have a successful play with [only] one person doing the right thing. It has to be all 11 doing the right thing at the right time.”

The players’ relationship with each other also contributes to their overall performance, Guimond said. Having trust in his teammates helped him make quick plays as the quarterback. 

“I consider all of them brothers, especially my [offensive] line and receivers,” he said. “I’m very close with all of them, and it’s really important to be able to trust my guys that [they are going] where they need to be. It’s important so I can make my decisions when to throw and where to throw.”

Reflecting on the season, Guimond said that the team has persistently worked through the numerous injuries and changing lineups they have faced, coming out as a better team in preparation for CIFs. 

“We’ve had our ups and downs, but coach Donnelly has always stressed peaking at the right time, and I think that’s what’s happening,” Guimond said. “We’ve faced a lot of challenges [this season]. Every sports team is going to face injuries, and that was kind of hard starting out this year, and then we started out with a new offensive system. It took a little while to get going.”

Guimond said he shares the love for the sport with his dad, who inspired him to join football in the first place. 

“I got into the sport mainly by watching the game, because my dad’s a huge fan, so I always just grew up [with] it,” Guimond said. “And then I decided I wanted to play. I’ve been [at Westview] for two years, and it’s been great. It’s meant a lot to me, all the guys are family, all the coaches are super helpful, and it’s just been a great experience.”

As a senior, Guimond hopes to continue his football career in college. Guimond said his love for the sport has always been an important part of his life, and something he hopes to continue pursuing. 

“Football is my passion,” Guimond said. “When I played tackle football my freshman year, I just fell in love with the game, the brotherhood. It’s just been a big part of my life, and my dad has loved to watch me play it, so it’s really important to me.”

Earning this award signifies the end of Guimond’s high school career. However, Guimond said he doesn’t see it as bittersweet, but rather as a reminder of his effort and perseverance throughout the years. 

“It made me realize all the work that I’d been doing over the past four years is paying off,” Guimond said. “And that I’m now in the same place that a lot of high school quarterbacks I looked up to as a kid were in.”