Sports Editor
Glen Este made their second consecutive trip to the Division II state playoffs on Nov. 6 and for the second year in a row, the Trojans were bounced from the postseason after one game, losing this year to Turpin, 38-7.
After trading scores in a promising first quarter, any rhythm that Glen Este hoped to establish was derailed by miscues both before and after the ball was snapped.
“We didn’t start out how we wanted to,” Trojans head coach Nick Ayers said. “The early penalties didn’t help and we weren’t able to make plays when we needed to. It comes down to the team that executes the best and makes plays who wins in the playoffs.”
While Glen Este faltered, the Spartans capitalized on big nights from senior quarterback Bennie Stoll and junior running back Luke Bohenek, getting out to a 17-7 halftime lead.
A quick-hitter to begin the second half opened up a 24-7 lead for Turpin. Glen Este knocked on the door of the end zone midway through the third quarter only to be rebuffed on four straight running plays. Turpin took the ball over on their own 1-yard line and orchestrated a 99-yard touchdown drive to kill the spirit of the Trojans.
The loss marked the last time seniors Tyler Pilcher, Jacob Hamilton and Robby Boone, among others, would suit up in the purple and black. Their legacy, however, is one that will be looked back upon fondly and their leadership will be missed going forward.
“(The seniors) had a huge impact on (the program),” Ayers said. “Most of those guys were three-year starters for us. Their leadership will be missed more than their talents.”
Even with 19 players headed out of the program, Ayers said that the overall outlook for Glen Este football is optimistic.
“We have a good, talented group coming back,” he said. “We need some guys to step into those leadership roles.”
Ayers pointed to experienced guys such as starting safeties Elijah Johnson and Trey Krista, backup quarterback Evan Shirley and linemen Devon Howard, Colin Speer and Eli Ulsh as natural fill-ins for the vacated leadership positions.
“The program is trying to get better day-by-day. We work everyday to be the best versions off ourselves,” Ayers said. “We want to win off the field and carry that over into the games. If we end up with more points than the other team, that’s another level of success.”
Ayers said that the returning group has a tall task ahead of them given the quality of opponents on their schedule in 2016, both inside the Eastern Cincinnati Conference and outside of it.
“We have to get back down on the grind this offseason and make it the best offseason we can,” Ayers said. “(Next season) is going to be tough, but we’re excited for the challenge.”