It was a season of triumph and disappointment. The Centerburg Trojans (6-1) emerged as the top team in the Knox-Morrow Athletic Conference (KMAC) in 2020, posting a 5-0 league record and vaulting their way past powerful East Knox, a team that they beat head-to-head in a double-overtime thriller.
It all came to a crashing halt, however, with a 42-41 loss in the first week of the playoffs against visiting Loudonville.
What the Trojans take from 2020 will influence what kind of season they put together in 2021.
“We've been focusing on the daily mindset,” said coach Andy Colella. “Don't dwell in the past, and don't worry about the future. Live in the present. If done so, we feel like we have the tools to be a highly competitive team.”
Senior Jack Gregory returns for another season at quarterback. He will be joined by versatile running back Tyler Johnson, who can also play wide ut and QB. Jarred Rings and Caylan LeMaster will rotate in to help lead the Trojans’ rebuilt backfield.
The list of senior departures from last season is impressive. Leading rusher Donnell Marshall is at the top of that list, which also includes running backs John Sheasby and Trey Kendrick. Along with them, the Trojans lost linemen Ben Riegal, Ian McKnight and Austin Moreland, along with TE Brock Hurtt and receivers John Wharton and Gavin Wilson. Also gone are Sam Hansen, Ethan Barton, Ross Boyd, Holden Cochran and Ben Day.
“We have a good core group of leaders,” Colella said. “They've done an excellent job all offseason. As a result, we have a very close-knit team. The goal is to take the togetherness onto the football field and let the chips fall where they may. Although we lost a large senior class, we feel we've created a good amount of depth and experience at the skill positions."
The Trojans’ fortunes will depend on a rebuilt offensive line with junior John Geiger (6-feet-5, 320 pounds) at center and a pair of sophomore tackles, named Cam Alloway (5-7, 210) and Tristin Hankinson (5-10, 195). They will play alongside senior guard Mike Kaiser (6-2, 310) and junior Mason Lanthorn (5-11, 235). Colella will have to keep the plays simple to start and progress from there.
“We’ve got five pretty much brand new guys up front,” Colella said. “Just getting those guys to gel and giving them confidence will take some time. We are fully confident in the abilities that they have.”
The wideouts will be seniors Alex Johnson and Hunter Parker. Senior Evan Merklin and sophomores Jesse Rings and Mason Turske will also see time at receiver. The tight end will be junior Tanner Hott.
With all of these new faces, Colella is really depending on Gregory to make plays in the QB spot.
“Having a guy like that with his experience is critical,” Colella said. “He’s taken on more of the leadership role, and that’s helped out considerably. Then there is his knowledge of the game and his decision-making.”
On the defensive side, the Trojans will run a 4-3 with Alex and Lane Johnson at defensive end, along with some of the members of the O-line rotating into the two defensive tackle spots. The linebackers will be Hott, Hankinson and LeMaster. The defensive backs will be Hunter Parker, Jesse Rings, Jerrod Rings, Tyler Johnson, LeMaster, Merklin and Turske. Dominic Vargo will be the team’s placekicker.
With the expanded postseason, the Trojans want another shot at the playoffs but with a better outcome.
“We’re working on building consistency with good habits,” Colella said. “We have to be able to consistently string together good days, built upon by creating good habits.”
