Trojans gain valuable experience

While their season may have ended without a return trip to the Class B Playoffs, the future seems to be bright for the Whitehall/Harrison High School football team.

Following a 48-0 road loss in the season finale against Manhattan, fifth-year Trojans (2-6, 1-5 South B) coach Dan Lacey discussed how season ending injuries to standouts Max Feight, Sawyer Keener, and Colby Smith resulted in younger kids in the program getting significant playing time throughout the year.

"Injuries are tough to overcome, but I was very proud of hour our young kids stepped up and kept working hard every week," Lacey said.

Looking towards the future, Lacey said all the young kids they had getting experience playing varsity football will help in understanding the difference of varsity and junior varsity game speed.

"Preparation is something we still struggle with being so young but that will come with more experience and commitment," he said.

Lacey is also looking forward to his team coming together as a group during the offseason – something he believes successful teams do.

"Playing as a unit and not individuals is key to success. Off season work is crucial to that connection and discipline. Our league is so competitive from top to bottom that every opportunity to get better needs to be taken advantage of. I look forward to seeing our younger kids become the older kids next year and take advantage of the opportunity they have with a long offseason to get better mentally and physically," he said.

The Trojans picked up their two wins of the season September 7 with a 27-14 road win over Shepherd and September 21 with a thrilling 34-28 home double overtime win over playoff bound Three Forks.