PLAYERS TO WATCH: Abilene High Football Offensive Line

ABILENE, Texas ( BCH Sports ) – The game of football is won and lost in the trenches.

Abilene High Football Strength and Conditioning Coordinator Conlan Aguirre says, “We pride ourselves on being able to run the football and be good there and play really good defense. Those are our identities as a program so we’re gonna rely heavily on those big guys up front to handle their business.”

Consider business handled last season for Abilene High, as the Eagles ran for over 2,200 yards and 33 touchdowns.

But this year, the bar is even higher.

Abilene High Football Right Tackle Shetonde Polepole says, “It’s definitely gonna be higher this year. A lot of them this is their last year so they want to get better and bigger and really leave a mark on abilene high football, so I think that will motivate us.”

Abilene High Football Left Tackle Jerrod Turner says, “I feel like we can do bigger and better things than we did last year, run for more yards, pass for more yards, but it all starts with us and as long as we’re bonded and we know what to do…everything will be great.”

It’s been great for Jerrod Turner and Shetonde Polepole, two senior offensive linemen who are paving the way for the Eagles.

But what’s really special about this offensive line unit is that they’ve been playing together since middle school.

Polepole says, “Being with the same group for so long is really really great. We know each other really well, there’s that chemistry and team bonding that makes our offense really smooth.”

Turner says, “Being with these guys for a long time is something special, not a lot of people get to do it but we do and it’s something great to experience.”

Conlan Aguirre says, “When you’re around a group of guys for a long time, you start to build a bond and things just happen naturally without even having to be said or be told and it’s gonna be huge for us.”

Just like the boys leading the way up front, expectations for the Eagles are huge going into this season.

After being bounced in the regional playoffs in three of the last four seasons, the goal is clear for the 2024 season.

“Go farther, go get the ring, ” Turner says. “We need to win the locker room first and foremost, and one that happens, everything just rolls on from there.”

Conlan Aguirre says, “We just try to take it day by day, so that’s where our focus will be…whatever the next opponent or workout is, we’ll just take it one day at a time try to be one and oh each day.”

Shetonde Polepole and Jerrod Turner are two BCH Sports Players to Watch.

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