GLOUSTER — Regardless of the expectations and anticipation for any upcoming season, it’s a special time of year for those gathering on the gridiron anywhere. Hope and optimism is littered around locker rooms with programs all around the nation hoping to chase glory.
For a school that is used to expecting and putting championship banners on the wall nearly year-after-year, there’s a bit of extra excitement oozing from the Trimble locker room heading into the 2024 campaign. No one feels that excitement more than Tomcats’ head coach Phil Faires.
“I was sort of wondering how this group would do but starting day one, June 1st, we’ve had probably 10 more kids than we’ve ever had in the weight room each day,” Faires mentioned when asked about the excitement and expectations coming into the new year. “Everyone is at practice, they keep the locker room clean. Little things like that… It’s fun to come in and the juniors really grew up a lot.”
Trimble is coming off a 6-5 season with a third place finish in the Tri-Valley Conference-Hocking division, going 2-2 within divisional play a year ago. The Tomcats salvaged some postseason success with a 31-point victory over Elgin in the first round of the playoffs before ultimately falling to Northmor in the opening days of November.
Entering a new season and a new opportunity to create legendary moments, a program so used to reloading rather than replacing is hoping to do the exact same this time around.
A school so used to tacking on championship banners has been on a bit of an unusual drought over the past couple seasons. Although finishing with winning records each of the last two seasons, the Tomcats have failed to clinch a divisional title since 2021. With a new cast of characters set to lead Trimble, Faires and the rest of the Tomcat faithful have a lot of hope in this group.
No longer with the program is Brandon Burdette, who graduated after two years as the signal caller for the Tomcats. Stepping into his place is Brady Jajczyk, an athletic sophomore who should have a dual-threat ability in his game to help give Trimble some variability with its offense.
While not exactly used to running the show on the gridiron, Jajczyk was a key part of Trimble’s basketball team as a freshman, already showcasing his mental maturity and ability to withstand pressure-packed scenarios.
“He came out late last year, a couple weeks in and was just behind. It’s always tough on a freshman anyhow,” Faires said when asked about Jajczyk and his development since last season. “You can see him getting better, his confidence. Even in our first scrimmage, we didn’t want to run him a lot, that’s going to help him out with his passing. He can take off and run with it but we didn’t want him to in the scrimmage. It’s just another weapon he’ll have in the game.”
Quarterback isn’t the only position in the backfield that’s going to see some new faces take the brunt of the load this season. After an unexpected breakout season a year ago in his senior campaign, Xavier Cunningham leaves a hole in the program that Faires and his staff will have to replace.
Owen Sikorski is arguably the top choice to take over and become a workhorse back but names like Trevor Gowen, Matthew Moyer and Luke Orsborne will certainly be getting touches once the ball gets kicked off the season. Mix that in with a flurry of returning big boys up front, Trimble should still be set to be a dangerous, explosive offense on the gridiron this season.
“There’s six or seven guys, it’s surprising after what we lost last year, that I’m confident to put into games this year in the backfield,” Faires said with confidence, clearly excited at the various prospects to have in the backfield.
Defensively, it’ll be tough to replace the production and leadership of Cole Wright on the line with him also graduating after last season. Though, Faires is more than confident with Coltin Ward taking over and leading the effort on defense.
The head coach openly expressed his excitement and expectations for the massive body who will be a starting defensive and offensive tackle in his senior season. At the linebacker spot, Sikorski is a name to watch out for to become the pseudo-quarterback of the defense.
“Cole did a good job defensively but i thought our best defensive lineman last year was Coltin Ward,” Faires quickly mentioned when asked about who excites him to take over headlines on the defense. “He’s back and he’s a man out there. He did nothing but work this year. He’s going to have a good year this year.
The head coach wasn’t shy to throw out other names like Corbin Lanning, Eli Riley, Noah Smith and others who have made huge jumps over the offseason and should play a pivotal part in what the Tomcats are trying to accomplish this season.
Faires and his staff seem to believe in the talent and work ethic of those in the locker room this year, now it’s time to return Trimble football to glory. It’s not like they’ve been too far off in the past couple years either. Now it’s just time to get over the hump and reach the top of the TVC-Hocking again.
“Even last year we were one play away from tying for the league championship and really two plays away from winning it outright,” Faires mentioned, harping back to the two close losses to Eastern and Waterford a year ago. “This year is going to be the same way, it’s probably going to come down to those three teams… I like our worth ethic and as long as we work on the little things, I think we’ll be fine.”
For a school and a program that is historically used to doing just a bit more than fine, Trimble truly believes it has the pieces and potential to return to postseason glory.
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