EHS football is now at the end of this year’s season. Having had many starters graduate, the success of the team depended on the ability of younger players to step up, according to Kareem Haround, middle linebacker for the varsity team and a Senior.

With a 5-4 record, Haround thinks the team has done well for the team’s size and loss of their top players. 

“I think at the very beginning the energy was not very high and everyone’s attitude wasn’t the best. But after the first game against DeSmet it picked up a lot and we got back on track pretty quickly.” Senior safety Carter Knoyle said. 

The DeSmet game was lost 44-17 but followed up by a 41-33 win against Highland and a 48-0 win against Champaign Central. Other wins were against Bellville West, Alton and Bellville East. 

After every game, especially after a win, the team celebrates at the residence of freshman team member Iose Epenesa’s residence, according to Knoyle. “He has the players and parents over to enjoy food and usually a good win.” The bond between players was mainly attributed to all of the team’s successes by both Knoyle and Haround and Knoyle attributes the development of the bond partially due to these post-game get-togethers.

Despite having lost their past two games, sophomore linebacker Dalton Brown has high hopes for the playoffs. “I think this week versus South Elgin we are the underdog since they are the number two seed but I think we can shock the state and win this game.”