SEASON ANALYSIS: 2002 football season was a bumpy one years ago
By RYAN RICHTER
Sports writer
My favorite time of the year is rapidly drawing to a close, and for Hillsboro, the curtain came down Nov. 16 on a season riddled with as many potholes as highlights.
Looking back at the season for both the Trojans and the Bluejays, all you can ask is this: What could have been?
Hindsight is always 20-20, but it doesn't take a football genius to see that both teams were much better than what the finishing records indicated.
Start with the Trojans.
It was quite an accomplishment making it as far into the post-season as they did when it looked like the boat was going to capsize at the beginning of the year.
Three straight losses to teams Hillsboro could have easily beaten left coach Dustin McEwen worrying that some of his players would jump overboard.
In the three losses, Hillsboro was its own worst enemy, turning the ball over and helping out the opponent with penalties.
You have to compliment McEwen and the Trojan coaching staff for holding the boat steady when it had the potential of overturning.
Not too many teams can say they threw a legitimate scare at the Hesston Swathers, a team that spent the entire season ranked in 3A's top 10.
Take away the Swathers' 20-point eruption in the first half, and the Trojans doubled Hesston over, 12-6.
Trojan quarterback Dustin Jost talked of the pride and heart the team had, and that again showed in the final two games.
Knowing the past luck Hillsboro has had against Riley County in track, cross country, basketball and football, you wouldn't get many second glances for ruling the Trojans a heavy underdog in bi-districts.
Apparently, Kris Jones knew nothing about that.
Not wanting the game with the Falcons to be his last, Jones led the Trojans to a 27-20 upset of an 8-1 Riley County team which featured a Hillsboro nemesis: speedster Jordy Nelson.
The Trojans couldn't stop Nelson, but they did just enough to pull off a huge shocker, helping soothe the wounds left by past shortcomings with the Falcons.
Then came the season finale with the defending state champion and top-ranked Conway Springs Cardinals.
Considering the size and the success of the Cardinals, most believed they would mop the floor with the Trojans.
Cardinal coach Mark Bliss knew of the weapons Hillsboro had in its arsenal.
To neutralize them, Conway controlled the clock to keep the Trojans' offense off the field.
The Trojans still put up a fight, playing the Cardinals much closer than the eventual 28-7 score indicated.
The final 6-5 record isn't the normal finish that Hillsboro has grown accustomed to in the McEwen-era, but with the bumps the Trojans hit the beginning of the year, it proves they stuck together.
