Three Trojans all-state, Lucas Hamm first team
After leading his team with 165 tackles this season, Hillsboro senior Lucas Hamm also leads three Trojan teammates receiving all-state honors.
Hamm, a hammering middle linebacker, was first-team All-3A in the state's biggest newspapers, the Topeka Capital Journal and the Wichita Eagle.
In effect, Hamm was honored as the second-best linebacker in the state by the Capital Journal, which put him on its second team All-Class team. He made the Salina Journal's first-team All-Area squad as well.
Two other Trojans, wide receiver Troy Frick and offensive tackle Darren Enns, received honorable mention honors for their stellar performances in Hillsboro's historic 9-4 season.
Hamm also earned honorable mention honors from two of the papers as a tight end.
Frick and Hamm also were all-state on last year's 4-5 team.
Opening holes for a prolific Trojan backfield that produced more than 3,000 yards rushing, Enns was named to all three papers as an honorable mention selection on the offensive line.
Hillsboro thrived mainly by running the football, so the Trojans didn't have to rely on wideout Frick as much as they did a year ago.
But that didn't stop Frick from following in his brother, Layne's, footsteps, as a return all-state selection by the Eagle and the Journal as an honorable mention receiver.
The Trojans made it farther into the state playoffs than any Hillsboro team in history, coming within five points of playing for a first-ever 3A title.
The Trojans' historical run ended with a 31-26 heartbreaker to state runner-up Garden Plain in the semifinal game.
