Hilltoppers hope to build on last season's success

Last year’s major overhaul at E.C. Glass reaped immediate results on the football field. By adopting a set of core values for character building and changing their offensive philosophy, the Hilltoppers improved their win total from the previous season by four and made the playoffs for the first time in five years.

And while that success was certainly nice, the players and coaches believe there’s more to come this year.

"We want to do better than last year. We’ve got the talent to do it," said senior Jimbo Moore. "It’s just a matter of whether we stay together throughout the year, and I hope we will. We have a good bond, and I hope it continues."

It’s been a long time since E.C. Glass has returned this much experience from a playoff team. Its players have been through the battles and experienced success. They’ve also been through some bitter losses. But the leadership that was born out of those core values has only intensified.

"We’re still basing our foundation on our core values. We feel like that was a huge part in getting us turned around and a key part of what we’re doing," said Richard Trent, who is entering his fifth season as coach of the Hilltoppers.

"We feel like our leadership this year is getting to where it needs to be. Most of the young men who set those core values are either juniors or seniors, so we feel that those values will be even stronger and be really instilled into our football program."

E.C. Glass returns 13 starters (six on offense, six on defense and kicker/punter Zach Boedeker) from last year’s 5-6 team that lost to Staunton River in the first round of the Region III playoffs.

Senior quarterback Jordan Anderson will lead the way for the offense. He started every contest last year and took steps in the offseason to improve many aspects of his game.

"I did a lot of footwork drills with coach (Alex) Lucy, getting my feet quicker and keeping my delivery high and just lifting weights and staying strong so I don’t get hurt this season," Anderson said.

The Hilltoppers still plan to employ a Wing-T offense, but they will try to spread things out a little more to utilize the talents of their assorted running backs and receivers.

"We’re not going to be three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust all the time anymore," co-offensive coordinator Ken Sowers said. "We’re going to hang our hat on running the football and run-control offense, but we’ve got some kids who can make some plays on the edge, and we’re going to definitely try to get the ball in their hands."

E.C. Glass plans to stick to its base 4-4 defense that accentuates its strengths at linebacker. The defense will be anchored by senior stalwarts Moore, an inside linebacker, defensive end Dakota Reeves, versatile playmaker Teron Slaughter and Logan Collins, one of the best free safeties in the Seminole District.

The 6-foot, 210-pound Slaughter is one of the linchpins inside. Trent said he could end up playing strongside linebacker, inside backer, defensive tackle or defensive end, depending on what the opposing offense runs.

And Collins will hold it down in the secondary, along with fellow senior Daniel Bowling, who should also have a sizeable impact at wide receiver.

"Defensively, I would say this is the best group I’ve ever played with," senior Logan Collins said. "Everybody has been playing for so long together, we all know each other, we know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and we know how to back each other up."

The Hilltoppers feel they have the experience and talent to make another step toward being an elite high school team. They won’t go as far as saying they’ll compete for a championship in the ultra-competitive Seminole, but they are still setting their goals high.

"I think our kids have learned that we can win," Trent said. "I think after you learn that you can win, it produces a hunger and desire to get more of that."