After beginning the season with three straight wins only to lose the final six games of the season, Charleston High School head football coach Brian Halsey had some work to do to repair the culture of the team.
“It was tough,” he said. “Kids were frustrated. They were disappointed.”
Players who knew they were returning were determined to help rebuild the program, said Halsey. Two juniors, Braxton Hanner and Aidan Wayne, took it upon themselves to help recruit new players during the offseason.
“They were in the hallways getting kids talking and getting them excited [to play] football,” Halsey said. “That excitement carried over into the weight room, and that’s kind of how it went. That energized me.”
The Trojans are aiming for a return to the playoffs this season as they begin the 2025 season Friday with an away game against Robinson.
What peaked Halsey’s interest the most during preseason, he says, is that everyone is having fun at practice.
“They’re having a blast,” he said. “That’s what football practice is supposed to be about.”
Charleston’s roster is made up of only eight seniors, and the varsity squad is bigger than usual because there weren’t enough players to make a separate frosh/soph squad.
“We were young last year and inexperienced,” Halsey said. “The difference between last year and this year is we’re still young, but we’re experienced in a lot of key areas.”
The added depth means that every position apart from the offensive line will rotate to help keep players fresh, according to Halsey.
Ken Ratliff takes over as defensive coordinator, bringing a more simplified scheme than last season. The scheme is tailored more to the players, Halsey said, but it still features the physical element that the Trojans relied on from last season.
“I think we’ll be more physical this year,” Halsey said. “We have kind of simplified some areas in our schemes to take the thinking away to allow kids to be more aggressive.”
Last season, Charleston allowed 271 points and scored 184. Only Mattoon had a worse point differential in the Apollo Conference.
Offensively, Charleston must replace most of its backfield from last season. Treylin Couch, now a junior, is the most experienced returning running back, while Hanner leads a deep group of wide receivers.
As for the quarterback position, Charleston’s starter isn’t a name you can find on any football roster from last year.
After watching last season unfold from the stands, junior Wyatt Gordon decided that he wanted to learn how to play football and become the Trojan’s new quarterback.
With his baseball background as primarily a pitcher and catcher, Gordon felt like his skillset would translate well. Gordon spent every day in the spring throwing a football, he said, working around his baseball schedule while learning the playbook and other intangibles needed.
“The kid is a gym rat,” Halsey said. “He was studying film, going through our offense and picked it up right away. It’s been phenomenal.”
Three of Charleston’s captains are Hanner, Wayne and senior lineman King Young Booths. Senior kicker and punter Max Weber is the fourth captain, who Halsey said is a weapon to have.
“I’ve never had a kicker as a captain before,” he said. “He’s a tremendous leader. I’m excited for his senior season.”
Charleston opens its season Friday night at Robinson. The Trojans’ home opener is in week three against Carterville, and their Apollo Conference opener is the following week against Effingham. The Coles County Clash against Mattoon in week five caps off three straight games in Charleston.
Friday’s game against Robinson is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Gabe Newman can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected].
