By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
St. Joseph Central football has been used to being toward the bottom in their district and in the Greater Kansas City Suburban Conference.
The Indians never even got to a .500 record from 2014-2021, going winless in 2019 and winning just one game in the 2020 and ‘21 campaigns.
However, 2022 marked a huge step forward. Central finished last year at 5-5 - its highest win total since 2013.
Sixth-year head coach Regi Trotter says everyone back from last year’s team has helped this year’s bunch hit the ground running.
"The guys that are back this year, these seniors and juniors and some of these sophomores playing for us are really good football players," Trotter told KFEQ Radio. "We've been benefitted from having a nice wave of athletic, good young men come through our program."
"We're trying to do the right thing as a coaching staff to put them in the right position to make plays."
Indeed, Central has started 2023 with a bang. The Indians are off to a 4-0 start for the first time since 1986 following a 52-20 win over William Chrisman at Noyes Field last Friday.
Senior quarterback Caleb Aguilar took a moment after last Friday’s game to enjoy the fact that this program is off to its best start in 37 years.
"Yeah after the game, I spent some time out here and thought to myself like, 'Hey, we have the chance to do something special that we haven't done in quite awhile,'" Aguilar shared. "So, we just have to keep moving forward and be ready to play whoever comes next."
For years, Central had been competing against the best of the best in the Greater KC Suburban Conference, going against juggernauts like Staley, Lee’s Summit, Park Hills South, Smithville, Liberty North and others.
The conference realigned its red division in 2022, putting Central in the same pool as schools like Truman, Fort Osage, North Kansas City and Oak Park.
Trotter says having more competitive games these last two seasons has made all the difference.
"We were playing against some teams that were clearly more established from a program and player standpoint," Trotter said. "Now that we've been going against teams very similar to us, we've had more of a chance and that's given us an opportunity to build our program and get us moving in the right direction."
Central has a big test this week as they go on the road to face North Kansas City on Friday night at 7 p.m.
It’s a Hornets team that beat Central 34-28 in overtime last season in districts, cutting the Indians’ season short.
Central hasn’t beat North KC since 2016. Junior running back Gabe Fields feels confident in the way their team is preparing.
"I'm ready to play them again for sure," Fields said eagerly. "Can't lose this time. We're ready to play and we're going to come out here and prepare again."
Senior receiver and linebacker Brock Williamson has been through some of those losing seasons in years past. He says going into games this year, especially now with a 4-0 record, has a different feel.
"We've played those tough teams and have been like, 'Oh man...' and been out of those games," Williamson said. "But this year, we're in every single game and we're fighting as hard as we can."
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