MT. ZION, Ill. (WAND) - A underappreciated benefit of a deep postseason is the experience and opportunities it brings for players who previously have not seen frequent reps.
Mt. Zion football came up just shy of a 4A state championship in 2024, but head coach Patrick Etherton is thankful for the journey. As the team prepares for a new year, one with similar success, the Braves roster takes with them meaningful lessons from this past November.
"Our kids are confident," Etherton says. "We played a lot of football last year. That's one thing, when you get to where we got to, you play a lot of games. Our kids got to play a lot of football. They got an opportunity to do a lot, were with each other a lot, and practiced a lot. It's great to see the confidence."
While the makeup of Fall's roster will look different with the absence of Braden Trimble, who is prepared to take the field with the Illini, the Braves return several key weapons.
J.C. Anderson will compete in his senior season following his commitment to Ole Miss. He's joined by several other teammates who have expressed interest in playing at the next level. Etherton says the progress he sees in his players demonstrates what the program is capable of and sets them on a path for another big season.
"We're putting some new wrinkles in," he says. "Just [can't wait] to see what a great group of kids we have."
Mt. Zion open their season with four-straight home games (Limestone, Rochester, Breese Central, Mattoon), opposite of a road heavy 2024 campaign. They end their year with a three-game away stretch (Effingham, Taylorville, Breese Mater Dei) where they hope to qualify for the postseason yet again.
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