ARTHUR, Ill. (WAND) - As head coach Ryan Jefferson gains more and more experience at the helm of the ALAH football program, the Knights have grown more successful. 

After a challenging first season in 2018, Jefferson has increased or matched the team's win total in each of the following seasons. Last Fall, the Knights achieved one of their best performances in team history with a 12-1 record, a Lincoln Prairie Conference championship, and a run to the 2A state semifinals.

"Just going on those deep playoff runs that really gets like all the younger guys really excited that they want to step into that position," said senior Marcus Otto, the Knights quarterback and defensive back.

Thanks to their recent success, junior football players have been itching for an opportunity to join the varsity program. Involvement has paid off with the team roster reaching 55 players, the largest ALAH has had. Every one of them has hopes of being able to push the program closer to a championship.

"So last year we were coming out, we had something to prove," said Jayden Parsons, a senior running back and safety. "We got conference. We made the semifinals, and this year we want to take it a step further."

Jefferson says the goal of the program has been to raise the bar every year. While reaching a state championship isn't a guarantee, extended playoff runs should now be considered a standard at ALAH.

The Knights, in turn, have demonstrated great trust in their coaching staff. The comradery built among the gold helmets has been fostered over time and is a staple of the program. As a result, the depth of the team is deeper than it has ever been.

"I think that's just, you know, a good spot for us and a good chance to get a lot of guys playing," Jefferson said. "That's kind of been our philosophy the last couple of years is rotate, rotate, rotate. Keep guys fresh, so that we're playing our best football in the fourth quarter, but also in the end of the season."

Copyright 2026. WAND TV. All rights reserved.Â