After six years, we finally did it.
Oct. 9th, Boone celebrated the long awaited victory of our Rebel football team making it to the playoffs. This game was filled with stress, excitement, and many celebrations.
The fans were all on the edge of their seats going into overtime against Scott High, but when the Rebels got that last touchdown, they were all “overjoyed and happy,” said Colin O’Hanlon, a senior on the football team.
“It feels a lot more fulfilling than a regular game,” O’Hanlon said. He expressed that ending his last football season as a Rebel felt thrilling.
Going into this playoff game, the team was more reliant on their offense.
“Malik Johnson was the focal point of our offense that game,” head coach Dan Court said.
Johnson, who scored four touchdowns during the game, also had 35 carries over 200 rushing yards.
The team kept the energy and positivity high. No matter which way the game was heading, the team kept pushing the positive attitude and energy onto each other to secure the win.
“No matter what happened … Malik would always make sure we were cool,” senior Jase Turner said. “We fed off of his energy.”
Having a team focused on building brotherhood is part of what led them to winning,
“There was a real sense of focus before the game and confidence as well … and after it was just electric,” Court said.
“There was a lot more team building this year,” senior Nick Lester said. “Our team hasn’t worked together as well as we do now.”
Teamwork was vital in this game due to the increase in pressure and having different skills.
“We put our differences aside so we could work together and beat Scott,” O’Hanlon said. The team was able to prioritize collaboration for a common goal.
Not only did the football team make it to the playoffs this year, but it’s also their first time since 2022 winning two games in a row.
“It’s good to finally win more games this season,” Lester said. It’s the first time since 2021 that the team won at least four games.
The seniors of ‘25 were excited to be the leaders of the football team this year, and make it to the playoffs.
“Losing this group is tough because they helped change the narrative of what Boone County football is,” Court said. “They helped make a difference in football for the future teams.”
From practice to game, the football team has worked hard to get farther this year. “Playoffs was the smaller goal, winning the first round is a bigger goal,” Court said.
