The student section has loved supporting the Pioneers this season as the class of 2024 hands the reins over to the class of 2025. As the torch is passed from the seniors to the juniors, EGR is ready to support pioneer football yet again next August.
EGR football has finished its season with a 7-2 record, outperforming previous EGR teams and setting big expectations for next year.
After a 17-7 win over Forest Hills Northern, EGR football moved on to their postseason playoff game against Coopersville. In a low-scoring game, the Pioneers exhibited a stellar defense while the offense continued to put up a good fight against the Broncos. Going into the final quarter of the game, the score remained 0-0. Coopersville began the quarter by plowing their way into the end zone, but the pioneers followed closely behind when Will Cannon ‘25 ran the pass from Scott Millman ‘24 down, tying up the score
The Broncos pulled off yet another touchdown however the team remained secure and were able to run the ball down yet again leaving the score at 13-14 for the Pioneers.
The Pioneers were down one point when head coach Josh Shattuck made the difficult and controversial decision to have the team go for the two-point conversion as opposed to kicking the ball with only 30 seconds left.
Ultimately, the team fell to the Broncos 14-13 after Coopersville stopped the ball from entering the end zone in the final 30 seconds, ending the season for the Pioneers.
“During the 2pt try, I was watching from the 50-yard line. I was so nervous, I don’t think I even watched the full play. I just knew we didn’t get it and that sucked, it did,” Peter Heintz ‘24 said.
Losing by just one point, it’s difficult not to analyze everything that may have gone wrong especially when that single point means the end of the senior’s entire football career.
“I don’t think we lost the game because of that play alone, I mean it didn’t help and I’m not saying I wouldn’t kick the extra point in hindsight but we had many other opportunities to score that game and we didn’t capitalize,” senior receiver Tommy Cavanaugh ’24 said.
As the boys watched the clock run out, and their season ended, fans cleared out of the stadium and the seniors got to spend their final moments on Memorial reflecting. They were able to share their final minutes, looking back on their careers.
“It was a tough pill to swallow for sure, knowing that was it,” Heintz said.
As the past weeks have gone by, the boys have been able to reflect on not only their season but their football careers entirely. Over the past two years, varsity football has struggled with transitioning coaches and injuries, leaving some of their records worse than in past years. The class of 2024
“I am very proud of our team for helping get the program back on track. We were 3-6 jv year and now 7-2 regular season,” Alex Collins ‘24 said.
This specific team was extremely close, as well as all 17 seniors leading the team in different ways.
“I think what made us special is the relationships we all have with each other. Everybody likes everybody. That was evident when we played. Just everyone cheering each other on and picking each other up,” Heintz said.
Some highlights of the season include the game against rival Lowell, winning 42-14, as well as the nail-biter game against South Christian 23-20, both exciting games for players and fans.
“It was electric, everyone was going crazy,” Ryan Brinker ‘24 said when reminiscing on the game against South Christian.
