‘Rines football hung up their pads and turned in their helmets after an amazing season on Friday, they gave it their all, but ultimately fell short in their playoff game against the Wheaton Knights, 7-12.

After 16 long years, the Wolverines finally managed to make it to the football playoffs, making it one for the books. Although they suffered a tough loss, the streak is now broken, making a playoff run next season look more possible.

“I know the team has the ability to make it really far next year, [junior safety and wide receiver] Daquan Wims, [sophomore quarterback] Markel Grant and [junior running back and safety] Brian McNeary will carry the team,” senior wide receiver, and captain Devonte Bruff added.

Senior running back and linebacker captain Antony Zavala knows that the team has improved over the season. “We have a lot of good returning players and we have a lot of people that can actually do things, and replace the seniors,” Zavala said.  “It’s not really a bad thing because I know they’re going to do well next year.”

Senior tight end Lawrence Kouadio thought that the outcome of the game was sad because he felt that they gave it their all, and the results didn’t show their hard work.  But Kouadio thinks the underclassmen will continue with the achievements of this year. “They’re going to be great next year,” Kouadio said.  “Their work ethic increased and they’re just striving for success.”

Sophomore safety Devin McRoy knows the team could have done more in the game, but unfortunately things happen. He added that he’s very happy with the defensive performance on Friday and plans to only get better for next season.

Senior wide receiver Abdoulie Sarr has played football for eleven years and said that for it to end on their first playoff game since 1999 was an unexplainable feeling. Sarr feels that the team is going to have a sense of urgency to come back and do better than what they did this year, and although they made history this year, there’s more to come in the future.

Junior receiver and quarterback Leonardo Molina said, “I’ve been playing since my freshmen year and we’ve created that bond since we all had the same love and passion [for football] so it’s going to be sad not being able to play with [the seniors] next year.”

“A lot of our juniors are going to step up and take that leadership role as rising seniors, and a lot of our young guys [on junior varsity] that are moving up have experienced at least a game or two with varsity…so I’m not worried at all,” Molina added.

Molina also plans to be a leader by: getting the younger boys into the weight room more, keeping the team together as a unit, and not forgetting the playoff goal for next year.

Overall, this has been the best season Molina has ever experienced because, “Despite all the things that people said about us and the doubts we got, we made it to the playoffs for the first time in 16 years; so by that, we made a big accomplishment.  We reached a lot of goals along the way and gotten closer as a family.”

It has been a long season for them, they’ve played their hardest, and gave everything they got.  Great job on the outstanding season ‘Rines!

Gallery • 5 Photos

Jennifer Vargas

Seniors Christopher Steele, Lawrence Kouadio, Geeonni Brooks and Antony Zavala on the field along with other teammates.