End Of A Era: The heartbreak and reality of the senior football players' last season

Then 7-year-old Davis Eakes spent his mornings, afternoons and weekends pretending to make game-winning NFL catches and tackles in his front yard. 

Now-senior Eakes just finished his last playoff game, and is figuring out ways to keep football in his life. 

For some football players, this was their first season on the team. But for others, it was their last time on the field. On Nov. 1 the playoff game took place at SM South against Blue Valley West.

In the third quarter Eakes's back spasms started kicking in. All he could think about was if he was ever going to be able to play again.

“That really did a number on me,” Eakes said. “I was just sitting on the training table trying to stretch my back out and go back in, but I was just like, ‘Man I don’t think it's gonna happen.’

The season-ending upset was a disappointment for Eakes, the team became extremely bonded this year through team dinners, contrast texting and three hour daily practices. Eakes formed great relationships with the guys on the team and now that it's over he hopes to keep these bonds. 

Eakes made a video inspired by their team huddles and watched film of all his junior and senior football highlights. He watches it from time to time and shows it to his kids one day. 

Eakes has many favorite memories with the team: scoring his first touchdown, getting his first interception, team dinners and beating Lawrence High. 

“I'm really sad about [the season] ending but at the same time really happy it happened,” said Eakes. 

Junior Chase Jehle, on the other hand, will play one more season as a senior next fall. Jehle started playing football because he grew up watching his uncle Justin Smith play on the Buccaneers and as a Linebacker, in the NFL. This was Jehle's first official year on varsity, as he had switched between JV and varsity as a wide receiver his sophomore year.  

Next year, Jehle hopes to be a leader above all else. 

“The seniors laid the path, I just want to walk down the path,” said Jehle. “Just like carrying the torch they pass, like following their example they set for us.”  

When Jehle saw the scoreboard and realized things were not looking up, it all started to feel real. To him, it just felt like another game, and they were gonna do better next week. However, SM East was down, and the team didn't recover from there. The game didn't end how it was supposed to with a score of 42-35, according to Jehle.

After standing on the field for what felt like forever, according to senior Henry Stiglic, the team went and jumped into the pool at the end of the night to ease the sadness. Then attended a last team dinner at Johnny's Tavern.

“That is actually one of my favorite memories [jumping in the poor]  ever,” Jehle said . “Like we had something so heartbreaking turn into something fun that's gonna be a tradition that carries on.” 

At the end of a game, a picture was captured of Jehle and senior Michael English hugging and crying: a photo that remains special to Jehle. Being on the team was more than just playing football with people; they were like his family — his brothers. 

English taught Jehle a great deal about football and life in general, and is someone he would have never met if not for joining the football team.

“If I ever needed something that I could just text he would be there for me,” said Jehle. “I was just thanking for everything and for being a leader on the team and someone I could really look up to.”