After a crushing defeat in last year’s first round playoff game against Sacred Heart Cathedral, the Trojans are back hoping to make a stronger return.

If playing in the top league wasn’t challenging enough, the Trojans are facing another challenge. This year, the team is one of the youngest in the league. With a 44 man roster, the team only has 11 seniors, leaving the rest of the team consisting of junior and sophomore players. Only four of those seniors have played four years of football: Diego Chaidez, Jose Guerra-Quintero, David Mandujano, and Abraham Maciel. “The fact that we’re a young team means that we don’t have much experience, but we overcome that with tenacity,”  Coach Cesar Chaidez said. 

However, the Trojans aren’t alone when it comes to having a young team. Coach Chaidez says, “I’m seeing on rosters that a lot of teams are in our situation… we’re not alone,” Having a young team makes Coach Chaidez feel great about their future and the growth that’ll come along with them.

The seniors would like to see that growth happen a little quicker this season. Mandujano, a running back, says, “It’s pretty immature at practice most times, a lot of guys laughing, not taking stuff seriously… It’s tough sometimes.” Chaidez, a fullback, says, “In the game they haven’t experienced a lot of things, it’s like, each game for them is a new learning moment.” 

The team went 2-2 in the preseason and are 1-2 after three games. Coach Chaidez said, “I believe that they’re leaving it all on the field at practice and during the games, I’m really proud of their growth.”

While the team would like to make the playoffs, Coach Chaidez said they’re just taking things day by day. “The goal is to get better every day, that triumphs any other goal,” Coach Chaidez said.