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Tears flowed freely as Page’s coaches and players walked off the field following their final team meeting.
For the second straight year, the Patriots’ season came to an end in the Class 5A championship with a loss to Knox West. Unlike last year though, this year’s matchup came down to the night’s final play with West holding on for the 24-19 loss.
West may have won the night, but the result only served as fuel to an already raging fire burning inside of returning players like Brenden Anes and Eric Hazzard.
“This is the best motivation ever,” Anes said through tears. “We’re coming back next year and winning it. I promise you that.”
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It’s hard not to say that Page isn’t the favorite to finally raise that gold ball because of players like Anes and Hazzard. For three straight years, those two played pivotal roles in Page’s defense, but each year came home with silver.
To put it plainly, they’re sick and tired of silver.
“Brendan and I are going to be the leaders of next year’s team and we’re getting this group to the top,” Hazzard said. “We’re getting started for next year now. As soon as we can we’re getting our guys into the weight room and getting these young bucks ready.”
The motivation to get back and get going after Friday night is going to be easy to come across.
Page led by seven early before West rattled off 24 straight to take a commanding lead. That run included a Hail Mary to Connor Cummings at the end of the first half. Cummings added another long touchdown reception on West’s opening drive of the second half.
Instead of hanging their heads, Page responded on its next drive with a touchdown run by William Wiebush. With nine minutes remaining in the game, Jonathan Palmer connected with Presley Conzart for a 16-yard touchdown.
A game that once seemed out of reach was suddenly separated by only five points.
Page drove down inside the West 10 twice in the game’s final moments. Both times, West turned them away.
“I felt like last year West was just the better team,” Page coach Charles Rathbone said. “This year, I felt like we were the better team but just didn’t execute. We turned the ball over too much, I had a stupid call going for it on fourth down.
… we can sit here all night and talk about things that we should’ve, could’ve, and would’ve done. Now it’s getting over it, moving on and getting better next year.”
