The Pacer football team ended the season in the quarterfinals with a 21-7 loss to Nelson. At the end of the regular season they were ranked No. 10 in the state with a 5-4 record in the Three Rivers League.
Reflecting on the season, players such as junior Easton Lawson said it was the team spirit and support that kept them motivated.
“Even when games got tough, we pushed each other and stayed focused,” said Lawson. “Being out there with the guys made every practice and game worth it.”
For the coaching staff, resilience was the defining theme.
“It’s been a resilient season,” coach Matt Thompson said. “We’ve lost four games, but we still have found a way to get better every week, every practice.”
Coach Art, the offensive coordinator, echoed that sentiment, especially considering the difficulty of their schedule.
“It has been a fun one,” Art said. “We’ve had a lot of close games, the hardest schedule in the state.”
Both coaches pointed to the team’s improvement in unity and accountability as the season progressed.
“Believing in each other and understanding it is not just one person making plays, it is the whole team,” Thompson said.
“They have learned how to take care of business together without the coaches being on them all the time,” said Art.
For seniors, the season carried a deeper emotional meaning. Art described it as “bittersweet,” knowing it was the last time this group—together for four years—would take the field as Pacers.
Quarterback Drew Weiler expressed a similar feeling.
“If I had to describe this season in one word, I would say surreal,” Weiler said. “It’s been a lot of fun playing with the guys I’ve been with since youth, and it’s a full-circle moment knowing this is the last season we all get to enjoy together.”
Even through injuries, long practices and tough losses, Weiler said the team stayed focused on finishing strong.
“These moments—from 6 a.m. workouts to laughing with everybody while watching JV games, and everything in between—are things I’ll remember forever,” Weiler said.
For the Pacers, this season was defined not just by results, but by growth, leadership and the bond that carried them through every challenge.
