Taylorville junior running back Owen Mateer rushed for 154 yards and two touchdowns in the second half, as Charleston lost it’s fifth consecutive game 35-23 Friday night at Trojan Hill.  

The loss on senior night eliminates Charleston (3-5, 0-5) from the Illinois High School Association football playoffs and marks the first time since 2018 that the Trojans failed to get a win in Apollo Conference play. 

“There’s nothing I can say right now that’s going to make [the Charleston players] feel good,” head coach Brian Halsey said. “Nobody wants to end their career senior wise at home with a loss. There goes the playoff aspirations and it’s tough when you start 3-0.” 

Charleston did well to limit Taylorville (4-4, 3-2) on the ground in the first half. Mateer only had six yards at halftime and Tornado senior quarterback Baron Odam only gained 11 yards on the ground outside of a 62 yard rushing touchdown a few plays into the second quarter.  

Taylorville took advantage of penalties and big plays. The Tornadoes had 10 plays that resulted in a 20 plus yard gain.  

“That’s kind of been our nemesis,” Halsey said. “Blown assignments and penalties.” 

Taylorville tested the Trojan secondary, which had a few freshmen starting.  

“Charleston came out, we knew they were going to play man [coverage] and force us to take shots,” Taylorville head coach Jeb Odam said. “In the second half we just decided ‘we’re going to put the tight end in the game and lets just run the football.’” 

The Trojans struggled to move the ball through the air. Senior quarterback Luke Bonnstetter finished 8-for-20 passing for 71 yards. He completed two of his first eight passes before floating a touchdown pass to senior tight end Mason Redfern midway through the second quarter.  

Bonnstetter threw two interceptions, one at the end of the first half and one midway through the third quarter, the latter resulting in Taylorville taking over in Trojan territory and scoring a touchdown three plays later.  

“Charleston has got a bunch of weapons, and for [Taylorville] to keep them at bay is a big deal for us,” Odam said.  

Halsey had a conversation on the field after the game with the entire Trojan team before they walked to the locker room, with the seniors stepping off Trojan Hill for the last time.  

“I hope and pray that the impact we’ve had on [the players] carries over to life,” Halsey said. “I want them to be better men, good husbands, good fathers, and if we win some games great. We need that in our world right now.” 

Sophomore running back Treylin Couch got the bulk of the work on the ground for the Trojans. He rushed for 125 yards on 18 carries. Senior fullback Marcellx Boling had seven carries for 31 yards.  

Charleston will finish its season next week, traveling to former conference members Salem. Halsey hopes that the Trojans can finish their season strongly with a win.   

“I haven’t been in this position for a long time, so I don’t know,” Halsey said. “Let’s just hope that [the players] respect the program, respect what’s going on and we can hold it together and end on a high note.”