Football Playoffs: Easthope, Pioneers ready to prove they belong

Bring it on!

Conor Easthope will lead the Pioneers into Woodhaven on Friday night to take on the undefeated Warriors in a first-round playoff game. The junior quarterback not only believes his team belongs in the playoffs but wants to help right some wrongs.

“We reached one of our goals of making the playoffs but we wanted to go 9-0 in the season,” said Easthope, one of the most gifted quarterbacks in the area. “That just adds fuel to our fire for Woodhaven.”

The Pioneers want to win a state championship and despite finishing at 5-4 they certainly belong in Friday’s first-round game. This is a good team with plenty of talent and they want to prove it on Friday night.

“We are preparing for Woodhaven like how we prepare for everyone,” Easthope said. “We know they are an exceptional team and we will have to avoid beating ourselves to win this game. We want a state championship! Everyone says we can’t, but no one expected us to make it this far already.”

Easthope says the pinnacle of the season – so far – came Sunday night when they learned all the hard work had paid off.

“I think the highlight of the season was finding out we made the playoffs when we were in Coach Bellers room Sunday night,” Easthope said. “The lowest point was at Chelsea when we went ahead with 14 seconds left and they go and throw a Hail Mary to spoil our win.”

Easthope has already been pondering his future and looking at some MAC schools to continue playing football and getting his education. “I’m still waiting to hear from other schools after the season but I have some time left,” he says.

Right now, he’s focused on Woodhaven and checking things off his list of goals.

“Sunday night was one of the greatest nights of my life,” he said. “Getting our team back to the playoffs was always one of my goals. Now we have to show why we belong.”