As the kids walked off the field at Shawnee High School after the final week of high school football, they would end the season with a 5-5 record. In a conference that has produced a lot of playoff teams over the years, this league was balanced with four of the five teams finishing .500 or better. But none of them made the playoffs.

For the Arrows and coach Chris Cory, he saw some good things happen this year, and is already planning for the future and the 2017 Arrows program.

“I thought we did a good job this year,” Cory said. “We had a lot of things go right and wrong. There was a lot of balance in the league, and we were in competitive games every week.”

“The kids played hard and we had key injuries, but we aren’t going to make excuses. We got back on track where we want Tecumseh football to be.”

It was a streaky season for the Arrows after their 38-19 season opening win against Fairborn. They lost their next two games, only to win the next two and repeat the same pattern before heading into the Shawnee game which was a 35-14 defeat.

“We played some games where we only played well in part of games,” Cory said. “The best half of football this season was the first half against Bellefontaine, but then did not play in the second half. We got on a roll after Urbana and Kenton Ridge games, and played four really good quarters.”

“I thought we could get a win against Shawnee but didn’t get it done. I thought that game was the most disappointing game for me, they just played better than we did.”

Cory thought there was a lot of parity in the league, and also felt that his squad was even with everyone else in the league except for Bellefontaine.

“This was the first time I can remember that a team in our conference didn’t make the playoffs,” Cory said. “We have had three at times make the playoffs. Kenton Ridge, Shawnee, Urbana and Tecumseh were very similar. And Bellefontaine was the clearly the best team in the league. They had four losses, and the combined record of their losses was 37-3.”

“We have to build on what this great group of seniors left. We lacked some senior leadership the last couple of years and I will miss the seniors tremendously, and hope to have the entire staff back next year.”

“Look at Shawnee, their staff has been together for a number of years. We have met as a staff and are ready to move into next year. We are planning for next year. The seniors this year stepped up and carried the tradition.”

Cory noted several seniors who he thought stepped up this year, including the Arrow’s most consistent player Isaiah Trimble.

“He was constant on the both the offensive and defensive line,” Cory said. “Sometimes you don’t get much recognition at those positions, and even in the all-league meeting he was the first player that pointed out. He was a first-team all-conference player for us.”

He also noted that Ryan Rowland had over 500 special team yards and was one of the best players at that position for Tecumseh in many years, while Brody Martin played well despite being banged up this year, but had great leadership from the sidelines when he was out.

Kenyon Watson lead Tecumseh in rushing yards, and Donovon Davis was a nose guard on defense, and was probably the second best blocker on offense according to Cory.

“He went 100% every day in practice and was the kind of kid who never spoke, rather led by example.”

This was Cory’s first full season as the head coach and he made special note that wins and losses are great, but it was the intangibles that he will always remember.

“It was a lot more work than I thought it would be,” he said. “It all paid off after the Shawnee game, 40-60 kids hugging you and telling you how much Tecumseh football means to them. Football means a lot to me, but making good people matters more to me.”

“There are a lot of people on this team who will be good people in life. I spoke at the middle school banquet, and I want to win as much as anyone, but if you are a high school coach and all you are interested in is wins and losses you are in the wrong profession.”

“I am confident I am sending out 15 seniors into the community prepared to be good dads, employers, and community members. Going 5-5 yeah I would rather be getting ready for a playoff game this week, but there is a lot it than wins and losses.”