Senior captain Justin Hefner plans on paving the way for Triton in 2014.

BOURBON – There is a positive attitude surrounding the Triton football program these days.

One would think after five consecutive losing season that it would be hard to have many positives going into a new season. But a new season is just that, new. A fresh start. Second-year Trojan head coach John Johns has been working tirelessly since taking the job in Bourbon and he has already started to see the fruits of his labor pay off.

“I think we’re more excited this year than we were last year,” stated Johns. “That’s definitely a positive thing. We have a great group of guys that have put in a lot of work in the off-season.”

Triton has several players returning from last year’s squad and have a little more depth than last season. The improved depth and overall attitude can be attributed, in part, to Johns and his staff putting in the work needed to peek interest.

“The program is going in a different direction, we’re trying to bring some pride back to the program,” Johns began. “We are trying to get more guys out for the team. I’m in the building, coach (Ron) Brown is in the building and we’re constantly talking to the kids about challenging themselves. The best things in life are the ones that you have to fight the hardest for.

“I think the kids are stepping up and accepting that challenge. By putting that challenge out there to them, that’s something that they can embrace and I think that has helped us bring out some people.”

The Trojans roster is up from last year’s numbers by a bout five kids. A nice crop of freshmen also came out, giving Johns and Triton a nice foundation moving forward.

The 2014 season will present a lot of questions for the Trojans but the team is beginning to take shape on both sides of the ball.

Grant Stichter will man the quarterback position for the Trojans while Jayden Hargrave and Nathan Spangle will join him in the backfield. The offensive and defensive lines will be anchored by a rotation of players, most notably senior captain Justin Hefner.

Joey Corder holds down the starting safety position as well as contributes as a receiver, adding much needed height to both positions. Ryan Horne, a junior lineman, also adds some nice size as the teams starting left tackle.

With any team, success starts at the top and Johns is pleased with the group of seniors he has leading the way.

“We call them the ‘Dirty Dozen’,” Johns said with a smirk about his 12 seniors. “They’re a great group of kids. Those guys are going to lead us. People say your season goes the way your seniors do and we’ve got a really good crop of them. They’re planning on having a special season.”

The Trojans will kickoff 2014 on Friday night when they travel to Caston High School for a 7 p.m. start. Triton’s first home game will be September 5 against Culver.