Once 0-2, now unstoppable: Andover football’s rise to a Class 5A powerhouse
Two games into the season, it looked like more of the same for Andover football.
The Trojans had lost twice, been outscored 54-14 and were staring down a fourth straight losing season. But head coach Jamie Cruce and his players saw something different — a foundation being built through adversity.
“When you start out with two tough teams, that is going to give you a leg up when you play tougher teams down the road,” Cruce said. “Obviously we would have liked to win those games, but we got better because of them.”
It turned out, Andover’s first two opponents would soon become ranked No. 1 in their respective class: Kapaun Mt. Carmel (Class 4A) and Maize (Class 6A). Losses that may have seemed discouraging at the time have since aged into proof of how battle-tested Andover was.
Since then, the Trojans have been unbeatable — rattling off six straight wins, capturing the Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail League Division II championship and earning the No. 3 seed in the Class 5A West playoffs. They’ll open the postseason Friday night at home against a one-win Salina South team with momentum squarely on their side.
The turning point for Andover Trojans football
After back-to-back losses, Andover’s season hung in the balance with a Week 3 road game at Goddard.
The Lions struck first, scoring on the opening play of the game, but instead of folding, the Trojans fought back. The game went to overtime, where Andover trailed 16-13 and faced a 4th-and-1 decision at the goal line.
Play it safe and kick the field goal to extend the game? Or trust the offense to gain a yard and win the game right there and then?
Cruce didn’t hesitate.
“I think if you would have asked every player on the sidelines, they all wanted to go for it,” Cruce said. “In my mind, there was no question.”
Backup quarterback Barrett Hill, filling in for an injured starter, plunged across the goal line for the game-winning touchdown. It wasn’t just an overtime win, it sparked a belief that has carried Andover through the rest of the season.
Offensive line leading the way for Andover Trojans
Andover’s identity since that game has been forged in the trenches.
Their offensive line, anchored by 6-foot-5, 290-pound junior Tyson Ross, who has has seen his recruitment explode with recent offers from programs like Oregon, Auburn and Michigan, has paved the way for one of the area’s most dominant rushing attacks.
Ross headlines a physical front that also features junior Zane Tucker, seniors Vaughn Nun, Ian Folger and Connor Corley, plus senior tight end Ben Reynolds, who doubles as a key blocker despite being a capable receiving threat.
In a 35-7 win over Eisenhower, Andover registered 17 runs of 10 or more yards, with most of those runs coming between the tackles — a testament to the group’s dominance up front.
“When you’re running the ball like that, that means your o-line is playing really well,” Cruce said. “I’m proud of those guys. They’ve come a long way.”
The Trojans’ offense has flourished recently with the healthy return of junior quarterback Will Quinn, who has shown he can hurt defenses through the air and on the ground. In a 48-21 win at Salina Central, Quinn went a perfect 3-for-3 passing for 121 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 103 rushing yards and four rushing scores.
He’s complemented by junior running back Pete Vega, another breakout performer in Andover’s resurgence.
While the offense has made headlines, Cruce said Andover’s defense deserves equal credit. During the team’s six-game winning streak, the defense has held opponents to an average of 14.2 points.
Building a winner again at Andover football
This is only Cruce’s second season at Andover, but his impact has been immediate.
The Trojans went 0-9 in 2023, the year before Cruce’s arrival. Now, they’re league champions, a top seed in the playoff bracket and positioned to chase their first playoff win since 2021 — and potentially their first two-win postseason since 1993.
Cruce, who won a state championship at Pratt in 2016, knows what it takes to sustain success. For Andover, it will be a simple game in November to survive and advance.
“We need to keep the ball off the ground,” Cruce said. “So focus on ball security, then good, sound run-blocking and finishing runs. Take the three or four yards every time. And then when teams don’t fit right or don’t tackle, that’s when the big plays come.”
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