The Hillsboro High School football team, known as the Hiltoppers, is looking to restore its former playoff prominence after a winless 2024 campaign that left the program searching for answers.
Coach Joe Reed, now in his sixth season, has emphasized a return to balance on offense and a stronger defensive front as the team prepares for the upcoming South Central Conference slate.
A renewed focus for the Hiltoppers
The program’s rich history includes 13 playoff appearances between 1994 and 2009, a streak that was only interrupted by three consecutive seasons without a berth from 1996 to 1998. Since 2010 the team has managed just five postseason trips, the most recent coming in 2025 after a 5‑5 record.
Returning seniors such as Eli Zaidi and Kamdin Civitate provide veteran leadership on the line, while quarterback Elijah Patton is expected to anchor the offense alongside standout running backs Tytin Wells and Amony Anderson, who combined for more than 2,500 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns last season.
The schedule opens with matchups against traditional playoff contenders Pana and Vandalia, followed by a Week 4 showdown with Greenville, tests that Reed believes will sharpen the team before the postseason.
Despite a rash of injuries that forced younger players into key roles in 2024, Reed says the experience gained will pay dividends, and the squad’s summer workouts have already fostered a sense of urgency and cohesion.
With a blend of seasoned linemen, dynamic playmakers and a coaching staff committed to development, the Hiltoppers hope to translate their offseason progress into tangible wins and a deeper run in the Class 3A playoffs.