By Jack Hart | ILSportsWire
MT. ZION, Ill. — “Let’s go get that bread!”
That was the message from Mt. Zion Braves senior AJ Miller as the team wrapped up its interview with ILSportsWire ahead of the IHSA Class 4A playoffs. After putting together a strong 7-2 regular season, the Braves have earned a first-round bye and now have their sights set on making a run in the postseason.
Jack Hart of ILSportsWire caught up with head coach Patrick Etherton and several Braves players, including Kalvin Becker, Kellen Bollhorst, Brody Lipa, and AJ Miller, to discuss the team’s growth throughout the season, the importance of the extra week of preparation, and what it will take to make noise in a competitive Class 4A playoff field.
For Mt. Zion, the road to the playoffs has included its share of challenges. The Braves suffered losses to Cahokia and Mahomet-Seymour, two quality opponents that provided valuable lessons for a team looking to reach its potential at the right time. Rather than letting those setbacks define their season, the Braves used them as opportunities to improve, building momentum as the regular season progressed.
Now, with a first-round bye secured, Mt. Zion has an opportunity to get healthy, fine-tune its game, and prepare for the next challenge.
Building chemistry and finding momentum
For Kalvin Becker, one of the biggest reasons behind the Braves’ successful season has been the improvement in team chemistry and communication.
When asked what allowed Mt. Zion to finish 7-2 and earn a first-round bye, Becker pointed to the way the team has come together throughout the year.
The Braves have continued to build trust in one another, improve their communication, and develop a stronger identity as a team. Becker also emphasized the importance of bringing energy to the group and keeping morale high, especially during the grind of a football season.
With players spending so much time together at practice and during games, maintaining a positive atmosphere can make a significant difference. Becker believes the Braves have done a good job working through those challenges and coming together when it matters most.
That chemistry has become increasingly evident as the season has progressed, with Mt. Zion putting together stronger performances down the stretch.
The Braves’ 7-2 record reflects that growth, but the team understands that the regular season is only the beginning of what it hopes to accomplish.
Kellen Bollhorst credits the team’s improvement
Kellen Bollhorst has seen firsthand how much the Braves have developed since the beginning of the season.
Looking back at the losses to Cahokia and Mahomet-Seymour, Bollhorst explained that the team took those games seriously and used them as motivation to improve.
He pointed to progress across the entire roster, including the offensive line, skill positions, and defense. The Braves have continued to sharpen their execution and build confidence as the season has gone on.
That improvement has helped Mt. Zion find its rhythm heading into the playoffs.
Bollhorst also praised the offensive line for its development throughout the year. With limited returning starting experience up front, several players were asked to step into larger roles. According to Bollhorst, the group has continued to improve and become a major part of the team’s success.
For an offense that has found ways to produce throughout the season, the line’s ability to create opportunities and improve its communication will be especially important moving forward.
With the postseason approaching, Bollhorst knows the work is far from finished. The Braves must continue to prepare as if every week is game week, even with the extra time provided by the bye.
Brody Lipa emphasizes preparation and trust
For Brody Lipa, the team’s success comes down to the work being put in every day.
Lipa highlighted the importance of consistent practices, trusting teammates, and continuing to get better throughout the season. He believes the Braves’ willingness to show up and work has played a major role in their 7-2 campaign.
He also discussed the importance of recovering during the bye week. With the physical demands of football increasing as the season progresses, getting players healthy could be a key factor in how the Braves perform in their first playoff game.
However, the extra week does not mean the team can afford to lose its focus.
Lipa emphasized the need to approach practice with the same mindset as a regular game week, staying locked in and taking care of the details that will matter against their next opponent.
When discussing a potential matchup with Effingham or Decatur MacArthur, Lipa noted that the Braves are more familiar with Effingham, while MacArthur would present a different challenge.
Regardless of the opponent, the message remains the same: prepare, stay focused, and trust the work that has brought the team to this point.
AJ Miller ready to bring the energy
AJ Miller is excited about where the Braves are heading as they enter the postseason.
Miller discussed how the team has gained momentum through strong practices and improved execution over the final weeks of the regular season. He also highlighted the offensive line’s development, explaining that communication and experience have improved significantly since the beginning of the year.
The Braves have worked to become more physical and consistent, and Miller believes those improvements will be important against the competition awaiting them in Class 4A.
When asked about the possibility of facing Effingham or Decatur MacArthur, Miller said the team is taking things day by day and focusing on preparing for whoever comes next.
He also spoke about what it means to host a playoff game in Mt. Zion. With the support of the local community, the opportunity to begin the postseason at home is something the Braves are looking forward to.
After last year’s first-round loss to Waterloo, Miller said the team is focused on the present rather than dwelling on what happened a season ago.
The goal is to stay focused throughout the bye week, continue putting in the work, and be ready when playoff football arrives.
And when the interview wrapped up, Miller left one final message that summed up the team’s energy heading into the postseason:
“Let’s go get that bread!”
Coach Etherton says the Braves are playing their best football
Head coach Patrick Etherton is pleased with how his team has responded to the challenges of the regular season.
The Braves entered the year needing to replace significant production from players who graduated, leaving several athletes with opportunities to step into larger roles. Etherton believes his players have handled those responsibilities well and continued to develop as the season has progressed.
He was particularly encouraged by the team’s improvement during the final weeks, explaining that Mt. Zion has played increasingly better football as it approached the end of the regular season.
The losses to Cahokia and Mahomet-Seymour provided opportunities to identify weaknesses and make adjustments. Etherton credited both opponents for being well-coached teams that exposed areas where the Braves needed to improve.
Rather than allowing those losses to derail their season, Mt. Zion worked to correct those issues and build on the experience.
Now, Etherton believes the team is in a good position heading into the playoffs.
The first-round bye also presents a unique situation for the coaching staff. Because the Braves had already experienced a bye earlier in the season, the staff had a better understanding of how to structure the additional week of preparation.
Etherton explained that the team will maintain a regular practice schedule while emphasizing fundamentals, special teams, and keeping players healthy. The coaching staff will also take advantage of the opportunity to watch the upcoming matchup between the potential opponents before locking in on a specific game plan.
A challenging road ahead in Class 4A
Mt. Zion’s next opponent will be either Effingham or Decatur MacArthur, setting up a challenging first playoff game regardless of which team advances.
The Braves are familiar with Effingham as a conference opponent and have experience playing against the Flaming Hearts. Decatur MacArthur, meanwhile, would bring a different challenge.
Etherton praised both programs, noting that each has strong coaching and talented players who can make things difficult on both sides of the football.
The Braves will use the bye week to evaluate their potential opponents and prepare for the matchup once it is determined.
Class 4A features several strong programs, making the road to a deep playoff run difficult. Mt. Zion knows it will need to continue playing physical football, execute its assignments, and limit mistakes if it hopes to advance.
Still, the Braves have reasons to feel confident. Their improved communication, growing chemistry, and late-season momentum have helped position them for an opportunity to make a postseason statement.
The next chapter begins
A 7-2 regular season has put Mt. Zion in a strong position, but the Braves know their work is only beginning.
The first-round bye offers a chance to recover, sharpen the details, and prepare for the intensity of playoff football. From the players’ perspective, the focus is on staying healthy, maintaining the energy that has carried them through the final weeks, and continuing to trust one another.
For Etherton and his staff, the priority is making sure the team is prepared for the challenge ahead without getting caught up in what happened last season or looking too far down the road.
The Braves have worked their way into the postseason with an improving roster and a team that believes it is playing its best football at the right time.
Now, they will wait to see whether Effingham or Decatur MacArthur stands between them and a first-round victory.
One thing is certain: Mt. Zion is ready to get back to work.
And as AJ Miller put it, the Braves are ready to “go get that bread.”
