HSFT Stop #57: New Hope
New Hope is entering its third season under head coach Allen Glenn with a foundation in place and a clear goal for the Trojans: find a way to finish.
New Hope went 7-4 last season, including a 4-1 record in district play, before its season ended with a first-round playoff loss. Now, Glenn and the Trojans are looking to build on the progress they’ve made since he took over the program.
“We want to make sure that we’re continuing the culture that we’ve tried to build here in Year 3,” Glenn said. “We feel like we’ve got a good head start on that in two years, but we’ve got to continue that and then we’ve got to figure out a way to finish. We’ve been in games there last year and the year before that that we could have won and didn’t. But we’ve got to find a way to kick the door down.”
The Trojans will have to do it with a small senior class, as just 10 seniors are on this year’s roster.
Wide receiver Caleb Jordan said he’s already seen growth from the younger players during the offseason.
“I saw that our guys got better. All of the young guys, we’re getting them better every day of the week,” Jordan said. “We’ve got to get them better. Our young guys, they’re going out there playing. But we’ve got to lead them and get them right. We’ve got to do well and get the goal in November.”
Running back Jacob Jefferson believes the work New Hope is putting in now will pay off when the lights come on Friday nights.
“Everything we’re doing out here is going to come out on Friday nights. It’s going to be lights on,” Jefferson said. “It’s going to be easier work because we already went through hell trying to get there. So at the end of Friday night, we’re trying to come out with a W.”
Jefferson has also seen the program’s transformation since Glenn took over.
The Trojans went 0-10 before Glenn’s arrival, and Jefferson said the coach has followed through on his promise to change the program.
“When he first came in, he told us that we were going to change the program from the previous program. We went 0-10. He stood on his word, and that meant we’re going to trust and believe in him,” Jefferson said.
That belief is at the center of New Hope’s message this season: “No matter what.”
Glenn said the slogan represents the team’s commitment to one another and its willingness to stay focused regardless of the circumstances.
“We have a slogan this year of no matter what,” Glenn said. “No matter what it looks like, we believe in each other, be great teammates. But no matter what the situation is, we’ve got to come to work every day, get after it and play one play at a time.”
After two seasons of building the foundation, the Trojans believe they’re ready to take the next step.
For New Hope, the challenge now is simple: finish the job, no matter what. New Hope begins the 2026 season on Aug. 28 against Corinth.
