The start of the new decade brought about massive changes to all football programs across the state of Ohio. In March of 2020 COVID-19 was designated as a global pandemic and schools were shut down for the final three months of the school year. In the summer of 2020 the cancellation of the season (like 1919 during the Spanish Flu) became more and more of a reality. The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) made a decision in June to shorten the season to six regular season games, and then expand the playoffs so all teams would qualify unless they decided to option out. The new playoff arraignments expanded the amount of home playoff games the higher seeds could host. At the conclusion of the 2020 regular season, the Tomcats were the top team in the region and that postseason they were the host to three playoff games.
By 2021 things were seemingly back to normal with a ten game schedule, but COVID caused the cancellation of two games and the shuffling of the schedule which included a last minute addition to the schedule of Crooksville in week 10. Trimble suffered two losses in the regular season, one to a much larger school, John Marshall (WV) and the other to perennial playoff staple, Fort Frye. The Tomcats entered the playoffs as the 5th seed and hosted a first round playoff win which capped ten straight seasons with a first round playoff victory. The following season the OHSAA announced that the playoffs would be expanded to a 16 team format. (if the original playoff format would have been the top 16 teams, then Trimble would have qualified 38 of the 50 years of the playoffs)
In 2022 the Tomcats played one of the toughest regular season schedules in recent memory. Nine out of the ten opponents qualified for the playoffs with Nelsonville-York, River and Waterford making deep playoff runs. The 2023 Tomcats once again returned to the OHSAA Playoffs and won a first round playoff game on the road becoming only the second Trimble team to win an away opening round playoff game as the lower seed. In 2024 the Tomcats hosted a first round playoff game which they won, after finishing the regular season 6-4.
The 2025 season saw a playoff change by the OHSAA which reduced the number of teams per region from 16 down to 12. The Tomcats qualified as the 12 seed and went on the road and were able keep the consecutive first round playoff win streak alive. Prior to the last home game of the season, legendary Coach Phil Faires announced his retirement at the conclusion of the season. Coach Faires' last game was against the team Trimble played against in Coach Faires' first game, Symmes Valley.
2020 Coach Phil Faires
8/29/2020 Nelsonville-York Away W 34 28
9/4/2020 Eastern Meigs Away W 10 7
9/11/2020 Belpre Home W 41 0
9/18/2020 Southern Meigs Away W 57 0
9/25/2020 Waterford Home W 14 0
10/2/2020 South Gallia Away W 66 0
10/16/2020 Monroe Central Home W 47 26
10/23/2020 Berne Union Home W 35 14
10/30/2020 Newark Catholic Home L 19 35
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the season was shortened to 6 weeks and all schools qualified for the playoffs, unless they chose to opt out. All playoff games until the regional finals were hosted by the higher seed.
Final Computer Rank: 1st Division VII Region 27
Post Season Awards:
All TVC Hocking: Blake Guffey (Defensive Player of the Year); Bryce Downs, Tabor Lackey, Todd Fouts; Austin Wisor; Tucker Dixon; Conner Wooten; Ethan Fullerton
All District: Tabor Lackey (Offensive Player of the Year), Blake Guffey (Defensive Player of the Year) Austin Wisor, Ian Spencer, Bryce Downs, Tray Christy, Todd Fouts, Phil Faires (Coach of the Year)
All Ohio: First Team: Tabor Lackey, Blake Guffey, Third Team: Bryce Downs, Ian Spencer, Honorable Mention: Austin Wisor, Tray Christie, Todd Fouts
2021 Coach Phil Faires
8/21/2021 Nelsonville-York Home W 7 6
8/27/2021 Miller Away W 68 0
9/3/2021 Vinton County Home Canceled
9/10/2021 Waterford Away W 34 7
9/17/2021 John Marshall Away L 33 34 ot
9/24/2021 Fort Frye Home L 13 45
10/1/2021 South Gallia Home W 40 0
10/8/2021 Belpre Away W 57 8
10/15/2021 Southern Meigs Home W 34 0
10/22/2021 Crooksville Home W 35 0
10/30/2021 Fisher Catholic Home W 38 0
11/6/2021 East Knox Away L 28 35
The Vinton County game was canceled by Trimble due to Covid-19. The Eastern game scheduled for 10/1/2021 was canceled by Eastern due to Covid-19 and South Gallia agreed to move the week 10 matchup to week 7. The week 10 Crooksville game was scheduled very late in the season to prevent a bye before playoffs, created by moving the South Gallia game. This was the first win against Crooksville at Glouster Memorial Stadium since 1957.
Final Computer Rank: 5th Division VII Region 27
Post Season Awards:
All TVC Hocking: Tabor Lackey (Offensive Player of the Year); Blake Guffey (Defensive Player of the Year); Bryce Downs; Austin Wisor; Tray Chrisy; Conner Wooten; Tucker Dixon; Cole Wright
All District:Tabor Lackey (Offensive Player of the Year), Blake Guffey (Defensive Player of the Year), Austin Wisor, Tucker Dixon, Conner Wooten, Bryce Downs, Cole Wright
All Ohio: First Team: Tabor Lackey, Blake Guffey, Third Team: Bryce Downs, Conner Wooten, Honorable Mention: Austin Wisor, Tucker Dixon, Cole Wright
2022 Coach Phil Faires
8/19/2022 Nelsonville-York Away L 0 16
8/26/2022 River Home L 18 28
9/2/2022 Vinton County Away L 6 34
9/9/2022 Fairland Home L 16 41
9/16/2022 Cin Woodward Home L 20 28
9/23/2022 Southern Meigs Away W 28 22
9/30/2022 Eastern Meigs Away L 14 27
10/7/2022 Belpre Home W 39 0
10/14/2022 Waterford Home L 6 30
10/21/2022 South Gallia Away W 56 14
South Gallia leaves the TVC-Hocking at the conclusion of the school year. Belpre was the only school on the schedule that did not qualify for the OHSAA playoffs.
Final Computer Rank: 17th Division VI Region 23
Post Season Awards:
All TVC Hocking - Blake Stanley; Max Frank; Cole Wright; Blake Brown; Brandon Burdette
All District - First Team Offense - Max Frank; First Team Defense - Cole Wright;
All Ohio - Honorable Mention - Max Frank, Cole Wright
Team Members: Blake Stanley, Blake Brown, Ronald Maffin, Chase Wooten, Warren Hall, Germain Christy, Will Sharp, Allen McLaughlin, Max Frank, Cole Wright, Gabe Freeborn, Brandon Burdette, Brydin Markin, Xaiver Cunningham, Jacob Fout, Jacob Richards, Beau Burba, Trent Pettit, Hunter Smith, Tyler Hill, Matthew Moyer, Mason Hart, Coltin Ward, Braylin Shutts, Landon Hardy, Trevor Gowen, Corbin Lanning, Chase Patton, Carl Frank, Casey Davis, Chayse Henry, Luke Orsborne, Corey Wooten, Lakota Fellers
Assistant Coaches: Rob Wiseman, Donny Holbert, Phil Campbell, Brady Trace, Nate Perez, Justin Ward
2023 Coach Phil Faires
8/18/2023 Nelsonville-York Home W 14 12
8/23/2023 River Away C
9/1/2023 Vinton County Home L 6 20
9/8/2023 Fairland Away L 27 61
9/15/2023 Cin. Woodward Away W 15 0
9/22/2023 Southern Home W 59 19
9/29/2023 Belpre Away W 40 0
10/6/2023 Eastern Home L 20 21
10/13/2023 Waterford Away L 8 14
10/20/2023 River Valley Away W 46 0
10/27/2023 Elgin Away W 37 6
11/3/2023 Northmor Away L 6 31
The win at River Valley was the 150th shut out win in school history.
The game at River was canceled by River due to illness. Elgin was a first round playoff game. Northmor was a second round playoff game.
Team Members: Max Frank, Brandon Burdette, Gabe Freeborn, Beau Burba, Xavier Cunningham, Braylin Shutts, Will Sharp, Cole Wright, Allen McLaughlin, Brayden Markin, Trent Pettit, Jacob Richards, Kaden Kempton, Mason Hart, Ashton Kochis, Owen Sikorski, Eli Riley, Casey Davis, Isaiah Hooper, Chase Patton, Matthew Moyer, Chayse Henry, Carl Frank, Coltin Ward, Corbin Lanning, Evan Samthers, Alex Jobe, Luke Orsborne, Azriel Fogel, Paul Sharp, Bennie Warren, Braylen Malloy, Cade Burba, Darrius Haring, Aiden Dixon, Samuel Everett, Bradley Cahoe, Mason Hooper, Hunter Bycofski, Jayden Gardner, Ethan Tackett
Head Coach: Phil Faires, Assistant Coaches: Brady Trace, Donny Holbert, Nate Parez, Todd Fouts, Roger Bingman, Phil Campbell
Post Season Awards:
All District: First Team - Xavier Cunningham, Mason Hart, Braylin Shutts, Special Mention - Chase Patton, Cole Wright
All Ohio - Third Team - Xavier Cunningham, Honorable Mention - Mason Hart, Braylin Shutts
2024
8/23/2024 Nelsonville-York Away L 14 21
8/30/2024 Berne Union Away W 46 13
9/6/2024 Vinton County Away W 18 6
9/13/2024 Wellston Home W 38 18
9/20/2024 Worthington Christian Away L 14 45
9/27/2024 Southern Away W 35 13
10/4/2024 Belpre Home W 52 6
10/11/2024 Eastern Away L 20 41
10/18/2024 Waterford Home L 6 14
10/25/2024 River Valley Home W 58 0
11/1/2024 Fisher Catholic Home W 28 7
11/8/2024 Conotton Valley Away L 22 26
Team Members (numerical): #1 Mason Hart, #2 Trevor Gowen, #3 Ashton Kochis, #4 Isaiah Hooper, #5 Brady Jajczyk, #6 Cade Burba, #7 Darrius Haning, #8 Owen Sikorski, #10 Luke Orsborne, #11 Isaiah Mulford, #14 Carter Shifflet, #15 Aiden Dixon, #20 Chase Patton, #22 Mathew Moyer, #24 Jackson Riley, #25 Blayne McWilliams, #28 Domonic Haning, #30 Paul Sharp, #32 R.J. McDowell, #33 Myron Hogsett, #34 David Hill, #40 Chayse Henry, #42 Eli Riley, #44 Elliyus Haning, #45 Bradley Cahoe, #50 Sam Everett, #51 Corey Wooten, #52 Mason Hooper, #53 Marcus Cable, #54 Bennie Warren, #60 Carl Frank, #64 Hunter Bycofski, #65 Cole Eing, #68 Tommy Ammons, #70 Coltin Ward, #71 Corbin Lanning, #72 Will McCune, #76 Evan Smathers, #78 Alex Jobe, #80 Bentley Rile, #81 Noah Smith
Head Coach: Phil Faires, Assistant Coaches: Brady Trace, Phil Campbell, Chaz Mohler, Todd Fouts, Justin Ward, Nate Perez and Donny Holbert
Post Season Awards: All TVC-Hocking - Mason Hart, Coltin Ward, Mathew Moyer, Marcus Cable, Brady Jajczyk
All District - 1st Team - Marcus Cable, Mathew Moyer, Coltin Ward, Mason Hart, Special Mention - Brady Jajczyk, Luke Orsborne
All Ohio - 2nd Team - Mason Hart, Honorable Mention - Mathew Moyer, Marcus Cable, Coltin Ward
2025
8/22/2025 Nelsonville-York Home L 34-8
8/29/2025 Berne Union Home W 36-0
9/5/2025 Vinton County Home W 10-0
9/12/2025 Wellston Away W 40-0
9/19/2025 Shenandoah Home L 36-6
9/26/2025 Southern Home W 34-26
10/3/2025 Belpre Away W 44-0
10/10/2025 Eastern Home L 35-6
10/17/2025 Waterford Away L 0-47
10/24/2025 Federal Hocking Away W 40-6
10/31/2025 South Gallia Away W 28-22
11/7/2025 Symmes Valley Away L 41-12
Numerical Roster - #1 Brycen Dixon, #2 Kevin Bycofski, #3 Paul Sharp, #4 Braylen Malloy, #6 Cade Burba, #7 Trevor Gowen, #10 Luke Orsborne, #11 Ian Sayre, #14 Carter Shifflet, #15 Aiden Dixon, #22 Coen Phillips, #24 Jonathan Turner, #30 Kyland Powell, #33 Myren Hogsett, #45 Bradley Cahoe, #50 Samuel Everett, #51 Corey Wooten, #52 Mason Hooper, #53 Marcus Cable, #54 Bennie Warren, #58 Tommy Ammons, #64 Hunter Bycofski, #65 Wade Vore, #68 Jaiden Jenkins, #70 Will McCune, #71 John Townley, #72 Jakob Moore, #74 Logan Troiano, #75 Kolby Fouts, #77 Jeremy Gill, #80 Bentley Riley, #81 Garrett Woods
Federal Hocking returned to the schedule after a seven year absence. Trimble and Federal Hocking had played 50 consecutive seasons prior to that hiatus.
All TVC-Hocking: Luke Orsborne, Bennie Warren, Marcus Cable, Paul Sharp, Hunter Bycofski, Sam Everett
All District - 1st Team: Paul Sharp, Luke Orsborne, Marcus Cable, Bennie Warren, Special Mention: Trevor Gowen, Aiden Dixon
All Ohio - 3rd Team: Luke Orsborne, Honorable Mention: Paul Sharp, Marcus Cable, Bennie Warren
2025
8/21/2026 Nelsonville-York Away
8/28/2026 Fairfield Christian Away
9/4/2026 Vinton County Away
9/11/2026 Wellston Home
9/18/2026 Shenandoah Away
9/26/2026 Southern Away
10/2/2026 Belpre Home
10/9/2026 Eastern Away
10/16/2026 Waterford Home
10/23/2026 Federal Hocking Home