PANDORA, Ohio — The 2024 season began with growing pains for Pandora-Gilboa, but the Rockets still managed to climb near the top of the Blanchard Valley Conference standings.

After opening the year with back-to-back losses to NWC powers Columbus Grove and Bluffton, the Rockets rebounded by winning seven of their final eight games. They finished the regular season 7-3 and secured a runner-up spot in the BVC standings.

Despite the strong finish, the playoff run was short-lived. Pandora-Gilboa fell in the opening round to Lima Central Catholic, ending their postseason hopes early for the second straight year.

Now entering his ninth season at the helm, head coach Matt Hershey brings back eight returning starters. Among them is senior quarterback Cory Gerten, a fourth-year starter who’s been under center since his freshman year.

The Rockets haven’t reached double-digit wins since 2018, but with Gerten leading a veteran core, Hershey believes this group has the tools to finally get over that hump.

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