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Hassett earned The Daily Voice’s Athlete of the Month honors after leading the Trojans to a 9-3 record and their first state tournament berth since 1989. Hassett did it all for the Trojans as the quarterback, defensive back and punter.
He also set an example off the field as a leader and was a big reason the Trojans have improved since he started playing regularly as a sophomore.
“As player, there was no stone left unturned,’’ coach Joe Lato said. “Whether going to camp, getting the kids together to throw routes, passing leagues, you name it, that's what Tyler did. And the weight room was no exception, either. Pound for pound, he was one of the strongest players on the team. As a person, you can't find a more polite and considerate person. As a student, his grades are amazing. He embodied our program's philosophy of doing your absolute best in all aspects of your life. His career will be a lesson to all future players on what it means to be a Trojan.”
Hassett rushed for 904 yards and 13 touchdowns and threw for 1,883 yards and 17 TDs. The big year capped a trend of steady improvement for Hassett, who earned all-South-West Conference honors this year for the second straight time.
“I think during our sophomore year, we felt like we could be pretty good if we kept working at it,’’ Hassett said. “We won just two games as freshmen. ... By our senior year we really bonded as a team.”
The Trojans’ run established a path that future teams can follow.
“I think we left a blueprint for other teams to follow,’’ Hassett said. “Last year, the seniors got it, and we improved a little bit. This year, we took it one step more. Now with a youth football program in town, I think it’s looking really good for the future.”
Hassett’s future is less clear. He wants to play football in college, and many schools have expressed interest in him as a defensive back.
“Tyler is so driven by finding a school with a great engineering program that his list of schools that he is considering to play football at is small compared to the schools that he likes where he would just be a student,’’ Lato said. “What makes Tyler so special is he will do whatever a coach asks of him because he knows it is best for the team. Tyler was not slated to be a quarterback in our program four years ago. He did it because I thought it would help our team. Tyler has all the tools to be a good QB at the next level.”
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