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Prep Football: About That Time

A bottom-heavy schedule didn't seem to effect Eldorado much in their pursuit of a perfect regular season and a first-round home playoff game.

Much like last season, Eagle head coach Brandon Hampton is hoping for a repeat performance as Eldorado's 2016 schedule was released Thursday and again shows similarities to last year.

The Eagles will open up the year with back-to-back home games and features its first meeting with new Black Diamond Conference member Edwards County.

Eldorado plays Vienna-Goreville on August 26 at Boz Adams Field, followed by another home meeting with Sesser-Valier-Waltonville-Woodlawn on September 2.

Hampton adds that no matter the opponent, Week 1 is always the toughest week of the season.

However, with long time southern Illinois coach Mike Rude back on the sidelines for Vienna-Goreville, that adds an extra dimension to the season opener.

"The nice thing about opening with Vienna is that we get them at home this year," Hampton said. "Having to go down there, typically on a Saturday at 1 p.m. in the August heat is not always the easiest thing, but you can bet with Mike Rude back, they will be much improved."

On September 9, Eldorado travels to Carmi-White County and EHS returns home for two more home games starting with Christopher-Zeigler-Royalton on September 16 and Hamilton County on Saturday, September 24 at 1 p.m. That game is the lone Saturday game for Eldorado and also coincides with the school's homecoming week.

Eldorado hits the road on September 30, traveling to Edwards County and will play at Fairfield on Oct. 7.

"There is a little bit of the unknown about Edwards County, but I think for us, the good part is we play them Week 6 and by then hopefully we can answer some of those questions," Hampton said.

That begins the back heavy portion of Hampton's schedule as his club will close out the season on Oct. 14 at home against Johnston City and will be at Chester to close out the year on Oct. 21.

Hampton believes that Carmi will be much improved, going as far as to call the Bulldogs, one of the dark horses in the BDC this season because of quarterback Jake Simon and said Sesser-Valier-Waltonville-Woodlawn will be much improved.

In the end though, he knows the conversation in the BDC will revolve around the Big 3.

"Chester, Johnston City and Fairfield are all going to be right there. I know that Fairfield graduated some marquee names, but I think they are going to be even better this year. It's really going to be a wide open race.

Enrollment wise, Vienna-Goreville, who went 1-8 a year ago has the biggest enrollment at 558. That's followed by Fairfield at 423 and finished 5-5. Christopher-Zeigler-Royalton (2-7) has an enrollment of 386, followed by Carmi-White County (3-6) at 366. Edwards County (1-8) is right behind at 362 and then Eldorado with 347.

Hamilton County's enrollment is 345 and finished 0-9 in 2015 and Johnston City is at 334 after going 6-4 last year. Chester's enrollment is 294 after going 7-3 and the smallest enrollment in the BDC belongs to Sesser-Valier-Waltonville-Woodlawn (4-5) at 215.

Harrisburg

Not much changes in regards to the Bulldogs' schedule. It's the usual suspects in regards to conference and non-conference as it was last year when Harrisburg went 7-3 and made the playoffs after a two year hiatus.

Harrisburg will host Mt. Carmel on August 26 at 7 p.m. at Taylor Field and then hit the road for three games, traveling to Du Quoin on Sept. 2, followed by a trip to Boonville, Ind. on Sept. 9 and will be at West Frankfort on Sept. 16.

The Bulldogs return home on Sept. 23 to take on Massac County and then play host to Benton on Sept. 30. Harrisburg opens the month of October on the road at Murphysboro on Oct. 7 and then close out the season at Taylor Field on back-to-back weeks, hosting Herrin on Oct. 14 and Carbondale on Oct. 21.

In the Southern Illinois River-to-River Ohio Division, Herrin has the highest enrollment at 766. The Tigers went 9-2 a year ago. Massac County has the second highest enrollment of 655 and went 3-6 a year ago. Murphysboro, who also went 9-2, has an enrollment of 594, followed by Benton (2-7) 577, Harrisburg 557 and West Frankfort (0-9) 546.

Outside competition for Harrisburg includes Carbondale with an enrollment of 1,015, who went 0-9 last year. Mt. Carmel, who went 4-5 has an enrollment of 455 and Du Quoin at 377, finished 5-5 a year ago.

Michael Dann covers prep and college sports for the Harrisburg Daily Register. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.

2016 Prep Schedules

<p><strong>2016 Eldorado Football Schedule</strong><br /><strong>Date    Opponent    Time</strong><br />Aug. 28    VIENNA-GOREVILLE    7 p.m.<br />Sept. 2    SESSER-VALIER    7 p.m.<br />Sept. 9    at Carmi-White County    7 p.m.<br />Sept. 16    CHRISTOPHER-ZEIGLER-ROYALTON    7 p.m.<br />Sept. 24    HAMILTON COUNTY    1 p.m.<br />Sept. 30    at Edwards County    7 p.m.<br />Oct. 7    at Fairfield    7 p.m.<br />Oct. 14    JOHNSTON CITY    7 p.m.<br />Oct. 21    at Chester    7 p.m.<br /><br /><strong>2016 Harrisburg Football Schedule</strong><br /><strong>Date    Opponent    Time</strong><br />Aug. 26    MT.CARMEL    7p.m.<br />Sept. 2    at Du Quoin    7 p.m.<br />Sept. 9    at Boonville, Ind.    7 p.m.<br />Sept. 16    at West Frankfort    7 p.m.<br />Sept. 23    MASSAC CO.    7 p.m.<br />Sept. 30    BENTON    7 p.m.<br />Oct. 7    at Murphysboro    7 p.m.<br />Oct. 14    HERRIN    7 p.m.<br />Oct. 21    CARBONDALE    7 p.m.</p>