advertisement

Prep Football Preview: Waiting For The Encore

Brandon Hampton says it's a new-look Eagle bunch, but in all actuality, it's an Eagle bunch that ran roughshod through the 2015 season, going 9-0 in Black Diamond Conference play, before a disappointing first round exit in the 2A playoffs to Athens at home.

But with great power, as Eldorado displayed last season, comes great responsibility, and Hampton knows the target on his team's back just got a whole lot bigger.

"I think that's a great point. If we sit here and just rest on last year's success, I think that's a big mistake," Hampton said. This is a new team and a new year. We have to do the things we know we can do to go out and have success early on."

Four of Eldorado's first five games are at Boz Adams Field, opening up with Vienna-Goreville this Friday and followed by Sesser-Valier-Waltonville-Woodlawn in Week 2. The lone road game in that five game stretch is Week 3 at Carmi-White County. The Eagles return home to face Christopher-Zeigler-Royalton Week 4 and will play a Saturday game on Week 5 against Hamilton County, which also happens to be Eldorado's Homecoming game.

"It'll be important to get off to a good start, but you have to take care of Week 1 before you can do that. The challenge is not to look ahead as an athlete or as a coach, but just continue to get better everyday and hopefully it will put you in a position where you want to be at the end of the season."

Hampton has no doubts that those in Purple and Gold know they will be getting every Black Diamond Conference member's best shot.

"We have a target on our back. We know that," Hampton said. "It doesn't matter who we are playing, we know when we step on that field, we will be getting everyone's best game."

The Eagles lost some primary pieces to last year's undefeated BDC team, but also return with many key players.

The biggest loss might be Adam Ninness as quarterback, who didn't miss many snaps last year. Ninness will be replaced by junior Kale Oglesby.

Leading rushers Payton Price and Tre Vessel do return to give the Eagles that two-headed monster look again in the backfield.

"I think Peyton brings a lot to the table," Hampton said. "I think we are extremely talented in the backfield and each and every year you get hit by graduation. I think we have some guys in some spots that can pick up the slack and form a little bit of a new identity, particularly offensively. Heading into the season, I'm really thrilled where we are at tight end and linebacker. That will probably be the strength of our program."

The tight end look will showcase Braden Attebury and Max Kasiar. Tyler Gass is the featured linebacker and Tyson Bradley secures a defensive line.

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

THE ROSTER

No. Name Hgt Wgt Class Position

01 Garrett Canimore 5-7 130 Jr. E/DB

03 Connor Watt 5-9 160 Jr. RB/DB

04 Alex Brown 5-10 155 So. RB/DB

05 Braden Attebury 6-2 225 Jr. E/LB

06 Kale Oglesby 5-10 170 Jr. QB/DB

07 Isiah Barton 5-7 145 Sr. RB/DB

09 Dawson Metten 6-0 205 So. RB/LB

10 Max Kasiar 6-2 210 Sr. E/LB

13 Joe Mayberry 6-0 165 So. QB/DB

14 Jace Jenkins 5-9 155 So. RB/DB

15 Tre Vessel 5-9 225 Sr. RB/LB

19 Jacob Traxler 6-2 225 Jr. RB/LB

24 Clayton Dennis 5-7 145 So. RB/DB

25 Tyler Gass 6-2 225 Sr. E/LB

27 Wayne Roberts 5-5 145 Jr. RB/DB

34 Payton Price 5-10 190 Sr. RB/DB

35 Jeremy Boulds 6-2 185 So. E/LB

42 Austin Duncan 6-0 165 So. E/DL

51 Ross Harris 5-10 200 Sr. OL/LB

53 Gannon Mahoney 5-5 175 Jr. OL/LB

54 Dalton Karns 6-1 205 Sr. OL/DL

55 Justin Mace 5-8 245 So. OL/DL

57 Joe Lewis 5-9 175 So. OL/LB

59 Lorenzo Moses 5-10 220 Jr. OL/DL

60 Trenton Martin 5-9 220 Jr. OL/DL

63 Nick Hudnell 5-11 220 Sr. OL/DL

65 Logan Chambers 6-0 190 So. OL/DL

71 Chase Williams 6-2 245 Sr. OL/DL

72 Ethan Debose 5-9 250 Jr. OL/DL

75 Davin Lester 5-10 230 Sr. OL/DL

77 Kyle Worley 6-2 240 Jr. OL/DL

80 Tysen Bradley 6-1 265 Sr. E/DL

Head Coach: Brandon Hampton

Assistant Coaches: Joe Clark, Billy Tippett, Damian Milligan, Brad Drust, Greg Seagraves, Bryce Hampton, Kyle Lappington and Alex Molinarolo.

Eldorado Football Schedule

<p>Aug. 26    VIENNA-GOREVILLE        7 PM <br />Sep. 2    SESSER-VALIER        7 PM <br />Sep. 9    at Carmi-White County     7 PM <br />Sep. 16     CHRISTOPHER-ZEIGLER-ROYALTON    7 PM<br />Sep. 24    HAMILTON COUNTY (Homecoming)    1 PM<br />Sep. 30     at Edwards County        7 PM<br />Oct. 7     at Fairfield        7 PM<br />Oct. 14     JOHNSTON CITY        7 PM<br />Oct. 21    at Chester        7 PM<br /><br /></p>