Eldorado Football Preview: Clark looks to keep momentum going with Eagles
It's not uncommon for team goals to be that of competing for a conference championship and looking for a spot in the postseason.
Those have long been the team goals at Eldorado and the Eagles have made the most out of them with four straight appearances in the postseason, dating back to the 2013 season and under the tenure of Brandon Hampton the Eagles went to the playoffs six of his nine years at EHS and won the only two Black Diamond Conference championships in school history.
Hampton is no longer at Eldorado, but his long time assistant Joe Clark is.
Clark was named the head coach to replace Hampton on April 28, less than 10 days after Hampton resigned to take a position at Paris, Texas.
A year ago, Hampton led the Eagles to the second round of the IHSA Class 2A Playoffs. The season ended with a 41-34 loss to Maroa-Forsyth at home, but closed out the 2016 campaign with the most wins under Hampton & became the first BDC team to win a playoff game against a non-BDC opponent since 2009. Eldorado also broke a 28-year streak with getting the school's first playoff win, which came in Week 10 against Flora.
Now with important pieces to the Eagles' program back from a year ago, Clark and company are looking to keep the conference momentum going in their favor.
Last season, Eldorado had the top ranked defense in southern Illinois and the BDC in points allowed and featured the south's best offense in yards gained.
"That kind of stuff is for reflection," Clark said. "We like to have pride in those team categories, but at the same time, we try to keep realistic expectations."
The first step in repeating on those categories will be the return of four players on offense and five players on defense.
Jacob Traxler, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound senior running back and linebacker, who already has a football scholarship offer from SIU head coach Nick Hill, is the first of four EHS returners on offense and defense for Clark.
Joining Traxler on offense, will be quarterback Kale Oglesby, end Braden Attebury and offensive lineman Justin Mace.
On defense, Traxler is joined by Connor Watt, Joe Mayberry, Atterbury and Oglesby.
Eldorado did graduate a pair of 1,000 yard rushers in Trey Vessel and Payton Price. Price later signed scholarship papers to continue his football career at McKendree University.
The loss of the two in the backfield, won't leave Clark with a completely bare cupboard.
Traxler, along with Watt, were a big part of the Eagles' rushing attack in the later part of the season, as were, Dawson Metten and Wayne Roberts.
"We have a good core coming back and some good upper classmen," Clark said. "A lot of them have been patient and waiting for their opportunity. Like I said, that senior group is a good one and we'll fill pieces we vacated from last year."
Knowing what Clark returns on offense and defense is certainly cause for him to breathe a little easier, but the first year EHS coach said there will still be shoes to fill.
"We kind of look at in in three areas. Number one is your lineman lost - both on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Number two, the skill kids - Payton was a dynamic kid, but we have good kids coming into the position. and the last is how the kids prepare in the offseason if they did and then how they prepare in weekly preparation which they are and when lights come on, how will they respond."
Michael Dann covers prep and college sports for the Harrisburg Register, Eldorado Journal & The Gallatin County Democrat. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.
2017 Eldorado High School Football Schedule
Aug. 25 CHESTER 7 PM
Sept. 2 at Vienna 1 PM
Sept. 8 at Sesser-Valier 7 PM
Sept. 15 CARMI 7 PM
Sept. 22 at Hamilton Co. 7 PM
Sept. 29 at Christopher 7 PM
Oct. 7 EDWARDS CO. 1 PM
Oct. 13 FAIRFIELD 7 PM
Oct. 20 at Johnston City 7 PM