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Week 3 Previews: Eldorado looks to move to 3-0 Saturday

For the past six prep football seasons, Eldorado has qualified for the IHSA playoffs.

Off to a 2-0 start and just one of two undefeated teams in the Black Diamond Conference, Eldorado looks to well be on their way to a seventh straight appearance.

Eldorado will get something of a playoff-like experience in terms of playing on a Saturday, when they travel to Vienna-Goreville Saturday for a rare weekend game.

The situation for EHS head coach Joe Clark is one that he calls "unique" but something that he and his team look forward to.

"This does teach you some Saturday preparation," Clark said. "We usually try to schedule one or two games a year, just to help us 'prepare' for the playoffs. Going to Vienna is always a unique situation, from the field setting to the zero locker rooms. It's going to be hot and we're going to have to do a good job with hydration. Our community really rallies behind us in that regards and makes sure we have what we need."

The Eagles (2-0) take a five-game winning streak into Johnson County on Saturday when Eldorado invades Vienna-Goreville, who is currently 0-2 on the year.

Vienna-Goreville, who became a member of the BDC in 2009, its 2-3 against Eldorado at home, beating the Eagles in 2013 and 2009.

Eldorado's ground game looks to be in mid-season form as the Eagles have outgained its opponent by 226 yards. The Eagles have three rushers over 100 yards and have amassed 540 yards on 90 carries.

Jacob Etienne leads the way with 183 yards on 31 carries, while Lydayyea Shewmaker has gone for 156 yards on 12 yards, while Aiden Kuhn, a Vienna High School transfer, had 120 yards on 26 carries.

Micah Harris leads Vienna-Goreville with 210 yards and two scores on 23 carries and is the lone bright spot for an Eagle team that was held to just 98 yards last Friday against Christopher-Zeigler-Royalton.

<b>No Friday Night Lights for Bulldogs Week 3</b>

n what's a rare occurrence, Harrisburg will not put on the pads this Friday after its contract with Boonville, Ind., was not renewed and the Bulldogs were unable to secure an opponent for Week 3.

Harrisburg head coach Gabe Angelly said his squad will use this week to "fine-tune" on both offense and defense.

"We'll take this week to heal up, but really take the next two weeks to prepare for West Frankfort. They have one of the better players in southern Illinois in Connor Eaton, so this week we'll work on details and get individual kids better. I think working on individuals is something you can allow yourself to do when you have a week off like we do."

Harrisburg is 0-2 after losses to Mt. Carmel and Du Quoin to start the season. The Bulldogs and Massac County are the only winless teams in the Ohio Division of the Southern Illinois-River-To-River Conference. West Frankfort and Benton are both unbeaten, while Murphysboro and Herrin are 1-1.

Looking back at his start to the season, Angelly pointed out some of the deficiencies that have his team in the hole.

"Defensively, we just have to get better at tackling. It's something we've worked on. On offense, we have to do a better job of sustaining drives and getting the ball in the end zone. I thought we played pretty good for a quarter and half against Du Quoin and then they rattled off a couple of scores pretty quickly and the game got away from us. Games like that are pretty tough to lose, especially when we are in a position to win."

Spyder Dann covers prep and college sports for the Southern Illinois Local Media News Group. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.