Prep Football: Stepping Out

Brandon Hampton likes to break down his football season into thirds and after three weeks into the season, the Eldorado head coach likes where his team is at, but also knows there's a lot of room for improvement.

The Eagles (2-1) would be presented with a bye-week this Friday as the defunct Elverado football program would have given Hampton and Eldorado a forfeit win.

Hampton instead went to work, filling the void in week four and found Fulton City, Kentucky to fill that gap.

It's a week where it's still business as usual for the Eagles, but Hampton said this scenario gives his team a playoff-like feel for preparation.

"It's a team we're not really familiar with, something you might get during the playoffs, but what we do know is that they are extremely talented, albeit, short in numbers.

The Bulldogs can make up for numbers with speed and athleticism. The road game for the Eagles provides an opportunity for Hampton to preach the idea of playing flawless football and eliminating mistakes.

"We have to eliminate all the distractions and little things and focus on the things we can do to have success like blocking and tackling. The next third in our schedule is an important phase for our program. Only one of those weeks are we at home, but there have been a lot of restless nights at my house this week, knowing the speed and athleticism that Fulton can put on the field."

Fulton City has lost three straight to start the season, beginning with a 20-18 loss to rival Fulton County and then lost 45-6 to Ballard Memorial and 37-6 to a Caldwell County team that features Elijah Sindelar, a 6-foot-5 senior quarterback that is headed to the University of Purdue.

"There are some fun things this week, there is also some doubt and uncertainty," Hampton said. "The competitor in you like the challenge of facing someone out of the Black Diamond Conference.

"For us, with a young football team, we have to make the improvements and corrections we need to make to get better. I like where we're at right now as a team."

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