Prep Football: Eagles keep focus heading into playoffs

It could be considered just one more game, but Brandon Hampton is putting a little more emphasis into the Week 9 regular season finale.

The Eldorado head coach wants to send his seniors out with a win at home against Vienna-Goreville Friday night at Boz Adams Field and while the Eagles appear to be firm in the playoffs at five wins, Hampton wants a little insurance heading into the postseason.

Saying one last good bye at Boz Adams Field will be seniors, Nathan Burnett, Christian Dalton, Cameron Denbo, Logan Kanady, Christian McNabb, Dillon Parker and Braxton Roberts.

"We have a lot riding on this game," Hampton said. "Our sole focus is sending the seniors out with six wins, which would be a great accomplishment for those kids and Vienna is a team that has struggled this year, but have scored a lot of points. They pose a real challenge to us defensivley."

That challenge comes in the form of Vienna-Goreville's patented single wing offense.

"In laymen terms, they really over crowd one side of the line and don't have a traditional quarterback, instead two or three guys in the backfield with a simulated shotgun snap where two or three guys could get the football," Hampton said of Vienna-Goreville's offense.

"It's based on misdirection, so it's unique for our kids and tough for our scouts to give us that kind of look, but it'll come down to which team blocks and tackles the best."

Eldorado is also hoping to avoid the hiccup they had a year ago, where the Eagles lost at Vienna-Goreville in the season finale. It was a loss, that at the end of the day, was a wake up call for Hampton and his players.

Eldorado enters the game 5-3 overall and 4-3 in Black Diamond Conference play. Vienna-Goreville is winless at 0-8.

"I think maybe more than anything it's been a learning experience," he said. "You look at their record and they've struggled this year, but those kids on last year's team, will tell you that if you look past someone's record it will come back to bite you. It's not really been a factor this year, it's a new team and a new season and our kids are just focused on doing what we need to do to get that sixth win."

Eldorado will still be without the services of Drew Woolcott, who suffered a seperated shoulder, but are hoping to get Braxton Roberts healthy, who exited last week's game with Chester in the second half.

Logan Kanady, who had to sit out last week's game at Chester, will return to the lineup this week against Vienna-Goreville.

"It helps us to get Logan back," Hampton said. "He's that big play guy on kickoffs and adds another dimension to our running game. We have to be able to run the ball a whole lot better this week. We weren't able to establish our running game and ultimately had to ask Nathan Burnett to make a few plays in the play action game."

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