Prep Football: Experience will be X-Factor for Eagles

One thing has been consistent if you listen to Brandon Hampton throughout this pre-season in camp.

The Eldorado High School head football coach has preached the importance of trusting in the process.

That process has been an on-going trend for Hampton, who enters his ninth season at Eldorado and returns a team that went 6-4 last season and lost to Johnston City 28-20 in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs.

Yes, Eldorado lost key parts to last year's playoff team, including three-year starter at Quarterback Nathan Burnett and fullback Braxton Roberts.

Hampton maintains that it's quite possible the strength of this year's tea, will be the nucleus of guys that the Eagles do return.

"Last year's senior class was relatively small, but we really return a slew of guys defensively. We were in the middle to upper pack statistically in the Black Diamond and for us that wasn't good enough. We strive to be one of the top teams year-in and year-out in southern Illinois."

Among those that return are a handful of now sophomores and juniors that saw action last season.

"Last year, we started a freshman and about six or seven sophomores. The good news for us is now we have six or seven juniors coming back that played a lot of football and a sophomore that started seven games last year at inside linebacker. I anticipate us being strong defensively. I'm also really impressed with where we are at on the offensive line. We have some returners there that worked really hard and some new guys, a new center and a new left tackle."

Among those that Hampton was referring to including inside linebacker Jacob Traxler, who will be a sophomore this season. He will be joined by juniors Ross Harris (inside linebacker), Max Kasiar (inside linebacker), Peyton Price (defensive back), Isaac Bethel (defensive back), Tyler Gass (linebacker) and Davin Lester (defensive line).

On the offensive line, Hampton is looking at seniors Logan Bowen and Teton Prather, Chase Williams (junior), Nick Hudnell (junior) along with Lester.

"We're breaking in two new starters on the offensive line in Williams and Hudnell," Hampton added. "We have some questions to answer - a little bit of a battle going on at tight end with a couple of guys - but I like where we are at. We have to continue to improve and all we're trying to do is string together some good days."

Hampton really likes the Eagles' depth in the secondary, a unit that Eldorado hasn't been as strong in the past, but more than anything, the eighth-year head coach has a plethora of options at running back.

Drew Woolcott, a 5-foot-10, 190-pound senior, along with Price (5-10, 190) both return as starters from last year's club. Expected to join the stable will be Alex Molinioro (6-2, 210-pound senior) and Trey Vessel (5-9, 225-pound junior).

"Those guys are a little unproven, but I think they're very talented," Hampton said of Molinioro and Vessel. "It will be their first time that they will be featured at the varsity level full time and then Ninness, who started the playoff game for us Week 10 and played very well for us. I've been very encouraged by the off season he has had, developing some arm strength and working on the option game. In regards to running our offense, Adam has done a very nice job of getting himself ready."

Ninness went 4-for-10 for 72 yards in the playoff loss at Johnston City a year ago, but displays more skills at the option position, whereas Burnett was more of pocket thrower.

"Having Kasiar back, who was a big offensive guy for us last year, him and Woolcott give us a lot of speed offensively and I feel like our quarterback will distribute the ball where he needs to to have some success there," Hampton said.

Hampton is hoping a couple of players, senior offensive and defensive lineman Denzel Smith, who stands in at 6-foot and 300 pounds, along with Tyler Gass, a 6-1, 200 pound junior running back and defensive back become unsung heroes of this year's Eagle football club.

"Denzel has taken a position change from the offensive line to the defensive line and I thought he has had some great practice days. He's really providing a lot of leadership and I'm excited to see what we are going to get out of him this year on the other side of the ball," Hampton said.

"Tyler has had a nice little growth spurt and is starting to come into his body a little bit more. He's worked hard in the weight room and I think he is a guy who can come out of nowhere, much like Ross Harris did last year."

If one were to look at Eldorado's schedule, conventional wisdom would say the Eagles have to take care of business early as three of the first four games are on the road as EHS starts the season Saturday at Vienna-Goreville and travels to Sesser-Valier (Sept. 4). Eldorado will host Carmi-White County on Sept. 11, before going to Christopher and Hamilton County on back-to-back weeks Sept. 18 and 25.

Hampton has then arranged for a unique homecoming game for the Eagles as they will host Riverton on a Saturday afternoon, Oct. 10 at 1 p.m. Tiverton replaces Fulton City on the schedule and this will be the last season before Edwards County becomes a staple of the Black Diamond Conference beginning next season.

Then, the Eagles face murderer's row to conclude the season as Fairfield (Oct. 9 at home), Johnston City (Oct. 16 on the road) and Chester (Oct. 23 at home) are all considered the top three teams in this year's league.

"Three of our first four are on the road, so when you play on the road you have to take care of the football and play penalty free," Hampton said. "You have to not worry about anything else but doing your job and that's been our philosophy or focus early on."

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