Prep Football: Eagles Taking Flight
One thing is for sure - Eldorado has qualified for the playoffs for the third straight season after last week's 48-0 win over Hamilton County.
One thing that is still uncertain - Eldorado doesn't know whether its first round playoff game will be at home or on the road.
In the effort to set the mood, EHS head coach scheduled a Saturday game this season, in hopes of giving Eagle fans that post season feel as Eldorado will play host to Riverton at 1 p.m.
Riverton, out of the Sangamo Conference, are 1-4 overall and 1-4 in conference play and are currently in eighth place out of the nine-team league.
The meeting between the two replaces what would have been a date with Elverado. However, this will be the last season Black Diamond Conference schools have to play out of conference opponents as Edwards County joins the BDC next season, bringing it back to full strength.
Meanwhile, EHS is on a roll, winners of five straight to start the season and match the best start since 2013 when the Eagles started 7-0.
Hampton knows none of that matters come Saturday.
"It's a fun week of preparation, both as a coach and as a player, because I think there is some enjoyment out of getting ready for a team that you're not familiar with. This is much like the post season, where you get a draw, a team you don't know a lot about and a Saturday game."
Not since 1996 has Eldorado hosted a first round playoff game and with three games still left on the docket, a win Saturday would go a long way in seeking the possibility for Hampton and company to make that a reality.
"Riverton is a team that will go three, four or five wide receiver team and will try to spread you out and run the football with their quarterback. He throws the ball really well and more of a spread-style, gun-and-run team, than anyone else we have seen so far this season."
In comparison, Riverton has put up just 108 points compared to the pace of 172 set by Eldorado coming into Saturday. The Eagles have given up just 19 points all season, shutting out two opponents so far and allowing less than seven points a game in the other three. Riverton has given up a 183, which ranks seventh in their conference.
Saturday is Homecoming at Eldorado and Hampton has also been preaching to his team not buying into the distraction.
"This week is always unique - as it is in any town - but for us we can't get caught up in the all that other stuff. For us, it's about football and the football game and focusing on getting better in practice in an unstructured week."
At this point in the season, Eldorado has performed like a well oiled machine, rattling off five straight victories to the start the season, but the most important or impressive for Hampton is the team has come out healthy.
"I feel like with our fullbacks and running backs we have been able to distribute the ball well, so no one player has really been maxed out at this point. We just have to make the choice to get better each and every day as the opponents in the back half of the season get better and Riverton is one of those teams."
Eldorado will conclude its schedule with a home game against Fairfield (4-1, 3-1) next Friday and will play at Johnston City (4-1, 4-1) on Oct. 16. The Eagles conclude the regular season at home against unbeaten Chester, who is currently ranked seventh in the Associated Press Top 10 poll in 2A and No. 5 in The Daily Register Southern Illinois Super 10 prep poll.
Michael Dann covers prep and college sports for the Harrisburg Daily Register. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.