Clark, Eagles look to keep playoff streak alive

While death and taxes are inevitable, graduation is another one that Joe Clark knows you can add to the list.

The second year Eldorado head football coach just completed an 8-3 season, where the Eagles were knocked out of the second round of the IHSA Class 2A Playoffs for a second straight year by Maroa-Forsyth.

Gone are two way players Jacob Traxler, who is playing football at Southern Illinois University and Braden Attebury, who is playing football at Belleville-Lindenwood. Kale Oglesby, a two-year starter at at QB, will be playing baseball at McKendree.

Clark lost about six players on both sides of the ball to graduation and has wasted no time in trying to fill the voids.

"Every year there is something that moves on which is the nature of the beast and we're fine with that," Clark said. "You just expect those other guys to step up, fill those roles to the best of their ability and find ways to contribute to the team on either side of the ball. But we're not going to talk a lot about last year other than the expectations that's changed."

Clark noted that he has some nice pieces back from last year's team, including Joe Mayberry, Jace Jenkins and Blakely Watt.

'We'll try to build on that with some really good players and the expectations are still high," Clark said. We're still expecting to compete for a conference championship, and just taking it day to day right now, trying to piece the puzzle together. The kids are doing a great job, energy is high so we're super excited about it."

As far as having to plug new pieces into the lineup, Clark said it's not a concern as much as it is a challenge.

"What you want to do as a high school coach is develop young players, develop young people, and try to continue to move the ship in the correct direction."

Clark brought over longtime coach Al Way from Harrisburg and said that should help in the direction of the offense.

"I think we'll be strong on both sides of the offensive and defensive line. The addition of coach Way obviously speaks for itself. As the offensive coordinator, he will help alleviate the pressure off of me as the head coach. I can't see many limitations right now at this point. I really like our skill kids coming back so we will see how it all comes together."

Fairfield won the Black Diamond Conference crown a year ago, but Clark feels this year, there will likely be more parity than ever before.

"It's similar in the fact, as of now, it looks like there could be a level of parody but we just have to see how the season unfolds," he said. "A couple of injuries here and there, success and failure depending on how it all shakes out, you'll start to see the tiers of the team. I expect Sesser to be towards the top. Fairfeld, Carmi. Chester and Vienna are probably both playoff qualifiers. The first part of our season we will be tested and we're looking forward to it."

Eldorado opens the season on Aug. 24 at Chester.

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