Eagle High School
School Info
Conference: 5A Southern Idaho Conference
Classification: 5A
Head Coach: Paul Peterson
Years as Head Coach: 14th Season
Previous Experience: Head Coach at Borah
Record Last Year: 7-3
State Titles: 1998, 2001, 2009
Assistant Coaches: Eric Fillmore John Knight James Cluphf Porter Lacey Rob Rathbun Nathan White Q Buckley John Zamberlin John Gough
Returning Players: Cam Churchill, WR, 11 Nelson Russell, RB, 12 Kaden Baskett, WR, 12 Luke Masters, OL, 12 Sam Witte, DL, 12 Dalton Riggs, DL, 12 David Haggerty, LB, 12 Derek Tommasini, LB, 11 Matt Hudson, LB, 12
Returning Players with Honors: Luke Masters, All-State OL Sam Witte, All-State DL
Key Players lost from last year: Kalvin Stewart, DB Devan Bridgewater, QB Luke Favillo, RB Grant Horlocher, LB Brennan Larsen, WR Mackay Reave, LB Brennan Hull, DB Nick Williams, WR Isaac Nichols, OL Karl Thomas, H-Back Cameron Flaner, DB
Photo By: Steve Conner - #88 Cam Churchill
Incoming impact players: Ben Ford, QB, 10
Team Preview: Written By: Sven Alskog
Eagle lost about as much talent as any program in the state to graduation following last season, including three-year starting quarterback Devan Bridgewater.
It will be a different look for the Mustangs in the new campaign, with senior offensive lineman Luke Masters and senior defensive lineman Sam Witte the most notable returners. Both were All-State selections a year ago.
Offensive success will come down in large part to how the new quarterback is performs, as skill position threats Cam Churchill, Kaden Baskett and Nelson Russell all possess plenty of ability to stretch the field for Eagle.
Sophomore Ben Ford was listed by the head coach as a potential impact newcomer, so the young talent could be the guy under center when the Mustangs hit the field for the first time.
No matter who the signal-caller is, the strength of the offensive unit is obvious.
“Our team speed at the skill positions,” said head coach Paul Peterson. “We need to spread the ball all over.”
On the defensive side of the ball Dalton Riggs joins Witte up front, with the linebacker core of David Haggerty, Derek Tommasini and Matt Hudson looking to be strong.
“Our defensive strength is the experience and talent in the front seven. We need to create more turnovers,” said Peterson.
Team chemistry might be a strength.
“I sense a real desire to be cohesive,” added Peterson.
With plenty of new faces and some exciting returners, the Mustangs should still be a tough out in the 5A SIC. How far the team goes will depend in large part on the success of the new quarterback.
The first test for the new-look Eagle squad will come on August 24 on the road against the Meridian Warriors and their head coach Mike Virden.
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