MAYFLOWER EAGLES | Down but not out

RIVER VALLEY and OZARK AREA — Two years ago, the Mayflower Eagles won 10 games and advanced to the third round of the state playoffs, losing to the eventual state champions. But the 2009 team returned only two offensive andtwo defensive starters, so many wrote the Eagles off. All the Eagles did was win five games, finish tied for second in 2-3A and once again make thestate playoffs.

With the 2010 team returning only five starters on offense andthree on defense, most opponents are not expecting much out of the Eagles once again this year, and that’s OK with head coach Jed Davis.

“A lot of teams are counting us out,” the fourth

year coach said. “We’ve been picked to finish any

where from third to seventh by the coaches, so

we like to prove people wrong. Last year, we were

picked to finish fifth and not make the playoffs,

and we came in third. Our goal is every year to

make the playoffs and make some noise and be

playing on Thanksgiving.” To be playing on Thanksgiving, the Eagles will

have to depend on an experienced offensive line. Of

the five returning starters on offense, four of them

play offensive line: seniors Jacob Raney at left tackle,

Kody Woodham at center and Murphy Bankston at

right guard, and junior Dillon Green at left guard.

“Every person on our offensive line started last

year except for one, and they all have quite a good

bit of experience,” Davis said.

But while the offensive line promises to be astrength for the 2010 team, the Eagles have a lack of experience at the skill positions on offense.

“None of our skill players [on offense] started last year,” Davis said. “Every spot was filled by a senior except for one receiver: [senior] Chris Hale. He was one of the top receivers in Faulkner County last year. He had almost 900 yards receiving, so we’re going to be depending on him a lot in the passing game.” Delivering the ball to Hale will be sophomore quarterback Daniel Gieber. But with an experienced offensive line and inexperienced

quarterback, Davis expects the majority of

the Eagles’ yardage to come via the ground.

“[Gieber] started for our junior high last

year, and he’s not the most polished passer,

but he’s very good running the football,” Da

vis said. “We felt like with our offensive line

and our team this year, that running was

going to be our strength, so we wanted him

back there to do that for us.

“[Junior Taylor Mathis] was the backup

last year [at running back], but we’re expect

ing big things out of him this year.” The Eagles’ defense is led by a trio of line

backers: Bankston, Mathis and sophomoreCody Funderburg. The trio are the team’s only returning starters on defense.

“[Funderburg] is in 10th grade, but at the end of the junior high season, we moved him up for our last two or three games, and he started for our senior high.” When asked if linebacking will be the strength of the Eagles’ defense, Davis chuckled and said, “If it’s not, we’re going to be in a lot of trouble.

“My main concern [on defense] is stopping other team’s passing attacks. We gave up too many big plays last season, so we’ve got to cut down on those this year.”

River Valley Ozark Football, Pages 81 on 08/29/2010

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