El Dorado Springs must replace several productive players from last season’s team, but no shoes are bigger to fill than those of Dayton Austin, Ethan Dubois and Riley Boyd.
Austin was the team’s leading rusher with 1,140 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also had 135 total tackles on defense. Dubiois was the team’s leading tackler with 179 total tackles along with 514 yards rushing and seven touchdowns on offense. Boyd threw for 486 yards and five touchdowns to go with 256 yards rushing and five touchdowns along with 66 total tackles and a team-high two interceptions on defense.
“Those three did a lot for us on both sides of the ball and will be missed, however, they did a good job of setting the expectations high for the underclassmen,” El Dorado Springs head coach Derek Scroggins said.
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El Dorado Springs finished the 2016 season with a 4-7 record that ended in a 38-6 loss to Fair Grove in the Class 2, District 4 semifinals.
Trenton Hardie will lead the way in 2017 as the lead running back in the Bulldogs’ run-heavy attack. He rushed for 635 yards and six touchdowns last season.
“Trenton did a great job in both blocking and running last year and I think he is ready to be our feature back,” Scroggins said. “His progression through his first three years has been very impressive and I’m excited to see what he does going into his senior season.”
El Dorado Springs ran the ball 392 times last season against 84 passes, so Hardie will need plenty of help in the backfield.
Jake Schieffer moves from wide receiver where he had 21 catches for 420 yards and four touchdowns to running back. Tanner Witt, Keilan Jaques and Cade Whitesell will all also be in the mix in the backfield.
Trey Babcock will take over for Boyd at quarterback.
The offensive line will be a strength with three returning starters in Wyatt Graves, Blake Holder, Dagan McIntire and Shelby McKinney.
The defense lost some key players, but the unit has looked good in the early going.
“We actually look more aggressive as a unit this year. We lost some key players from last year but we had kids anxious to step into those roles and are thriving with their opportunity,” Scroggins said. “Our strength is our aggression and athleticism. Our players are hard-nosed kids and our opponents will know they were in a football game.”
Babcock returns to the middle of the defense at linebacker after a 90-tackle season last year. Witt, Graves, Holder and Dakota Long will join Babcock in the middle of the defense at linebacker.
Jaques, McKinney and Dylan Gallette all return to start on the defensive line.
The secondary will be anchored by Schieffer, Colton Collins and Brayden Housh.
El Dorado Springs will again be in a tough district featuring six-time defending state champion Lamar, but the Bulldogs are not looking ahead and remaining focused on week-by-week progress.
“I expect us to get better each week. We have had an intense summer and I’ve been very impressed with our athlete’s work ethics. We seem to be coming together as a team and I think the sky is the limit for us but we will take it one game at a time,” Scroggins said.
El Dorado Springs opens the season on Aug. 18 at home against Stockton in the annual Cedar County Bowl.
