By Chris Parker
East Newton football will have a more experienced roster returning this season after graduating just three starters from last season’s team.
Offensively, the Patriots return their quarterback, tailback, several wide receivers and four of five offensive linemen.
Will Eichelberger returns at quarterback for his senior season. He threw for 702 yards and rushed for 237 yards last season. Eichelberger will also play defensive back.
River Enlow was an all-conference and all-district running back last season after he rushed for a team-high 879 yards on 171 carries. Enlow is also a cornerback where he had 30 tackles last season.
Braxton Wolfe will be the team’s top receiver after hauling in 33 receptions for 454 yards as a junior. He will also play free safety where he had 51 total tackles. Wolfe was all-conference and all-district at both positions. He is a three-year starter on both sides of the ball.
Junior Caden Youngblood and senior Cayden Larsen also return as wide receivers and defensive backs. Youngblood earned his all-conference and all-district honors as a punter.
Ethan Bales (sophomore) is back as a wide receiver and linebacker. Lachlan Letterman will join Bales at linebacker while also playing tight end.
Up front, Will Earl, Ian Dover, Alan McFarland, Layton Pilcher and Darryan Moore will play on the offensive line. Earl, Pilcher and Moore will also play defensive line. Dover and McFarland will be linebackers defensively.
Virgil Rosiere (junior WR/OLB), Payton Brown (sophomore OL/DL) and Cayden Larsen (WR/DB) will be newcomers to the varsity lineup. Rosiere is a move-in. Brown was a part-time starter last year who is coming back from a knee injury. Larsen started as a sophomore but missed last year due to injury.
“We are very excited for the upcoming season,” East Newton head coach Tom Ellis said. “We feel that we have been making positive strides the last couple of years while playing a lot of young players. Those players are back with experience that we hope will translate into more success on the field.”
East Newton will travel to Diamond for a jamboree on Aug. 23 with El Dorado Springs, Miller and the host Wildcats. The Patriots open the season on Aug. 30 at Springfield Catholic.
