Scrimmage preps Eagles for season opener

The Eagles started to focus on the upcoming football season this past weekend with a scrimmage.

Head Coach Jay Long said the team had a short camp this year and used the scrimmage to see how the second and third teams react in game situations.

On the offensive side, Coordinator Chris Stein said the scrimmage was successful in helping the coaches see what they needed out of their players.

Defensive Coordinator Jeff Larson said the scrimmage helped him make one final evaluation of his defensive line before the season opener Sept. 5 at Missouri University of Science & Technology, Rolla.

Overall, Larson said as long as his guys continue to be consistent on the front line he will have lots of confidence. He said the majority of last year’s starting line were seniors whom he lost to graduation, but as long as the men replacing them this year stay healthy and consistent, he will remain confident in them.

Stein said that this season there’s been progress in the offense’s performance as practices continue, noting that there has been a change of tempo this year, but things still seem to be going well. He added that this season the offense has a lot of returning players who should serve the team well.

“We have so many old (veteran) players,” he said, “that I could name off the whole offensive to tell you some names to look for this season.”

Long expressed similar thoughts.

“You know, I’m excited about our veterans,” he said Friday afternoon. “We are going into our 12th practice and I am impressed with our veterans. You know, we have 12 days to continue to improve, and that’s the plan.”

Larson said his entire secondary is dynamic and all have their separate good qualities. He said his senior linebackers Shea Koch of Custer, S.D., and Bryant Miller of Bayard are good guys and good ball players.

Long said that his players know that their focus is on the team, and when they do something well, the team gets the credit. They play for the team, he said.

Long also said he feels bad about losing senior safety Trelan Taylor of Spring Valley, Calif., for six games, but noted that Taylor is a team player who is doing what he can to help.

“You know what he did when he found out,” Long said.  “He was sitting right there in that chair and he asked, ‘Coach, what can I do to make the team better?’”

Long said Taylor, who lead the team with eight interceptions last year, is a great leader. Although he feels bad for Taylor, Long said the next guy always has to be ready to step up. Tyler Wright, senior of Arvada, Colo., is that next guy.

 

“Tyler, he knows every position, he’s a smart player and I’m confident in playing him,” Larson said.

Red shirt freshman defensive back Ryan Wood of Stockton, Calif., is another player who will see game action and Larson said he is confident about calling on him.

“He has been progressing all year, even since spring,” Larson said. “So I’m confident in his playing, as well.”

The team’s next focus is to go down to Missouri S&T and beat them, Long said.

Stein said even though CSC might not be ready to pack up and play Missouri now, when the time comes, they will be ready.

“Yes! We are ready,” Larson said. “Our boys are ready to hit someone else.”

Coach Tyler Fenwick from Missouri S&T said Tuesday that his team is undergoing many changes, but should be prepared for the Eagles come Sept. 5.

“We haven’t played Chadron recently, at least not that I know of,” Fenwick said. “And I know they are a good team with a tradition of winning.

“We have lots of changes coming this year. I’m new and we lost a lot of seniors from last year, so it should be an interesting game,” Fenwick said.

Fenwick said he is looking to beef up the Miners’ schedule a little from last year. The team went 10-1 last season but did not make the playoffs. Chadron State, on the other hand,  finished 9-3 a year ago, and made the playoffs.

Tipping his hat to the Eagles, Fenwick said he thinks playing CSC will help his team improve the caliber of its schedule.