Eads Offense Continues To Struggle

By Betsy Barnett

September 24, 2004

In their third game of the season the Eads Eagles' offense has managed only one lone touchdown coming in the Springfield game a week ago. Eads is now 0-3 on the season and looking for their first win despite facing difficult odds. They are by far the youngest team the fans in Eads have seen in some years as half the starting lineup are freshmen. They are also small with their two biggest player freshmen as well. And they have no depth as a number of school athletes chose not to play resulting in just two seniors on a team with just over a dozen players total.

But they are gutsy as they have competed well with every opponent battling injury and fatigue. This week in Eads the Holly Wildcats managed to win a hard-fought contest 28-0 but had to battle for everything they got. The young Eagle defense is coming along nicely and is chalking up big numbers in the tackles department. Sophomore Trice Watts led the attack on defense with 17 tackles followed by senior Dain Barnett, who played with a separated shoulder, getting 16 tackles. Junior Brandon Cordova added 14 more while Jacob Buck and Demetrius Gilmore were in double figures with 12 and 10 tackles apiece. However, it was on the offensive side of the ball where the Eagles have their problems. A very small line for Eads continues to struggle against the much larger opponents. The Eagles could manage less than 90 yards on the ground led by Watts with 73 yards in 15 carries. Gilmore added 62 more yards on punt and kickoff returns.

Eads will continue to have a tough go of it as Barnett, the quarterback, is doubtful for this Friday's game and senior backer Kelly Lindholm is nursing a very sore ankle. They will travel to Wiley on Friday night to face a 0-2 Panther group.