East Prairie looks for back-to-back winning seasons

EAST PRAIRIE - The East Prairie Eagles football team is looking to capitalize on a winning season last year and keep moving the program in a positive direction. The Eagles went 5-4 in 2005, the first winning season in the program since 1994. The last appearance by East Prairie in the playoffs was also back in 1994.

Second year head coach Corey Adkisson was pleased with a winning season but believes that to build a great program you have to expect more each and every season.

"We had a nice season last year at 5-4," said Adkisson, "but if Dexter or Jackson goes 5-4 it is a down year. We have got to keep improving. We play a tough schedule and have a tough district and all we can ask is that the kids play hard and they do. Our kids keep improving and that is a positive sign for any coach."

The Eagles were a game away from the Class 2 playoffs last season as the Caruthersville Tigers beat East Prairie in the last game of the season for the district title.

This season, an already stacked district with East Prairie, Caruthersville and Malden, just got stronger with the Charleston Bluejays replacing the Portageville Bulldogs who moved down to Class 1.

"I have been pleased with the kids' work ethic," said Adkisson. "They have shown up and worked extremely hard. The kids have done everything the coaches have asked of them and you can't ask for anything else. This has been one of our best summers as far as attendance to the weight training and the camps."

OFFENSE

East Prairie will return the services of all-state running back Paris Tipler. The 5-foot-9, 195-pound senior gained 2,300 all-purpose yards last season with 1,760 yards on the ground and scored 31 touchdowns for the Eagles.

Adkisson believes that Tipler is capable of a repeat performance this season.

"I expect the same type of production from Paris that we got last year," said Adkisson. "We are going to feed him the football. He put up monster numbers last year but it wasn't like he was our only guy in the backfield. This year, Paris is going to have to step it up because everyone knows he is back there. We expect that once he gets the football he is going to run hard and do the best he can."

The Eagles return Tipler in the backfield but lose Dez Johnson and quarterback Mitchell Winchester. Johnson was a nice complement to Tipler gaining 900 yards on the ground with eight touchdowns. Winchester threw for over 400 yards last year and rushed for close to 200 yards.

Junior Cameron Woodward will be the starter for the Eagles behind center. Woodward doesn't have the speed and quickness of Winchester, but does possess a better arm in his 6-2, 170-pound frame according to Adkisson.

"Cameron is not as quick as Mitchell," said Adkisson, "but he does have a more accurate arm which we like. We don't ask our quarterbacks to win the game, just don't lose it. We have a solid running game that will take a lot of pressure off him. We also wanted to get rid of the quarterback that starts one year and is gone the next. We want to instill some stability at the quarterback position.

M.C. Williams, a 5-5, 175-pound sophomore will try and fill the role vacated by Johnson. Williams was having a solid freshman season a year ago until breaking his ankle early in the season. Before the injury, Williams had rushed for 90 yards on 18 carries.

"M.C. has looked great early on in practice," said Adkisson. "He is in great shape and is always first in sprints. The kid never seems to get tired. M.C. is a different runner than Dez. While Dez could score from anywhere on the field, M.C. is a tough between the tackles runner who will get that one yard you need. We feel M.C. is going to have a good season."

The Eagles will return two offensive line starters from last season in 5-6, 180-pound senior Charles O'Dell at one guard and 5-9, 285-pound sophomore Ian Penrod at one of the tackle positions.

Adkisson indicated that he will have two newcomers to the O-line in first year player Tyler Branum and fullback convert Riley Hadenfeldt. Branam, a 6-2, 230-pound senior, is new to football but brings a big, physical presence to the Eagles.

Hadenfeldt gained 15 yards on five carries last season but has been moved to the line because of need and his physicality.

"Riley has really looked good on the line," said Adkisson. "He is on a learning curve but he has been physical and aggressive so far in practice." Three Eagle players are fighting for the center position in juniors Corey Jamerson (5-9, 165) and Jacob Tripp (5-9, 190) with sophomore Seth Hall (5-9, 165) getting some valuable experience at the position. East Prairie returns their top three receivers from a season ago in Tipler who had 230 yards on nine catches with two touchdowns, 6-2, 180-pound sophomore Tony Jones had four receptions for 95 yards and two touchdowns while 5-10, 170-pound senior Caleb Hatton had 70 yards receiving with a touchdown catch.

DEFENSE

The Eagles struggled at times last season on defense giving up over 30 points on four occasions last year. The defense was a no-show in the critical district game against Caruthersville, giving up 50 points as the Tigers rushed for over 500 yards in the game.

"Tackling was our Achilles' heel last year," said Adkisson. "We would scheme fine and get to the football, but once we were in position we just couldn't make the tackle. Last season on defense we were in the right place for the tackle but a kid would make a little move and he would race down the field 50 yards or more. We had a lot of teams in 3rd-and-long and we couldn't finish the series. That is just a lack of focus. We should be in shut-down mode on 3rd-and-long and it seemed like the kids thought they had done enough the previous two plays. We have been working on those type situations in practice and hopefully it will pay off in the season."

The Eagles return the top three tacklers on defense in Hadenfeldt and Jones. Hadenfeldt led the team in tackles from his linebacker position with over tackles in his freshman year. Hadenfeldt was an all-conference player last year for East Prairie.

Jones had over 60 tackles at defensive end and was also an all-conference player for the Eagles. Cornerback Zach Secoy (5-11, 150) also had over 60 tackles last year.

"All three of those guys are just excellent leaders," said Adkisson. "Tony is just a monster at his end position on defense. He works hard and we expect big things from him this year. Riley and Zach are also hard workers and we believe they can contribute in a big way."

Along with Jones at defensive end, East Prairie will have Penrod, Branam and O?Dell on the D-line. The Eagles will be loaded with solid sophomore linebackers with Hadenfeldt, Hall and Jordan Jarret (5-10, 180). The secondary will feature Tipler and Secoy at defensive back, with seniors Perry Lucas (6-0, 160) and Randy Woods (5-6, 150) at the safeties.

OUTLOOK

The district will be a little different with the addition of Charleston but Adkisson believes no team has any distinct advantage at the start the year.

"Everybody has to go through district play,"said Adkisson. "It is not like we play anybody different than Caruthersville. It is going to be a difficult road and whoever makes it out is going to be for real. When it gets to district play, it all depends on who is playing the best and who has the least number of injuries."

There is a new vibe emitting from East Prairie and many in the town are wondering if the Eagles can make a return trip to the playoffs for the first time in 12 years.

"Our kids believe they can compete with anybody in the area,"said Adkisson. "Last year, I don't know how much our kids believed that they could play and win against some of the teams in our area. At the end of the year they started to believe that they could win and they definitely believe it now. In the past, East Prairie was beat before we even reached the field. We are trying to change that mental attitude with hard work and good preparation."

Offense

QB- Cameron Woodward (6-2, 170, Jr.)

RB- M.C. Williams (5-5, 170, So.)

FB- Paris Tipler (5-9, 195, Sr.)

WR- Zach Secoy (5-11, 150, Sr.)

WR- Caleb Hatton (5-10, 170, Sr.)

TE- Tony Jones (6-2, 180, Jr.)

OL- Ian Penrod (5-9, 285, So.)

OL- Tyler Branam (6-2, 230, Sr.)

OL- Riley Hadenfeldt (5-11, 205, So.)

OL- Charles O'Dell (5-6,180, Sr.)

OL- Corey Jamerson (5-9, 165, Jr.)

Defense

DL- Tony Jones (6-2, 180, Jr.)

DL- Tyler Branam (6-2, 230, Sr.)

DL- Ian Penrod (5-9, 285, So.)

DL- Camden Myers (5-10, 225, So.)

LB- Riley Hadenfeldt (5-11, 205, So.)

LB- Seth Hall (5-9, 165, So.)

LB- Jordan Jarret (5-10, 180, So.)

CB- Paris Tipler (5-9, 195, Sr.)

CB- Zach Secoy (5-11, 150, Sr.)

FS- Randy Woods (5-6, 150, Sr.)

SS- Perry Lucas (6-0, 160, Sr.)