EAST PRAIRIE -- Entering his 11th year as a football coach and his second season in his second stint with the East Prairie Eagles program, head coach Jason Aycock is taking what he believes is the best senior class he's ever had as far as leadership qualities are concerned into a brand new 2008 regular season.

Not only will he have one of the top leading rushers from last year back as a leader on the field, Aycock will also have someone who he feels has done all that is needed of him that has earned him the right to become the leader that every team needs.

"Ian Penrod has lead by example, he is a vocal leader and the kids really do respect him," Aycock said about Penrod. "I feel like he has really stepped up in that leadership role. He has worked hard all the way from his freshman year to his senior year. He not only done what the coaches asked of him, he has went beyond that and done even more. That's what the all the players see out of him and that's what puts him in the position to take over that leadership role."

Last year, the Eagles had the presence of Tony Jones as that leader. Jones was one of the area's most prolific tacklers last season bringing down the ball carrier 132 times during the regular season. He also recorded seven sacks.

Other graduates along with Jones include Trenton Morton and Jacob Trip.

"Everybody is replaceable, they got to be," Aycock said. "We just have to get the next guys ready and move on."

Speaking of moving, senior M.C. Williams will once again be ready to cut up opposing defenses from the backfield for the Eagles as he returns for his final year.

"Any coach enjoys a player like M.C.," said Aycock. "Anytime you do have a player such as M.C., it gives you that chance for a game-breaking play. He is one of those legit game-breakers that can break big runs for you."

Williams has been a force from the tailback position for the past two years in the Eagles uniform. He finished last year with 1,528 yards and 17 touchdowns.

In a game against the Caruthersville Tigers last season, Williams ran for a total of 340 yards and five touchdowns after he had done almost the exact same thing against the Portageville Bulldogs just two weeks before. He rushed for 338 yards and five touchdowns on 25 carries against the Bulldogs in route to the Eagles first win of last season.

Although Williams seems to be the Eagles go-to-guy, Aycock is quick to point out that he isn't the only player they will be counting on this season.

"However, without his offensive line it doesn't matter how good he is," Aycock said. "He's not going to be the only one we depend on. Don't get me wrong, he is one of our horses but we our going to lean on other people this year."

Some of those players that will be sharing the load this year are senior Jordan Jarrett and sophomore Aaron Miller, who will also get carries out of the backfield, and senior Riley Hadenfelt, who will be the Eagles starting tight end.

They would have also liked to have the services of their sophomore starting quarterback Conner Scott, but he went down with a knee injury during the East Prairie jamboree and is not expected back until late in the season.

The Eagles finished last year by winning three of their last four games of the season and are hoping to take that momentum into this year.

"It took us a little while to get going but anytime a new coach comes in it takes a while to get used to a new system," Aycock said. "I felt like we ended the year really strong and hopefully that leads into this year."

As far as the Eagles schedule is concerned, Aycock said that no matter what happens during their other games, it all depends on what they do in their last three district games.

"We're just going to take one game at a time," said Aycock. "Every game that we play is preparing for the last three. Those last three games are the most important in our book."

Aycock added that he would like to see his team in the playoffs this year, just like every coach would.

"I do feel like we can achieve that, but we're going to have to catch some breaks here and there," Aycock said about their playoff aspirations. "I've told the kids that it's going to take three things. Our attitudes are going to have to be right, we're going to have to play injury-free football, and we're going to have to be good citizens out in the community.

"If any of those three break down, the expectations that we have to go to the playoffs goes down."