Written by: Will Hoenike
It’s difficult to take a player out of an 8-man lineup without feeling the effect when that player accounted for 2,400 yards of total offense the year before. The challenge gets bigger when a good chunk of the line that opened up holes for that player also graduate.
Welcome to a day in the life of veteran Lewis County head coach Monty Moddrell, who has to find a way to replace the experience and production of RB/LB Gage Crow (a second team All-State selection), OL/DL Nic Kirkland, OL/DL Ty Goeckner, and TE/DE Noah Watson.
“Without the strong line and rushing abilities of Gage Crow, will have to become more balanced,” said Moddrell. “I really want to use the passing game as an extension of our run game and capitalize on deep plays when we get the opportunity.”
The passing game will highlight senior quarterback Aiden McLeod along with tight ends Trevor Knowlton and Hunter Hix. Incoming freshman Slater Carson will work to earn a role as well, either delivering passes or receiving them, as Moddrell and assistant coach Brian Kirkland re-tool the Eagles’ offense after being a run-first, run-second, and run-third unit last season behind the powerful talents of Crow. Moddrell does expect the team to be able to run the ball with sophomore Jace Cronce behind junior lineman Clay Buchanan.
Defensively, Moddrell was quick to point out one area where he’d like to see improvement from his team this fall.
“We had six TDs scored against us in the last two minutes of either a half or a game. I would like to see improvement in game and situational awareness,” he explained. “Sometimes, last season, we had a tendency to relax in those situations and were burned in the process.”
He said it was often a combination of deep-ball pass coverage or failing to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Either (or both) will help the Eagles defense be stingier as the clock ticks toward zero. Buchanan will fill a role in the interior of the defensive line with Hix and Knowlton holding down the defensive ends. Freshman Keezen Grant could work his way into that rotation to take advantage of his athleticism as well. McLeod and Cronce should be key figures at the linebacker position. Knowlton, Hix, and Cronce are returning starters, the other five positions are being battled for in pre-season camp.
“We are working hard to fill in the other five positions and will need some time to determine who will earn those spots,” Moddrell said. “We should have decent team speed to fly around defensively.”
Replacing the strength of Kirkland (220 pounds), Goeckner (220 pounds) and Watson (185 pounds) is a concern, but the coaching staff has been very pleased with the roster and its potential.
“There is a lot of athleticism, speed and talent,” he said. “I we can put things together quickly, it should be fun to watch.”
The use of the word “quickly” is surely intentional for two reasons – first, the Eagles come out of the gates early against two 1A (formerly 1A Division 2) playoff teams from a year ago that both have the look of playoff teams once again this fall in Council and Tri-Valley. Then, secondly, in a four-team league, any misstep could prove costly. The Eagles join newcomer Genesee (formerly 2A/1A Division 1), Deary, and Timberline in the 1A Whitepine League in 2024.
“It will be interesting to see how Genesee performs after moving down to our division,” Moddrell said. “The speed, size and physicality at that next division is real and I’m curious to see how it matriculates in our league.”
The Eagles travel to Genesee on September 20. With three league games, Lewis County draws two road games and just one home game in league play. After the Eagles travel to Deary, they’ll wrap up the regular season at home against Timberline of Weippe on October 25.