Eagle Point

Eagles hope to reach new heights

Eagle Point looks to build o its promising near-playo run in 2021

By Danny Penza

Mail Tribune

EAGLE POINT — Coming out of the 2021 season, Eagle Point head coach Erik Johnson was able to say without hesitation that his Eagles made a whole lot of progress.

There was just one thing missing.

“We were one spot out of the playoffs and I just wish we had that experience of going to the playoffs,” said Johnson. “It’s been a while for Eagle Point and having that under our belt, so that’s one thing that was a bummer.” Johnson enters

Livingston his fourth season at the helm in Eagle Point with the task of replacing the team’s emotional leader from a year ago, but he very much knows the importance a year ago of the Eagles record-

Graves ing their first season with a record of .500 or better since 2018.

The Eagles went 4-4 overall and 4-3 in the Midwestern League last year, with three of those losses coming by seven points or less.

It’s those kinds of close calls that has Johnson thinking his program is on the right track after going through a fair amount of struggles during the abbreviated spring season 18 months ago.

“We’re feeling really good,” said

PHOTO BY DENISE BARATTA

Eagle Point senior running back David Brown will be looked upon to carry the load in the run game for the Eagles this season.

Johnson. “We’re lacking some returners, but you can hardly tell and we’re bringing up some solid guys that spent some solid time on JV last year and we’ve been excited about them the last couple of years now. We’re not real deep, but our first group is pretty solid.”

One of the returners that the Eagles have back in the fold is senior running back David Brown, who had a breakout 2021 season as a junior. With 2021 leading rusher Isaiah Hill graduated, the 6-foot Brown will very much be the focal point for an Eagles offense that makes it no secret that they want to establish the run.

Brown averaged close to 4.5 yards per carry last season, finishing with 272 yards and a pair of touchdowns. “We’re going to lean on him a lot,” said Johnson of Brown. “We like to run the ball and he’s got three years under

“We’re feeling really good. We’re lacking some returners, but you can hardly tell and we’re bringing up some solid guys that spent some solid time on JV last year and we’ve been excited about them the last couple of years now. We’re not real deep, but our first group is pretty solid.”

Eagle Point head coach Erik Johnson his belt. He’s somebody that has shown confidence over the summer in our team camp. He’s really what a senior should feel like having all of that experience, so we’re excited for him and our offensive line is excited, too.”

The quarterback handing the ball off to Brown and the rest of the Eagles’ group of backs will be different.

With last season’s starter Caiden Lacey — a first-team all-Midwestern League selection — transferring back to North Medford for his senior season, junior Bryton Livingston takes over behind center.

SEE EAGLE POINT, 18

EAGLES

HEAD COACH

Erik Johnson (fourth year, 7-16)

GENERAL INFORMATION

ASSISTANTS: Tyson Wolfe (defensive coordinator), Joe Meerten (defensive line), Nate Helwig (linebackers), Rick O’Callahan (running backs), Rob Cowden (receivers), Josh Graves (offensive line), Robert Slayton (JV head coach/offensive coordinator), Chance Metcalf (JV defensive coordinator), Logan Cardwell (JV defensive backs/receivers). 2021 LEAGUE RECORD: 4-3 (fourth, MWL). 2021 OVERALL RECORD: 4-4.

PREDICTED FINISH THIS YEAR: Fourth.

2021 RESULTS Johnson

EAGLE POINT OPPONENTS

28 .................................... Churchill 35 24 ................................... Springfield 7 13 ................................... Willamette 6 20 .................................... Mazama 21 21 ....................................Thurston 42 10 ..................................... Crater 17 56 ......................................Ashland 6 41 ...................................North Bend 6

RETURNING STARTERS

OFFENSE (4): Running back David Brown (6-1, 170, sr.), running back/receiver Wyatt Graves (6-2, 180, sr.), running back Kaden Huff (5-10, 160, jr.), tackle Garrett Matthews (6-6, 300, jr.).

DEFENSE (6): Tackle Nathan Cordova (6-2, 270, sr.), end Hayden Weaver (6-4, 215, jr.), end Emilio Ayala (6-3, 210, sr.), linebacker Wyatt Graves, defensive back Aden Quintero (5-8, 140, sr.), defensive back Dawson Foulon (6-4, 175, sr.).

OTHER NOTABLES

Quarterback Bryton Livingston (6-0, 175, jr.), running back Hugo Perezchica (5-11, 220, jr.), receiver Alex Meadows (6-2, 180, jr.), linebacker Josh Bayne (6-1, 165, sr.), kicker Jeremiah Cordle (6-0, 145, jr.).

2022 SCHEDULE

Sept. 2 ........................... ASHLAND, 7 p.m. Sept. 9 .......................... at Mazama, 7 p.m. Sept. 16 .........................CHURCHILL, 7 p.m. Sept. 23 ..................... at North Eugene, 7 p.m. Sept. 30 ....................... WILLAMETTE, 7 p.m. Oct. 6 ........................... THURSTON, 7 p.m. Oct. 14 ............................ at Crater, 7 p.m. Oct. 21 ...................... at South Eugene, 7 p.m. Oct. 28 ........................ SPRINGFIELD, 7 p.m.