Head Coach- Tim Mattingly
2023 Record- 4-8
2023: After coming a couple of plays short of reaching the KHSAA Championship game appearance two years ago, the Eagles went 8-3 in 2022 under Brian Walker and then 4-8 under new head coach Keith Graham. With the graduation of several key players, Bethlehem went from scoring 434-points in 2022 to just 276-points last season and the defense took a hit as well allowing 70 more points last season as well. Tim Mattingly will attempt to jumpstart the team this season after a successful stint at Central Hardin and he will have some returning players to help him along.
Offense: The Eagles went from scoring 434-points in 2022 to just 276 in 2023 and they will lose their top rusher (Martavious Smith) and leading receiver (Isaiah Ballard) so the first order of business for Mattingly will be to find a running game without both Smith and Jacob Thornsberry. Mattingly loves to run the Wing T offense and will have to find backs to do so with just Nick Osborne returning in the backfield. Nick Osborne will be back for his senior season after throwing for 970-yards and 10-TDs. Jack Bradley (1010-yards passing and 7-TDs) will also be back as well and according to Mattingly will be the starting QB. With Ballard gone, seniors Ryan West (13-314-yds 1-TD) and Garrett Lanham (14-catches for 160-yds) will get more passes in their direction. Osborne, when not under center caught 10 for 153-yds and 3-TDs. The OL will return Julian Valero, Teegan McCauley, Zach Winkenhofer, Matt Stephens and Seth Heady so Mattingly will be set there.
Defense: The Eagles did give up more points the past two seasons and will have to be upgraded if they are to improve. The DL will return Teegan McCauley, Matt Stephens and Zach Winkenhofer. The Linebackers and secondary will have a few changes to a team which recovered 8-fumbles, came up with 19-QB sacks and picked off 11-passes. Garrett Lanham will be back while Caleb Mattingly, Ryan West (41-tackles 2nd on the team), Nick Osborne (5-interceptions) will return as well.
Summation: Anytime there is a different coaching change there will be an adjustment time and this time may not be different. Even Walker went through a period where the team struggled under his first year. Mattingly will have to adjust as well to a Class 1-A size team after working with bigger squads and running the Wing T with different skill players gone could mean some struggles early. However, he has a history of winning and although the team might have a few losses early, they should be better by seasons end.
Coach Speak with Tim Mattingly: “Our outlook is really positive going into the season. The players have had a good offseason in the weightroom. The players have been dedicated and have a good attitude towards doing different things on offense, defense and special teams. Nick Osborne, Ryan West, Garrett Lanham and Thomas Mudd will be some of the targets for Jack Bradley, who will be the starting quarterback. As far as the running back position goes, we will spread the ball around using Ryan West, Brayden Welch and Jaylyn Del Valle. We will run more of a spread Wing T offense which will allow us to get the ball to our best athletes in space. This will allow our QB-Bradley to utilize his passing strengths and spread the defense out more.”
Schedule: The Eagles will open up on the road at Marshall County (3-7), then two straight home games against Doss (2-8) and then Carroll County (6-5) to start off September. Two straight road matches against Lloyd Memorial (10-2) and then Washington County (7-4) before coming home against Campbellsville (11-2). To start off October, on the road against Butler County (2-8) then an OPEN date before a home game with KCD (11-3) and then on the road at Holy Cross (6-6) before ended the regular season in November at home against Sayre (12-1). In all. Six opponents with winning records last season including four with double digit totals.
