Outlook- After a rocky first season as head coach, Bryan Walker has turned things around quickly as the Eagles have won 25-games since then. Last season, the Eagles made a Final Four appearance in the KHSAA Football Class 1-A playoffs before bowing out to Russellville with a talented and experience lineup and this season could be a transition season with plenty of new faces on the defensive side and the Offensive Line as well. Walker also got a transfer in Jacob Thornberry, who will fit in somewhere.
Defense- The Defense only allowed 174-points in fourteen games and had a veteran look to it. This season there will be plenty of new faces to a squad that produced 30-turnovers (12-fumble recoveries / 18-interceptions). The Eagles also came up with 20-Quarterback sacks as well. The Defensive Line will see a lot of turnover with almost everyone gone. Aiden Cornell, Christian Furman and Wesley Hughes could see some time and there are other options. The Linebackers lost Logan Cross, Grant Lanhan, Sam Mudd, Jacksen Young and Sean Mills. The Defensive secondary will return Martavious Smith, Will Ray and Logan McMillian. Walker will find replacements.
Offense- The Eagles scored over forty-points nine times last season and put up 576-points in fourteen games. Walker’s attack and plenty of weapons to move the ball and there are still some skill players returning. Quarterback Cooper Stone had a fantastic season with 2,219-yards and 23-TDs through the air as he returns for his senior year. The running game which piled up 2,522-yards will return Zane Wickliffe (1,293-yards – 18-TDs) and Martavious Smith (191-yards – 6-TDs). The air game should be in good shape as Senior Hayden Osborne (34-catches-619-yards-6-TDs) returns as the leading receiver. With Eli Peake and Ladarion Mont Geer and George Crepps return. With Ladarion Montgomery gone, Justin Popovich will be the other pass catcher. The Offensive Line was hit hard as Clay Brown, Christian Buns, Sam Mudd and Sean Mills are gone. Colby Farley and Seth Heady return and Walker will look for replacements.
Kicking Game- Adam Winkenhofer was 75-79 on PATs and 1-2 on field goals and should return for his senior season.
Summation – Walker has really taken the Eagles a long way during a very difficult time with the pandemic and with a few breaks could have taken Bethlehem even farther. This will be a different year for him other than the transition season after 2018 and if he can find the right pieces to the puzzle will determine how fast they get back or near the top.
Schedule- The Eagles will open the 2022 season on the road @ Providence (Clarksville) IN, then back home on Aug. 26th against Eastern (4-7), then two straight road games against Thomas Nelson (4-7) and Washington County (3-9) before coming back home on Sept. 16th (Western Hills (2-8) and Sept. 30 (Crittenden County (5-7)). Bethlehem will open the month of October @ Holy Cross (Louisville)(9-4) and then back home against Campbellsville (3-8) and then a road game followed by a home game to end the season against Fort Knox (4-7) and then Sayre (8-3). The Eagles will face only two KY teams with winning records and plenty of teams in transition. A perfect schedule for another going through the same thing.?
