Outlook: Coming off a fantastic 2019 season, the Eagles actually were just as good despite a different quarterback (Cooper Stone took over for the graduated Ryan Mattingly) and put up some great numbers scoring over 30-points five times and were really never out of any game during a pandemic year. A classic playoff loss to Holy Cross in overtime could not diminish that. Coach Bryan Walker will have a very experienced and talented group coming back and should take another shot at the Region Crown.
Cooper and Montgomery will light it up. Walker will have quite an offensive attack coming back. After scoring 293-points in nine games, the Eagles will return plenty of firepower starting with junior quarterback Cooper Stone. As a sophmore, he put up 1,458-yards and 13-touchdowns next to only 1-interception. The Eagles running game will be paced by senior multi-purpose back Ladarion Montgomery, who ran for 739-yards and 12-TDs and caught 17-passes for 453-yards and 6-scores. Junior Zane Wickliffe had 707-yards on the ground and 7-TDs along with senior back Jackson Young (5-39-yds-2-TDs). Despite the graduation of Xavier Cheek (39-catches for 747-yds and 7-TDs), the Eagles will still have plenty of targets for the air attack. Besides Montgomery, junior Hayden Osborne (10-catches for 118-yds) and senior Eli Peake (4-116-yds). The Offensive Line will return seniors Clay Brown, Christian Bruns, Samuel Mudd and Logan Cross.
Swarming Eagle Defense. Bethlehem allowed fewer points during a nine game stretch (179-points) and should still be very effective with so many returnees. The Defensive Line will be senior strong with Christian Bruns, Clay Brown and Luke Popovich. The Linebackers will have junior Parker Greer and senior’s Logan Cross, Grant Lanham and Sam Mudd. The defensive secondary did lose Logan Issacs, Xavier Cheek and Preston Hall-Pointer, but will feature sophomore Martavious Smith and senior Ladarion Montgomery.
Kicking Game. Junior Adam Winkenhofer was 32-of-37 on PATs and 2-of-5 on field goals and should be back.
Summation. Despite all the problems surrounding 2020, the Eagles overcame a big deficit against Holy Cross in the second round of the playoffs and very nearly pulled off a huge win just a few yards short. Walker has to love the dynamic of this year’s team and with a full training camp and a veteran squad, who knows how far the Eagles can go this season.
Schedule could mean fast start. The Eagles will begin the 2021 season on August 20th at home against Providence IN, then two straight on the road against Eastern (0-6) and Thomas Nelson (1-7) before coming home for one against Washington County (2-4) and then on the road at Western Hills (2-5) and then Crittenden County (7-3) to begin October. A rematch against Holy Cross (Louisville 7-2), then on the road against Campbellsville (3-3) before finishing at home against Fort Knox (0-0) and then finally at Sayre (8-1). The Eagles will face three teams in state with winning record and four with two-wins or less along with one team that didn’t play last season.
