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Eagles undaunted by losses in backfield
Uniontown's football team will be without the services of four-year letterman Chad Hays this season. But that was to be expected as the quarterback and defensive back graduated and has moved on to Pittsburg State University to begin his collegiate career.
Uniontown's football team will be without the services of three-year letterman Gage McKinnis this season. This was not expected as it was anticipated that a potentially-record-breaking season was to be had by the man who should have been the Eagles' starting tailback this season.
But when McKinnis' father, UHS graduate and former assistant coach Chad, got an offer to become an assistant coach at Hutchinson Community College, Gage moved as well and will probably be helping Hutchinson High School qualify for the Class 6A playoffs this year.
While head coach Jim Mason would have liked to see McKinnis return, he also knows that with 10 returning seniors and 13 letterwinners back in all, the Eagles are still in the driver's seat as far as the Three Rivers League-Upper Division championship is concerned.
The five starters the Eagles lost played both ways, so there will be several holes to fill.
"Even though we lost a couple of really good skill players from last year, I think that area of our team is still a strength," Mason said. "There aren't any superstars there but there will be solid athletes in those positions."
Shawn Pritchett (5' 9", 170, Sr.) and Zac Mason (5' 10", 160, Sr.) alternated starts at fullback last season. Mason will move to tailback while Pritchett remains at fullback. Mason averaged over five yards a carry last season while Pritchett averaged over 4 1/2 yards.
Brandon Boyd (6' 0", 165, Jr.) averaged 25.6 yards per catch as the Eagles' wide receiver last season. Drew Johnson (5' 10", 155, Jr.) and Clinton McAnulty (6' 1", 160, Sr.) are also candidates at wide receiver.
Jamie Shelton (6' 1", 180, Sr.) averaged 11.8 yards a catch and earned All-TRL honors as one of the tight ends but he will miss the first game Friday against Erie due to surgery late this summer. Cody Tinsley (6' 2", 170, Jr.) will start at that position against Erie. Luke Spainhoward (6' 1", 170, Sr.) averaged over 19 yards a catch last season as the other tight end.
Going under center will be junior Travis Aikins (5' 10", 165) in his first season as the varsity quarterback. He'll be taking snaps from returning starter Silas Bloesser (6' 0", 170, Sr.). Levi Stewart (5' 6", 185, Sr.) is back at right guard.
The other three offensive linemen will be first-year starters. David Shank (5' 10", 175, Jr.) will be the left guard while Barry McAnulty (5' 10", 180, Soph.) will man the right tackle spot. Who will be the left tackle hasn't been determined but junior Jesse Johnson, sophomore Dushaun Robinson and newcomers Chris Lindsay and Tyler Hall are in contention to win a spot somewhere on the line, which may bring about a position change for the others listed depending on who wins that battle.
"We are thin on experienced offensive and defensive linemen," Mason says. "Those kids will need to step up to the challenge. I think they will do so and we will be competitive."
The Eagles will continue to employ a 4-4 defensive scheme. Tinsley and Mason will be the defensive ends while Stewart will be one tackle. As on the offensive line, the other tackle position is up for grabs with Barry McAnulty listed as one possibility.
Spainhoward and Johnson will be outside linebackers while Shank and Pritchett will be in the middle. Boyd will be one of the cornerbacks with Pillion and Johnson vying for the other position. Aikins will be the safety.
The Eagles, 9-2 last season as they won the Upper Division, their Class 2-1A district title and advanced to the second round of the playoffs, are the favorite to win the league again in what could be the last season of 11-man football sanctioned by the league as Jayhawk-Linn plays its final season in the TRL this year.
Meanwhile, Pittsburg Colgan is again expected to put up the biggest fight in the battle for the district championship. Humboldt was undefeated going into district play last season and is expected to remain tough this year while Pleasanton looks to improve after a transition year to 11-man last season.
Uniontown's season begins Friday night with a non-league game at Erie.
2007 Eagle Schedule
| Date | Opponent | 2006 result |
| Aug. 31 | at Erie | W. 39-20 |
| Sept. 7 | RIVERTON | W. 23-14 |
| Sept. 14 | at Lyndon | W. 41-7 |
| Sept. 21 | JAYHAWK-LINN* | W. 44-8 |
| Sept. 28 | at Baxter Springs | L. 8-20 |
| Oct. 5 | OSWEGO* | W. 45-0 |
| Oct. 12 | at Pleasanton*$ | W. 40-6 |
| Oct. 19 | HUMBOLDT$ | W. 34-7 |
| Oct. 25 | at Pittsburg Colgan$ | W. 20-14 |
* -- Three Rivers League-Upper Division game.
$ -- Class 2-1A, District 5 game.