After back-to-back 0-9 seasons, Elverado-Trico football coach Duffy Sanders and his staff might start seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.
The Falcons return eight starters on offense and eight on defense.
“Last year the team was mostly sophomores,” said Sanders. “Now they are juniors with experience and another year matured. Experience is great, but you being mature is just as important.”
Junior Alex McGill (6’2, 185) returns as quarterback and will be a key offensively in the Falcons’ new shotgun formation attack.
“McGill did some really good things over the summer,” said Sanders. “He is very smart, strong and physical. He can run the option well and is a good team leader.”
McGill will have plenty of help in the backfield as senior fullback Randy Goetz (5’9, 175) is back along with junior running backs Dalton Porter (5’10, 165) and Bryce Mathis (5’6, 130).
“This group has been together since their freshmen year,” added Sanders. “They have been successful at the lower level and they have experience. They know what their roles are in this offense.”
Junior Wade Bowlin (5’8, 150) and senior Steve Batteu (5’11, 185) will be the starting receivers for the team with a number of others rotating in.
“Wade is very athletic with good speed,” said Sanders. “He was the backup quarterback, but we had to find a way to get him on the field. Steve is a great blocker with good hands.”
The offensive line will be anchored by returning starter senior Curtis Compton (5’8, 200) at tackle. First-year seniors Donavan Weideg (6’, 255) and Michael Harbor (6’, 210) will start at center and guard respectively, while sophomore Logan Dallas (6’1, 285) and junior Brandon Lewis (5’8, 195), who saw some time last year, will round out the starting spots.
“We are bigger up front than we have ever been before,” added Sanders. “We will be stronger and having three seniors is very important.”

The Falcons also have a good mix of size, strength and speed on the defensive line. Batteu will start at nose guard, while Harbor and Weideg will fill the tackle sports around him. McGill and  senior Dakota Bayles (6’, 175) will be the defensive ends.
“While undersized, Batteu is nicknamed ‘The Freak” and that is what we need him to be in the middle,” said Sanders. “Harbor and Weideg gives us good size. McGill can play anywhere on the field, he is that good of a football player. But the key is they all know and understand our defensive philosophy.”
Defensive captain junior Tyler Grisby (5’8, 165)  will lead a linebacking unit that will also start sophomore Brian McClanahan (5’10, 165). Sophomore Marshal Bell (5’10, 165) will also see time at linebacker.
“My linebackers are smart and can hit hard,” said Sanders. “They are not real big, but they are quick and they swarm to the ball.”
The defensive secondary should be a real strength for the Falcons. Elverado-Trico returns all four starters in Bowlin and junior Aaron Miller (5’11, 155) as defensive backs and Mathis and Porter as safeties.
“These guys really have the defensive scheme down,” said Sanders. “They have experience and can cover a lot of ground. Porter is also a very hard hitting safety. Wade and Aaron are very good cover guys and Bryce is our best tackler.”
Sophomore Andrew Jeschke (6’, 185) will be the team’s kicker, while Bell will handle the punting duties.
Sanders doesn’t see any break in competition with Carterville leaving and Chester arriving this year to the Black Diamond Conference.
“I have been in both the River-to-River and Black Diamond Conferences,” said Sanders. “Chester will be really, really tough in this conference. I can see them winning it all in their first year. Fairfield will challenge them and my surprise pick of the season is Hamilton County. They return a lot of players and have a real tough defense. Johnston City and Carmi will always be tough. Sesser-Valier graduated a lot from last year, so they will be young. Eldorado is looking to continue to improve as are we.”
The Falcons host Fairfield Friday night to start the gridiron season. Elverado-Trico then hosts Eldorado in week two before traveling to Johnston City and then hosting Chester.