Since really, really difficult seasons don’t occur all that frequently at Line Mountain — neither do four-man senior classes, another variable in play in 2013 — third-year skipper Rodney Knock and his Eagles are in full rebound mode. Since there are plenty of upperclassmen on hand who’ve enjoyed plenty of success at the lower levels, don’t expect these guys to sit in the Tri-Valley League’s second division for long. No one else is. Below is their Countdown to Kickoff preview.
School Name:Line Mountain Eagles
Coach: Rodney Knock
Last Year: 3-7, 2-7 Tri-Valley
Last 5 Years: 39-18
Returning Starters: 8 on offense, 8 on defense
Key Players: OT/NG Elijah Zablosky; OG/DE Jonathan Lenker; C/DT Hunter Masser; OG/ILB Clint Riehl; OT/DE Garrett Kieffer; RB/ILB Hunter Hojnacki; RB/CB Kenny Boyer; WR/CB Zach Bobb; QB/S C.J. Reichard; QB/S Ryan Reed; WR/CB Justin Michael.
Offense Overview: While bulldozing feature back Cory Warford was able to chisel out nearly 1,100 rushing yards — despite all 11 guys on the other side putting a lick on him play after play — the Eagles’ were unable to develop much balance offensively. And much of that can be tied to the Mountain’s inexperience. Yet with Warford gone, Knock & Co. hope Hojnacki and newcomer Boyer can provide a solid 1-2 running punch behind a front that returns everyone. With a heated QB competition going on between returning starter Reed and freshman Reichard, the Eagles could go in either direction. Still some mystery.
Defense Overview: Hit some rough spots late against several of the TVL’s contenders in 2013, but since veterans are holding down a number of spots the Eagles figure to become much stingier on the defensive side of the ball. Especially if they can get Lenker coming off the edge consistently and emulating many of Line Mountain’s great pass rushers. Have plenty of toughness inside with the likes of nose guard Zablosky and inside backers Riehl and Hojnacki, but there’s also needed size and quality in the trenches since the 6-4, 270-pound Kieffer already is drawing attention from several FBS programs. A year older, a year better.
Biggest Game: August 29 at Shamokin. Might be a non-league encounter, but a season-opening skirmish with the host Indians provides yet another backyard scrap for a Line Mountain program that endures plenty of them on the schedule every year. Comes with the TVL territory.
More Line Mountain Eagles:2014 schedule | 2014 roster
BULLOCK'S CRYSTAL BALL: As mentioned earlier, losing seasons don’t happen very often to a perennially strong Line Mountain program that’s grown accustomed to challenging for TVL titles and appearing in the District 4-A playoffs. So while last season’s 3-7 finish has Knock’s driven Eagles determined to seek redemption, the folks who build those sizable 50-50 kitties on Fridays and Saturdays at Ressler Field certainly aren’t pleased either. As a result, Knock’s Eagles will bring plenty of energy every time out. How effective they are remains to be seen, but expect these guys to be much better.
More:Complete Countdown to Kickoff coverage
BULLOCK on Twitter: @thebullp_n