The Tigers will take the field for the first time in 2012. With the unique opportunity to start from the ground up and write the first chapter in the Eisenhower football history book, former Goddard coach Charlie Nally and his players are ready to launch the program.
GODDARD EISENHOWER
Coach: Charlie Nally (1st year at Eisenhower, 5-13 in two years at Goddard)
2011 Recap: While the doors at Eisenhower opened last school year and the Tigers fielded athletic teams, the football team at USD 265 remained whole at Goddard. In 2011, Lions went 2-7, with both wins coming within the AVCTL Division II against Valley Center and Andover.
Returning Starters: Offensive 3, Defensive 2
2012 District: at Bishop Carroll, at Liberal, Goddard
2012 Schedule
2012 Outlook:
Offense:
Eisenhower is fielding a football team for the first time, but head coach Charlie Nally is bringing some starters at Goddard last season across town with him. Tanner Young is making the move from Goddard to give the Tigers an experienced anchor on the offensive line. Receiver Jacob Richardson was also a starter at Goddard and was a productive part of the offense with 16 catches for 230 yards and a touchdown. Brock Welch saw limited carries last season, but saw varsity action with 9 rushes for 23 yards on the ground as a running back.
With this trio of varsity players, there is a bunch of room for players to make an impact in Eisenhower’s first season. The Tigers will have to have some support around Young on the offensive line to make room for the offense to operate. Matt Barnes, Michael Nguyen, and Eddie Nunnelley will look to fill in and provide the foundation for the Eisenhower offense.
At quarterback, Trevor Hughes figures to be a leader in the Tigers’ offense. Hughes has yet to see varsity football at quarterback, but started last year in the secondary on the defensive side of the ball. On top of having Welch to hand the ball to, Dylan Thompson provides a bruising 6-foot-1, 210-pound running back in a power game and Ryan Crist can take some carries as well.
Richardson figures to be a major threat at receiver, but will have help on the outside. Hughes will also have Brennan Stemple and Bailey Trunk to target in the passing game.
Defense:
The Eisenhower defense brings a couple of starters over from Goddard, including defensive end Masen Allen and defensive back Trevor Hughes.
Allen will be a big part of the Eisenhower defense and brings a formidable 6-foot-5, 215-pound frame to the edge of the Tigers’ defensive line. On the other side, Austin Gold is another big, athletic defensive end at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds. Matt Reyes will contribute on the defensive line as well and Nally will be looking for other players to fill in spots in the unit.
At linebacker, the Tigers will be led by Dalton Adams and Michael Spiller, with William Penner stepping in as well. In the secondary, Trevor Hughes will be joined by Brock Welch and Tanner Ball.
Odds and Ends:
Having the opportunity to launch a brand new football program is rare. The coaching staff and players are looking forward to breaking ground on Tigers football. This being the first season, there is nothing but wide open space that will be filled with school records when the season is over.
With Eisenhower staying inside the district to hire a head coach, the last season at Goddard was an odd year. As the last season together, it was a unique atmosphere of brotherhood within the program. But with both players and coaches leaving for Eisenhower this season, there is also the beginning of rivalry between friends. And competition between friends can sometimes be the most ferocious competition of all. The first ever meeting between the former classmates and colleagues will come in Week 9, the last week of district matchups.
Charlie Nally staying in the district also brought up the issue of what to do with the playbook, in which Goddard is clearly versed in the schemes and verbiage. But one of the many things Nally is excited about, is the blank slate he has to work with in installing offensive and defensive schemes from scratch. This will not be a clone of the Goddard Lions in different color uniforms.
