Given the devastating number of injuries the Eldorado Eagles have suffered this season, its remarkable that Coach Danny Wilhelm has been able to field a team. At times there appeared to be more players on the sidelines in street clothes than there were in the game.
That’s how it was in McCamey on Friday, September 29, 2011, as the Badgers feasted on wounded Warbirds for their Homecoming banquet and claimed a 49-7 victory.
Almost everything went wrong for the Eagles. Well, not quite everything. The Warbirds managed to win the opening coin toss. And, Rico Martinez broke free and sprinted 60 yards for a touchdown.
Martinez’s second scoring opportunity was thwarted, however, when a pair of McCamey defenders swatted the ball away as he stretched it out toward the goal line. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, the ball would have bounced out of bounds. But it didn’t on that play. Instead it bounded into the endzone where McCamey recovered it to end Eldorado’s only other serious scoring threat.
And, that’s how the night went for the Warbirds as the cobbled together team of underclassmen, including some who only last year were playing 8th grade football, ran into a McCamey buzz saw.
The Badgers amassed more than 500 yards of offense while holding the Eagles to a pair of first downs en route to the 49-7 win.
Rico Martinez was the Eagles leading rusher with 82 yards and a touchdown.
If there was a bright spot last Friday, it must have been the fact that a lot of younger Eldorado players gained important experience.
Given the number of walking wounded inhabiting the Eagles’ sideline, that experience could come in handy this week as Eldorado travels to Winters to open district play.
Still, the Eagles injury list is long, and features a number of players Coach Wilhelm expected to contribute this season.
A partial list includes:
• Dylan Ramos, junior. Broken arm. Out for the season. Injured while scoring against the Gorman Pirates in the season’s opening game.
•Senior Nathan Jimenez. Torn ACL in Gorman game. Out for the season.
• Senior Allen Espinosa. Torn rotator cuff. Out for the season.
• Senior Christian Sanchez. High ankle sprain. Possible against Winters.
• Ruben Vasquez, junior. Shoulder injury. Possible against Winters.
• Junior Preston Rodriguez. Cracked ribs. Possible against Winters.
As mentioned above, the Eagles begin their district season in Winters on Friday night. Kickoff is slated for 7:70 p.m. and everyone is encouraged to make the trip and support the Eagles.
Those who can’t travel to Winters may catch all the action as Mason Vaughan and Kerry Joy broadcast live from Blizzards Stadium on KLDE 104.9 FM.
The Eldorado Lady Eagles won their first district game on their home court Friday, January 6th against the Iraan Bravettes by a 43-31 score.
The Eldorado Eagles took first place in the Eldorado Varsity Tournament held Eagle Gym on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 27 and 28th. Eldorado hosted teams from Rocksprings, Harper, Sonora, Junction and Comstock.
The Eldorado Lady Eagles earned 2nd place during the Eldorado Varsity Girls Tournament held December 27 and 28, 2011 in Eagle Gym.
The JV Lady Eagles defeated the TLCA Lady Eagles soundly Friday, December 16 in Eagle Gym.
The Eldorado Lady Eagles opened their 2011-12 season with victories over Rankin Lady Red Devils and the Ozona Lady Lions.