Eagles carry big, eclectic roster

The Lewis County Eagles welcomed a 22-player turnout this month, which included 10 seniors. But it isn't quite accurate to call this a veteran team.

Oh, there are a handful of four-year varsity veterans, but there are other seniors who are returning to football after a long break. There are three sophomores and six freshmen. There are even two lacrosse players who are now giving the gridiron a shot.

"So I've got a really mixed bunch," third-year coach Ken Hart said. "Both ends - real experienced kids and real inexperienced kids.

"With this mixture of kids, you can kind of imagine that fundamentals are something that we really have to focus on, because some kids just don't know them."

The Camas Prairie team is made up of players from Nezperce High and Highland High in Craigmont. In recent years, Culdesac students had also suited up for the Eagles, but that school backed out of the co-op this year, Hart said.

The inclusion of Culdesac in recent seasons had made Lewis County ineligible to make the playoffs, but this fall the Eagles' numbers will be within the Class 1A Division II limits.

"I don't think it was really an issue," Hart said of his team being ineligible for the playoffs in recent seasons, "but I think it adds a little zest to this year's team, you know?"

One of Lewis County's most battle-tested players is senior Ryan Heideman, who returns to the quarterback position. Heideman is a "savvy" player, Hart said.

The Eagles' offensive line is led by junior center Mitchell Barnett, "who I think is one of the best centers in the league," Hart said. Other key linemen include seniors Ben Mauer, Jarrod Brown and Stephen Grobey. There's also big Daniel Brashear, a defensive end/tight end who could play a key role.

Lewis County has a void in its running attack with the loss of last year's top ground gainer, Jared McIlvain. One players who could end up filling that spot is Jerry Fischer, a senior who turned out for football for the first time in a few years.

"He's a senior - darn, I wish he was a sophomore," Hart said.

Other unexpected additions to the team include the Webster brothers, Blake and Cade, whose family moved to the area from Boise. The brothers played lacrosse before relocating to the Camas Prairie.

"They're not big but they're tough and they're athletic, so I think they're going to be OK," Hart said.

Hart's assistants include Monty Moddrell, who played in college, and Terry McIlvain. And once in a while, Highland High superintendent/athletic director Brad Baumberger works with the Eagles' quarterbacks. He was a QB at Wyoming in the early 1980s.

The Eagles have been able to stage all but one of their practices outside despite smoky skies caused by wildfires. Still, they've had to adjust. Earlier this week, they played something called "slow football," Hart said.

"We'd run a play and then we'd talk about what worked, what didn't work, and we'd given them time to rest. Then we'd run another play and talk about it. Kind of like slow food, it was slow football."

Lewis County is scheduled to open its season at 7 p.m. Friday at Lakeside of Plummer-Worley in a nonleague tilt between White Star League foes. There is no contingency plan if smoke forces the game to be called off, Hart said.