With the season coming to a close, the Golden Eagle football team tries to put the rest of the season to rest. The senior class of the Eagles have been to the big dance (state championship game) and been able to celebrate an undefeated season. They have also been through the painful time of losing by two points on their own home turf to the Salina South Cougars. After the loss to Salina South in 2013, the seniors didn’t want to feel this way again in their last year together as Eagles. The seniors and Coach Alan Schuckman put in much more effort into the offseason to prepare for another run at the championship. Coach Schuckman, the seniors and the rest of the Golden Eagles plan to have the same goal as they did in 2012, a state championship, just with a new destination: Pittsburg State University.

Through week 10 of the season, the Eagles have outscored their opponents 546-51 with the Gang Green starting defense still having yet to be scored on in the season. Some say that this defense is just as good, if not better than the 2012 state champion defense, and some still say that this could be the best defense in Kansas history. With only three games left in the 2014 season, Coach Schuckman will lead his Golden Eagles through their most intense weeks of practice the year. Much more work will be put into these last few weeks of the season to be sure of perfection. Extra time watching film, more time working scout offense and defense, and more time working starters against starters to get the team ready for the toughest opponents they will face this season. Last year this was the week that the Eagles lost to Salina South 19-21 but this year they play Heights High School for the second time this season. The Falcons are currently 8-2 with their losses coming to Bishop Carroll 70-15, and Kapaun Mt. Carmel 17-14. The Golden Eagles face more attention and hate from other teams this season than ever before to make their run for a second state championship ring.

Column by Kyle Moore