Columbia had an epic season in 2016. A repeat will depend on how fast the new faces learn on the job.
The Eagles went 10-1 last season en route to winning the Cahokia Conference crown with a 6-0 league record.
Along the way, they outscored their opponents by an average of almost 21 points a game. Yet this season, many of the players who made last season possible are not back, leaving some inexperience on the offensive and defensive lines.
“Less experience all around. Thus, mentally, we need game experience,” head coach Scott Horner said in an email interview with Southeast Illinois News.
Several key Eagles do return this season. Horner cited Owen Suedkamp, Greg Long, Colton Byrd, Jordan Holmes and Mitch Daniels among his top returning players.
While experience is a challenge for CHS this season, skill-position players won't be.
“Plenty of speed and athletic ability, playmaker-type guys who are also very good in the secondary on D,” Horner said.
Columbia has averaged nine wins a season over the past four years. “Goals are always the same – win,” Horner said.
DUQUOIN
DuQuoin is coming off a 5-5 season that included a 4-1 record in the Southern Illinois River-to-River (Mississippi) Conference.
The Indians were the conference champs over Carterville, which also had a 4-1 record. DuQuoin topped Carterville 30-29 in overtime last season.
The Indians' record came against a schedule that included eight teams with winning records, reports IHSA.com.
Last year's leading rusher and team MVP Zayne Fornear returns this season, as does leading tackler Chandler Stevenson, according to the school's website and the team's 2016 roster.
DuQuoin averaged 24.7 points per game last season and allowed 24.2.
NOTE: Not all area coaches returned information before this story went to press.
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