<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0gDRhn_1EcUr4O200" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0gDRhn_1EcUr4O200" width="1142" height="720" ><figcaption>1/10 Eagle Point sophomore quarterback Laiden Johnson surveys the field during Tuesday's practice. (Kris Henry/Rogue Valley Times)</figcaption></figure>Despite overall youth, Eagles carry confidence into Friday’s home opener against YrekaThe mood was upbeat, players flowed through drills with efficient execution, and Eagle Point head coach Erik Johnson couldn’t help but be effusive with praise for the offseason development during Tuesday’s practice.How many wins that brings remains to be seen, but expected effort certainly isn’t a concern for Johnson.“It’s exciting, mostly just the buy-in and the accountability and the environment has changed,” said the eighth-year Eagles coach (20-41). “From players to the staff, you can just feel the energy.”“It really is fun coaching these guys,” he added. “No matter the outcome, it’s a blast. We come out here every day, they’re having fun and the staff’s having fun and we’ve got some energy now that you can really feel throughout the program.”Eagle Point is coming off consecutive 1-8 campaigns following a run to the Class 5A state playoffs in 2023. Each of those wins have come against South Eugene, and the prospect of a similar outcome in 2026 was erased Tuesday when the Axe announced that they would not be fielding a varsity program this fall due to a lack of numbers.The Eagles’ first opportunity for victory comes at 7 p.m. Friday in Eagle Stadium when they play host to Yreka, which earned a 26-6 win over EP last year in California.Johnson said he’s excited to see how this group will perform, and then continue to grow in the coming weeks.“We just have to wait and see how they jell, and what their personality is,” he said. “Every team and every group brings a different personality in, and I’m curious how good that they can be. That’s what we’re going to find out on Friday, and as we continue on.”Eagle Point enters the fall with only eight seniors on the roster, complemented by a good complement of juniors to go with some promising sophomores.“We will be younger in a sense, experience-wise,” said Johnson, “but the difference this year is even with the lack of experience, those guys are still ready and you can tell. They’ve put in the work to be ready and get confidence.”Johnson said the group averaged about double from years past in offseason attendance for weight training and workouts, and that has helped speed up the clock tremendously.“We were able to do so much stuff in the spring and summer than what we’ve done in the past, we’re way ahead of schedule,” he said.“The leadership from the senior group has been important,” added Johnson. “It’s a smaller senior group, but they’ve been through the grind and the adversity. I truly think that they’re going to learn from years past, and they feel a difference here, so now their energy is spreading through the younger guys because they just sense the overall program and where it’s headed.”Junior Eli Hamann and sophomore Laiden Johnson return as all-conference selections and key cogs to the offensive game plan.At 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, Hamann was one of the more consistent performers at running back a year ago, and an added 15 pounds through offseason conditioning should help extend some of those runs this time around. Hamann rushed for 424 yards and three touchdowns on 92 carries, and also pulled in six passes for 55 yards a year ago.“Eli is definitely a power runner, but he can still move,” said coach Johnson.He won’t be alone toting the rock, with fellow junior Matthew Jackson (5-10, 165), senior Alehandro Villanueva (6-0, 175) and sophomore Jonathan Ruiz (5-7, 175) also set to lend depth to the running back corps.Laiden Johnson wasn’t meant to see much action last year at quarterback, but he fared well when thrust into action and carries more confidence and comfortability into his sophomore campaign. Johnson averaged 6 yards per carry for an EP squad that was largely one-dimensional last year due to overall struggles in the passing game that left the entire group with a 34.5% completion percentage.“Coming in as a freshman at any position is a challenge — and high school, in general, is just a whole new experience, let alone the competitive part of football,” said coach Johnson of his son. “There’s a huge difference in him this year. He’s been around this since he was 4 years old, and it’s what he loves: the journey behind it and all the work put into it. You can already tell his leadership out there from years’ past is definitely different.”The 6-foot, 190-pound QB has added more strength in the offseason, and has the attributes to spur the running and passing games.Helping him make waves in the latter half of that equation are senior returners Skylar Tribur (5-11, 155) and Heascen Stewart (6-0, 165), and some up-and-coming talents in sophomore Skyler Self (5-10, 140) and junior Camden Berriman (5-10, 180).Tribur led the team with 18 catches for 271 yards and three scores last year.Helping with the offensive versatility will be fullback/H-back Griffin Womack (6-2, 205), one of the keys to the leadership front among the seniors.Offensive line is an area where the Eagles are the shortest in varsity experience — with three sophomores among the five starting spots — but there’s a good camaraderie and activity level in the group.Senior right guard Carsin Gray (5-11, 185) and junior left tackle Landen Creer (5-11, 215) are the elder statesmen of the bunch, and are joined by sophomores Ryan O’Callahan (5-8, 225) at center, Rosalio Aguilar (5-11, 215) at right tackle and Spencer Flynn (5-10, 210) at left guard.“In football, the line is the heart of the team,” said Johnson, “and then if they get their job done — which we feel confident in — then the rest of the guys will have a better opportunity than maybe years past.”“We’ll be athletic up front,” he added. “And one thing that’s special about those three sophomores, they’ve played together with that whole group since they were young and they do almost everything together, offseason and in-season.”Defensively, the front four should be a strength with the return of Hamann and Womack, and Johnson is excited about a linebacker corps that features Gray and juniors Beau Spielbusch (5-10, 195) and Tre Nesberg (6-2, 195).“We’re really excited for Tre,” said Johnson. “I hate that word ‘potential,’ but he’s got it. WIth his physique and his speed and just the knack and anticipation of the game, he does a great job. He stood out this summer, for sure.”Hamann was fourth in the team at 48 tackles last year, and added two sacks and three fumble recoveries, while Johnson had 46 tackles.Senior Landon Myre (5-11, 175) returns as an anchor to the defense at strong safety, where he contributed 40 tackles a year ago. Junior Danny Brown (5-8, 150) will settle in at free safety, with cornerback roles handled by junior Hernan Machain (5-10, 175) and Berriman.Junior Maceo Brandt, a soccer team regular, will moonlight at placekicker after taking a year off last season and could definitely help the Eagles capitalize should drives bog down in the red zone.Reach sports editor Kris Henry at kris.henry@rv-times.com or 458-488-2035</div></body>

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Despite overall youth, Eagles carry confidence into Friday’s home opener against Yreka. The mood was upbeat, players flowed through drills with efficient execution, and Eagle Point head coach Erik Johnson couldn’t help but be effusive with praise for the offseason development during Tuesday’s practice. How many wins...

Eagle Point brings renewed energy into fall campaign

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Despite overall youth, Eagles carry confidence into Friday’s home opener against Yreka. The mood was upbeat, players flowed through drills with efficient e

Eagle Point brings renewed energy into fall campaign

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