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Prep Football: Making Improvements

Typically, the first week of high school football is about finding out who you are as a team just as much as it is about learning about your opponent.

The jump from Week 1 to Week 2 is what most coaches feel is most important and Eldorado's Brandon Hampton is no different.

The Eagles won 22-0 over Vienna-Goreville to open the season and got three scores on the ground, but in preparation for EHS opponent this week, Sesser-Valier-Waltonville-Woodlawn it's just as much about looking back as it is looking forward.

"After watching the film I felt like the effort was there," Hampton said. "I felt like our kids competed relentlessly and played hard. Now the execution was not as consistent as we need it to be if we're going to be the team we want to be.

"That's my point of emphasis this week. We need to execute at a higher level, more consistently, but primarily on the offensive side of the ball. We have to clean up some of our blocking. Defensively, we played with a great effort and were physical, but this week it will be a much different style of offense."

Sesser-Valier-Waltonville-Woodlawn has more of an uptempo offense that likes to utilize its speed and get to the perimeter. It's a stark contrast from the single wing offense Eldorado saw in the season opener.

The Red Devils won their season opener as well, knocking off Edwards County 28-0 and will enter Boz Adams Field looking to knock off Eldorado for the first time since 2012.

"They are much improved," Hampton said. "Clayton Smith (junior quarterback) is a really good athlete, who throws it pretty well, but runs it extremely well and that's what they are trying to do with him. They are a little more balanced offensively this year than they have been in the past and they were impressive in Week 1 against Edwards County. When you watch the film, (Sesser) is making the plays, playing hard and they have really good team speed. Our focus, each and every week is, what do we need to do to have success and we need to stay on our blocks better, block the right people more consistently and continue to improve."

What Hampton called a recipe for disaster in regards to Eldorado's two big penalties on offense in the first half and a fumble in their own territory before the game was called due to lightning during the first half, he knows has to be cleaned up when preparing for S-V-W-W.

"S-V-W-W is a lot like everyone else in our conference. They are a little bit better than they were last year," Hampton said. "They look like a playoff team after watching them in their win against Edwards County. They'll come over here and play us well. I have no doubt."

Last week, Mother Nature was the real winner, forcing the conclusion of the game in the first half because of lightning and impeding weather. This week, heat might play a factor as temps have jumped back up in the high 90s.

"We feel like we are a strong, physical football team and I feel the heat would play into our advantage," Hampton added. "Them being an uptempo - but still a BDC team - those kids have to turn around and play defense, too."

Michael Dann covers prep and college sports for the Harrisburg Daily Register and Eldorado Daily Journal. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.

Eagles — By The Numbers

<p>2016 EAGLE SCHEDULE<br />Date             Opponent     (Final)<br />Aug. 26    VIENNA-GOREVILLE (W 22-0)<br />Sept. 2    S-V-W-W    7 PM<br />Sept. 9    at Carmi    7PM<br />Sept. 16    C-Z-R    7PM<br />Sept. 24    HAMILTON CO.    1 PM<br />Sept. 30    at Edwards Co.    7 PM<br />Oct. 7    at Fairfield    7 PM<br />Oct. 14    JOHNSTON CITY    7 PM<br />Oct. 21    at Chester    7 PM<br />                    <br />Black Diamond Conference<br />        Conf    All<br />        W    L    W    L    PF    PA<br />Carmi-White Co.    1    0    1    0    48    8<br />Johnston City    1    0    1    0    31    0<br />S-V-W-W        1    0    1    0    28    0<br />Eldorado        1    0    1    0    22    0<br />Fairfield        1    0    1    0    22    12<br />Chester        0    1    0    1    12    22<br />Hamilton Co.    0    0    0    0    0    31<br />C-Z-R        0    1    0    1    8    48<br />Vienna-Goreville    0    1    0    1    0    22<br />Edwards County    0    1    0    1    0    28<br /><br />2016 EAGLE STATS<br />•••<br />TEAM STATISTICS<br />ELD        OPP    <br />4    First Downs    2<br />145    Total Yards    36<br />18-145    Rushes+Yards    21-36<br />0-1-0    Passing    0-3-1 0<br />0    Passing Yards    0<br />1    Turnovers    1<br />2-11    Penalties    2-13<br />•••<br />INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS<br />RUSHING — Trey Vessel 7-62 (TD), Payton Price 5-47 (2 TD), Jacob Traxler 3-21, Kale Oglesby 2-9, Wayne Roberts 1-6.<br />PASSING — Kale Oglesby 0-1-0 0.<br />RECEIVING —</p>