Kickoff 2016:

Young Boulder City Eagles look for fresh football start in ‘16

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Christopher DeVargas

Members of the Boulder City High football team pose for a photo at the Las Vegas Sun’s high school football media day July 20, 2016 at the South Point. They include, from left, Aaron Kehoe, Chase Srowley, and Briggs Huxford.

Wed, Aug 24, 2016 (5:53 p.m.)

2016 High School Football

Members of the Cheyenne High football team pose for a photo at the Las Vegas Sun's high school football media day July 20, 2016 at the South Point. They include, from left, Corwin Bush, William Federson, John Tarver, and Deriontae Green. Launch slideshow »
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The bad news for Boulder City High football team heading into this season is the Eagles will be young.

They lost quarterback Austin Wishard and receiver Zach Murphy, who caught all six of the team’s receiving touchdowns last season.

The good news for the Eagles is starting fresh might be exactly what the program needs after finishing 1-8 and last place in the 3A Sunrise Division in 2015.

“We’re going to be a young team,” coach Chris Morelli said. “We lost a lot of seniors last year so this is a group that is coming together and they have played well together at the lower levels.”

Headlining that group of young players is junior running back Briggs Huxford, who will be a focal point of the offense.

“Huxford is one guy that we are going to look to this year, to try to get the ball in his hands in that slot position,” Morelli said.

After averaging only nine points per game last season, Boulder City is making some changes to its offensive philosophy.

“We are going to try to give a different look than what people are used to seeing from Boulder City,” Morelli said. “We are going to spread the ball around a little more this year. We’ve got some great position players this year.”

One of the only units on the team that does have senior leadership is the offensive line, which will be led by Chase Cowley Aaron Kehoe.

“These guys have been the rock for this group,” Morelli said. “They are always first in and last to leave. It’s nice having them on our football team.”

Cohesion won’t be an issue for the Eagles along the line, but the lack of size up front will continue to plague the team.

“We definitely have chemistry with each other,” Cowley said. “We have been playing together since middle school and we always know what the other is doing.”

Cowley weighs in at 215-pounds and Kehoe weighs only 170-pounds. At center and offensive guard they will be two of the smallest interior lineman in the city.

“Something I’ve stressed is putting on pounds,” Cowley said. “Last year I was kind of undersized. All of our players have gained at least a couple pounds. We are all getting stronger and faster.”

Knowing that they will be the smaller team on most Friday nights has motivated the Eagles in the weight room throughout the offseason.

“It makes us have to play harder and make sure that we are the tougher team,” Kehoe said.

Morelli says the team’s goal is to compete for a playoff spot but the Eagles will have to make major strides if they are going to reach that.

“We are going to be small but these guys know their job and what needs to be done,” Morelli said.

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