Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Cardinals Plan To Appropriate Violence
FARMINGTON 2021 VARSITY FOOTBALL PREVIEW
FARMINGTON — Farmington hired J.R. Eldridge as its new head football coach in late January and he’s wasted no time in putting his stamp on the program.
Eldridge introduced new slogans, which are posted around Cardinal Stadium and throughout the football facilities relating to how he interprets violence.
“The game of football is meant to be played violently, but to me and to our team violence means more than just [the general sense of the word]. It’s not criminal,” Eldridge said. “Violent means to be forceful in everything you do, to use excessive force and I want our guys, when they’re cleaning the kitchen, I want them to use violence. I want them to do it with excessive force and be great at it so that’s really what it means for us as a football program.”
“If we need to keep the locker room a certain way, we want to violently do that. We want to make sure that we are stressing to do it forcefully and I think after explaining that to our team and being able to try to practice violence on a daily basis, it makes a difference in who we are as people.”
OFFENSE
Quarterbacks
Sophomore Cameron Vanzant (6-0, 165), starts with senior Myles Harvey (6-1, 200) in reserve.
“Myles Harvey’s done an excellent job as well, but he’s also needed in other places so he’ll be running some fullback for us, doing some things offensively that are going to help us out [by] having both of them on the field at the same time and then he’s going to be a great special team’s player for us so I’m pleased with their development as football players,” Eldridge said.
Eldridge didn’t rule out unleashing any gadget plays.
“That’s a possibility. I’m not going to give away any secrets, but we’ll definitely have some things in our pocket hopefully for different games and different situations,” he said.
Runningbacks
Tailback Caden Elsik (5-11, 180) is a returning thousand yard rusher whom Eldridge gets excited about seeing him run in games. An All-Conference performer as a junior, Elsik ran the ball 248 times for 1,155 yards producing an average of 4.7 yards on each carry and 115.5 per game with a long carry of 41 yards and 13 touchdowns.
“He’s done a great job in practices so just really looking forward to him being able to carry the ball for us and we’ve got a couple of others that I feel like are going to be able to give him a break and not put such a load on his shoulders to keep him fresh for the rest of the football game,” Eldridge said.
Seniors Kanye Taylor (5-11, 180) and Tate Pickens, (5-8, 150), who also has been running at receiver and playing slot will spell Elsik. Eldridge likes Pickens’ job over the summer.
“I feel like we’re going to have some guys to handle the ball in the backfield,” Eldridge said.
Receivers
Senior Devonte Donovan (6-3, 165) runs the 40 in 4.5. He topped the team in receptions with 44 last season for 437 yards and 9 touchdowns and is anticipated to flourish in the new offense.
“Devonte has done a great job in the spring and in the summer, does a good job of catching the ball, he’s really fast,” Eldridge said.
Juniors Peyton Funk (6-0, 170) and Lawson DeVault (5-10, 160) showcased an ability to go deep and make plays downfield during the spring game.
“Peyton Funk and Lawson DeVault are really good and Tate Pickens, he’ll be able to do some things from the backfield and from the slot position. [Sophomore] Justin Logue (5-8, 150) is going to good for us as well. So, I’m really excited about our receiving corps and just seeing them develop and be able to catch the ball and make plays for us, “Eldridge said.
Tight End
Senior Chase Brown (6-3, 210) won All-Conference honors as a junior reeling in 23 catches for 290 yards averaging 12.6 yards per reception with a pair of touchdowns, numbers he hopes to exceed this season.
“Chase Brown’s done an excellent job for us. He’s a good blocker, big body, can catch the ball as well so just really excited about him and not only what he can do with the football and on the football field, but also just his leadership ability and just the presence that he provides for us on the football field,” Eldridge said.
Offensive Line
Senior Jackson Boudrey ( 6-2, 255) brings power and intensity to the offensive line and he’s not the only guy coming back with experience.
“Jackson Boudrey is a returning starter, great leader, very physical. We’ve also got [senior] Mason Dooly (6-1, 225), and [senior] Deklen Gardenhire (6-2, 255) who played significant snaps in the past,” Eldridge said.
Junior Riley Lockard (5-11, 240) also contributes up front.
“At center we’ve got Hunter Marshall (5-8, 236) who’s done a great job for us and just loves football and gets after it all the time. He’s only a sophomore, but he plays above his head,” Eldridge said.
DEFENSE
Defensive Line
Eldridge feels like the defensive line has really shored up led by senior returning starter Braden Bullington (6-2, 212).
“He’s a senior returner, has a high motor, makes plays, does a good job there,” Eldridge said.
Home schooler David Stettmeier (6-1, 246) lines up at defensive tackle along with senior Dawson Triplett (6-1, 230), who made his presence known during the spring game.
“[Junior] Carter Moad (5-11, 180) and [junior[ Scout Morrison (6-2, 175) have done a great job on the other side at defensive end so excited about our defensive line and just being able to get better there,” Eldridge said.
Linebackers
Returning junior starter Cooper Gardenhire (5-10, 205) is out five weeks with injury. Prior to that Eldridge predicted he’s going to be really good for the team. Farmington graduated the bulk of its experienced linebacking corps but a group of young linebackers, junior Andrew Disheroon (5-10, 155), sophomore Cole Cantrell (5-8, 170), Zach Ralston, Trey Moser, Landon Morris, Brendon Morgan, are ready to take their place.
Safeties
According to Eldridge junior Sam Wells (5-11, 160) and Wyatt Powell (5-11, 160) have just been doing a great job throughout spring and into the summer at safety.
Cornerbacks
Players have shifted spots with some switching over from offense. The Cardinals plan to play a trio of cornerbacks, junior Walker McCumber ( 6-2, 160), senior Kyler Petree (5-10, 160) and senior Chase Welkley (5-8, 145).
“I feel like we’ve got our personnel in the right spots right now and they’re going a good job of developing in this new defense and have done really good so far,” Eldridge said.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicking Game
Senior Luis Zavala (5-9, 160) converted 11-of-13 extra-point kicks and made good on 5-of-9 field goal attempts last year and sent many kickoffs into the end zone.
“Luis is doing a great job for us. He’s going to be able to really hopefully provide an advantage for us on our kickoff coverage and then also he’s got good range with his PATs/field goals. We’ve been working that so excited about what Luis is going to be able to do for us,” Eldridge said.
Elsik will handle the punting chores. “In spring we installed all of our special teams and Caden Elsik can boot the ball at punter so we’re excited about what he’s going to be able to do when we punt the football,” Eldridge said.
OUTLOOK
Eldridge appreciates what’s been drawn out of the upper classmen in the program noting the senior class has done a great job of buying in demonstrated through earnest participation in offseason program and throughout the summer schedule with really good attendance, energy, effort and focus on a daily basis.
“I’ve just really been excited about seeing them develop in the systems that we’re trying to teach them, both in the weight room, on the field for conditioning and also our offense, defense and special teams so it’s been great to see these guys develop and grow throughout the time I’ve been here,” Eldridge said.
Eldridge wants Cardinal fans to know every effort has been put forth to achieve success on the gridiron this season.
“The biggest thing I want them to know is our players are hungry and we’re going to work every single day,” Eldridge said. “There’s not a minute for us that is unplanned. We’re trying to plan every minute so that every minute matters for our football staff.”