Eagles set to take on Blair Oaks on Saturday

  by Dakota Morgan, Newspaper Class

  Game Preview: The Eagles come into Saturday’s game as winners of seven straight. Holden, however, will have its hands full as the Blair Oaks Falcons are also coming off seven straight wins. Blair Oaks only loss, by a score of 31-19, was at the hands of an undefeated 3A California squad. The Falcons are coming off an impressive victory over Clark County. One of Holden’s two losses came in week two against a tough 3A Oak Grove team, as the Eagles fell to the Panthers, 12-6; the other blemish on the Eagles’ record came on Homecoming night, when the Eagles suffered an overtime loss to rival Higginsville. Holden met the undefeated Huskers in the District 7 championship and had the last laugh as they pulled out a victory, 36-26, and followed it up with a win versus Lathrop, the No. 1 team in 2A.

    The Falcons key players are their pair of offensive backs. No. 42, Derrick Otto, and No. 46, Eli Roberts,are two talented runners, as well as two well-rounded linebackers. Senior quarterback Daniel Castillo, No. 19, is another player to watch for. The dual threat QB can make plays with his arm, or his legs. Blair Oaks not only has an explosive offense, but also a stout defense that only allows a meager average of 13 points per game.

    Last week at Lathrop, the Eagles had a very strong second half, and put the Mules away, 48-27. Senior running back Max Mickey (pictured above)had a whopping 46 carries for 349 yards and five touchdowns. Sophomore fullback Austin Tevis carried the ball 15 times, for 87 yards and a score. The senior passing combination of quarterback Jeff Miller and wide receiver Jordan Sullins connected for another score. That puts Miller at 11 touchdown passes on the year, nine of which have gone to Sullins.

The Eagles’ defense is a force to be reckoned with, as well. Senior linebackers Chase Wright and Johnathon Sullins both have more than 100 tackles on the season; Wright also had his first interception of the season, last week in Lathrop to help put the game on ice. Other seniors that will make an impact are linebacker, Zack Hutcheson, and cornerback, Matt Borgen. Senior Dakota Tillotson (pictured on other side)is Holden’s most dominant lineman. The six-foot tall, 240 pound tackles plays both sides of the ball and has 55 tackles on the season.

    This is the first coaching meeting between the former Missouri Valley College teammates Mike Hedrick and Brad Drehle, who have coached their respected teams to the Missouri 2A Football State Semifinals.

   State Semifinals: The Lamar Tigers (11-2) will play the Caruthersville Tigers (12-1) on Saturday, at 1:30, in Lamar. The victor will play the winner of the Holden v. Blair Oaks game, on Saturday, November 24^th, in the Missouri Class 2A State Championship.

   Mickey’s historic season: Eagles’ senior running back Max Mickey is having a season for the ages. Number 33 has 3,233 rushing yards and 43 rushing touchdowns, making him the nation’s second-leading rusher, and Missouri’s leading rusher. Mickey is also the Holden Eagles all-time leading rusher, and is also less than 100 yards away from the most rushing yards in a single season in Missouri.

   Eagles’ remarkable season: The Holden Eagles have never made it this deep into the post-season, making this a magical season for Coach Hedrick in his first year at Holden.