Liberty-Eylau Football Looking to Make a Lot of Noise This Year

The Liberty-Eylau Leopards are poised to have a big year in high school football in Northeast Texas.

The Leopards, who are always stocked with lots of talented athletes, boast 34 seniors heading into this season, with 17 juniors and 2 sophomores joining them.

L-E Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Steve Wells says his team will run the Spread Offense and will be led by Quarterback Decorian Phillips. Behind the QB, will be running backs Scooter Hoof, Cedric Dickerson and Shannon Roy.

The Leopards have a fleet of receivers who will all see action including, Isaiah Cross, El-Amin Greer, Daz Cooper, Mahleik Darty, Ralph Crabtree, Jaquerion Kirkendoll, and Deshun Dickerson.

On the offensive line, Colten Bergt, Dayshun McChester, Kylar Cooks, Connor Green, and Trey Parker.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Leopards will run a 4-2-5 scheme, which means 4 down linemen. Some of the players to watch on defense include, Orion Williams, Micheal Hodge, Anthony Alexander, Scooter Hoof, Cedric Dickerson, Marzavin Riles, Orion Thompson, Donte Coopwood, Michael Conley, Deshun Dickerson, Isaiah Cross, Davonte Vaughn, Kentrall Chatmon, Dominique Willias, and Shannon Roy.

As for special team, Coach Wells says they are "Special" and they try and work on them everyday. Doing the place kicking for the Leopards will be Steven Goben, and Isaiah Cross will handle the punting chores. The all important deep snappers will be Marzavin Riles, and Colten Bergt.

Coach Wells has some great assistant coaches including, Offensive Coordinator Rick Cullum, Defensive Coordinator Marlon Byrdsong, along with Offensive coaches, Jeremy Harrell, Ricky Rushing, Will Harmon, and Trey Norman. Defensive coaches, Brandon Rollins, Jack Stone, David Daniels, and Zack Fowler.

The Leopards once again this year do not shy away from tough opponents in the non-conference part of the schedule. They include #1 ranked Gilmer, #1 Ranked Carthage, #8 Pleasant Grove, and always highly ranked Texas High, and Atlanta.

The Leopards are no strangers to district championships having finished 1st in 2014 and 2015 and second last year. Coach Wells believes they are ready to win district again this year. Not only that the coach would like to see these experienced Leopards make a deep run in the playoffs and that ultimate goal of a State Championship is always out there. Something the Leopards have accomplished several times in the schools stories history. Coach Well says, "Should be an interesting year, looking forward to it."

With good coaching, talent, and a lot of seniors, the sky is the limit for these Leopards, they could indeed be playing football into December this year.