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2C Enterprise-Leader Wednesday, August 25, 2021 2 0 2 1 F o o t b a l l P r e v i e w 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 force- ful 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 exces- sive 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 explain- ing 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 situa- tions," 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 recep- tions 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 down- field 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 reel- ing in 23 catches for 290 yards averag- ing 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 leader- ship 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 offen- sive 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. By Mark Humphrey ENTERPRISE-LEADER FARMINGTON 2021 VARSITY FOOTBALL PREVIEW Cardinals Plan To Appropriate Violence MARK HUMPHREY/ENTERPRISE-LEADER Farmington's varsity football team enters the 2021 season with hopes of qualifying for the Class 5A state playoffs under new head coach J.R. Eldridge. Several returning starters beef up the offense. SEE CARDINALS PAGE 3C