Football: Eisenhower focusing on strong start

By Pat Disabato pdisabato@southtownstar.com July 29, 2013 9:18PM

Eisenhower head football coach Travis Moore | File photo

storyidforme: 52772233
tmspicid: 7019868
fileheaderid: 3225949

Updated: July 29, 2013 10:10PM

Missing the playoffs last season didn?t sit well with Eisenhower coach Travis Moore.

The Cardinals have qualified for the postseason in three of Moore?s six seasons, marking an unprecedented level of success for the football program. In 2011, Eisenhower recorded a historic undefeated South Suburban Red championship ? its first conference title since 1985.

Eisenhower was in position to qualify for the playoffs in 2012, needing a win over archrival Richards in its final game of the season to move to 5-4. Instead, the Cardinals absorbed an all-too-familiar beat-down (a 42-0 final) from their District 218 sister school, which ended their season.

However, Moore found something important to take away from last season and has applied it to this season: starting strong. A year ago the Cardinals lost four of their first five games before rallying for three straight wins and setting up the do-or-die scenario in Week 9 vs. Richards.

A few wins early in the season and Week 9 wouldn?t have carried as much significance.

?We put ourselves in a hole early,? Moore said. ?I was proud at how we dug ourselves out and actually had a shot at making the playoffs if we could have won our last game. If we wouldn?t have started 1-4, we wouldn?t have been in that position.?

Eisenhower has started all of its six seasons under Moore with a Week 1 loss. And all of those losses have come against Rich East, which will host the Cardinals at noon Aug. 31.

?Our focus isn?t on conference or making the playoffs or playing Richards,? Moore said. ?Our focus is on beating Rich East. That?s our priority. It?s something we have not been able to do.?

For the Cardinals to get the better of the Rockets, Eisenhower?s playmakers will need to make plays. Eisenhower boasts just one returning starter on its offensive line, senior Tiante Gatewood. Moore is optimistic senior Jordan Hughes, at 315 pounds, and junior Alonzo Lomax, will adapt quickly to varsity life.

What the Cards lack in experience up front, they more than make up for at the skill positions. Moore likes what he?s seen in 7-on-7 competitions. Quarterback Dion Parker returns and has made great strides during the summer.

?He?s been perfecting his craft,? Moore said. ?He?s improved his arm strength and his accuracy. He showed last year that he can run with the ball and make things happen.?

But if the Cards are going to be successful, they?re going to have to show opponents they have a capable passing attack.

Parker has three outstanding targets in senior receivers Derrick Cooper, Lonnel Hill and Ishmil Mitchell. Cooper and Hill are nice-size targets at 6-feet-2 and Mitchell, at 6-foot, is capable of making the big reception.

So are senior running backs T.J. Skeleton and Vince Colbert, though the majority of their yards are expected to come on the ground.

?Our backfield should be dynamic,? Moore said. ?Parker, Skeleton and Colbert are big-play guys. They have a lot of speed and have the ability to cut. We don?t have a lot of experience on the line, so our guys have to make plays.?

The Cardinals offense will emphasize getting the ball quickly into their playmakers? hands. From there, Moore is confident their skill will take over.

?We have guys in the backfield and at receiver who can make something out of nothing,? Moore said.

The Cardinals have some holes to fill on defense. Senior K.J. Swain is the only returning starter on the line. Josh Akins and Tramaine Franklin, both seniors, return at linebacker, as does senior Alec Esparza at strong safety.

Moore likes the team?s chemistry, which he?s confident will help overcome any growing pains or adversity during the season.

?One of the biggest things we stress to all of our players is developing a mentality of ?team? and not ?I,? ? Moore said. ?We stress being a team and being a family. You have to be genuine about that. As long as we keep those values, we can get through the good and the bad. This group could be the tightest unit we?ve had.?

Source: http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/sports/21601531-419/football-eisenhower-focusing-on-strong-start.html

jerome simpson hand sanitizer obama on jimmy fallon pilar sanders andrew young real life barbie zipper