Kansas.com KSN
  • Alan Schuckman, coach, Bishop Carroll.
  • Bishop Carroll's Zeke Palmer hopes to lead the Eagles to a title this year. (Aug. 17, 2011)
  • Alec Maly. Bishop Carroll High School. (Aug. 13, 2011)
  • Matt Melillo. Bishop Carroll High School. (Aug. 13, 2011)
  • Bradyn Butcher. Bishop Carroll High School. (Aug. 13, 2011)
  • Nathan Law. Bishop Carroll High School. (Aug. 13, 2011)
  • Drew Rhoads. Bishop Carroll High School. (Aug. 13, 2011)

2011 Football preview: Carroll Golden Eagles

Published August 10 at 1:57 p.m. | Last updated August 23 at 3:03 p.m.

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The Wichita Eagle and VarsityKansas gear up for the 2011 high school football season by presenting in-depth previews for 30 area teams. Look for new schools daily through Aug. 20.

COACH

Alan Schuckman

17th season

129-38

“We lost a very talented senior class. Now it’s this class’ opportunity to step up and fill the void.æ.æ.æ. Every year we just try to build on what we did the year before.”

AT A GLANCE

Last season: 10-3, lost in 5A championship

Last five seasons: 51-10

Projected 2011 playoff team? Yes

BEST SKILL PLAYERS

PlayerHt.Wt.PosYr
Zeke Palmer6-1200Jr.QB
Alec Maly6-0175Sr.FS
Nate Law5-8160Sr.SS
John Linnebur5-9170Sr.RB

BEST LINEMEN

PlayerHt.Wt.PosYr
Matt Melillo6-1200Sr.TE
Drew Rhoads6-2240Sr.OL
Bradyn Butcher6-0210Sr.DL
Sean Mallory6-0225Sr.DL

ALEC MALY ON HIS TEAM

What Carroll does well: “You can have the mindset, ‘If I screw up, those other guys will help me back it up.’ We can always trust each other. . . . To have a perfect play, everyone has to perform and do their job.”

What has to improve: “I think competition in practice; I think that will push everyone. I think last year we didn’t get comfortable, but once we beat Hutch (in the semifinals), we beat the big dog. We need to always have our perseverance to see our future, our final goal there.”

2011 SCHEDULE

DateOpponentTime2010
Sept. 2Heights7 p.m.L,21-0
Sept. 9South7 p.m.W,59-0
Sept. 15Southeast (at South)7 p.m.W,42-7
Sept. 23at Northwest7 p.m.W,35-7
Sept. 29East (at South)7 p.m.W,52-12
Oct. 7Kapaun7 p.m.W,41-3
Oct. 14at Liberal7 p.m.W,42-13
Oct. 21West7 p.m.W,42-8
Oct. 28Hutchinson7 p.m.L,21-14

OUR BREAKDOWN

Carroll’s 2010 goal was to beat Hutchinson in the playoffs and get to the 5A title game. The Eagles did just that, proving they have elevated their program. And even though the Eagles have five returning starters, two on offense, they’ll be fine. Hernandez (651 rushing yards) and Palmer didn’t start, but they had vital roles in big games as sophomores and will be looked to for even more.

The only returning offensive starters are Melillo and Rhoads, but there is some depth — and size — on that line. Carroll’s defense hasn’t been as strong as those in the mid-2000s, but the Eagles are still a team offenses struggle against. Two important moves to stabilize the secondary are Maly moving from linebacker to free safety so he can run the defense, while Law moves from cornerback to strong safety.

- Joanna Chadwick

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