EDEN, TX — The Eden Bulldogs narrowly missed the playoffs last season, and they hope to finish the job this year.
Eden was clipped 47-43 by Medina in a district battle that ultimately decided the district’s second and final playoff spot.
The Bulldogs also weren’t far off in a 34-18 loss to district-champion Menard.
With all but one starter back from last year’s 6-4 team, Eden should be in the mix again for a playoff spot or even a district title, said the Bulldogs’ new head coach, Jeff Shelton.
“There will be a learning curve for the kids learning a new offense and defense. But with the returners we have and the speed we have available to us, I feel like we should be a team that contends for a district title,” Shelton said. “That’s our No. 1 goal, and if we don’t attain that, then our second goal is to make the playoffs.”
Shelton is a 22-year coaching veteran who has spent 14 years as a head coach, including at Rankin, Spur and Paint Rock.
He inherits a team with a seven-player senior class that includes quarterback Julian Morales (1,077 passing yards, 19 touchdowns) and running back Blake Teeple (802 rushing yards, 12 TDs; 302 receiving yards, 5 TDs).
Other players to watch include senior wide receiver Avery Condarco, senior offensive lineman Coen Hoelscher, and junior fullback Nate Barba.
The defense will be led by the same players, including Teeple, a defensive end who was named the Preseason Defensive MVP of District 15-1A Division I by Texas Football magazine.
Barba also had 112 tackles last year as a safety.
“We’ve got a really good freshman class coming in. I don’t know how much they’ll help us at the varsity level, but we’ll bring them up to speed, especially for depth purposes,” Shelton said.
Eden will begin its season at home against Concho County rival Paint Rock on Friday, Aug. 29.
The Bulldogs’ district schedule will begin at Leakey on Oct. 17. Their regular-season finale will be at home against Menard on Nov. 17 in a game that could determine the district title and Eden’s playoff fate.
“It’s a down-the-road rival, and the community gets up for it and gets excited for it, and we hope it’s a meaningful game,” Shelton said of the Menard game.
Eden Bulldogs
2025 schedule
Aug. 29 Paint Rock
Sept. 5 at Sidney
Sept. 12 at Lometa
Sept. 19 Wichita Falls Christian (at Abilene Christian HS)
Sept. 26 Bronte
Oct. 3 at Baird
Oct. 10 OPEN
Oct. 17 at Leakey*
Oct. 24 Medina*
Oct. 31 at Nueces Canyon*
Nov. 7 Menard*
*District 15-1A Division I game
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