SAN ANGELO, TX-- The TLCA athletic program, as a whole, has very little history. That’s because they’ve only been around since 2009 and have competed in the UIL since 2010.
The lone playoff appearance and playoff win for the Eagles came in 2013 while they were in Class 1A, which is now classified as 2A.
For second-year head coach Brent Rider, he’d love nothing more than to build that winning culture.
“It’ll mean a lot because it’s been a while since TLCA’s been to the playoffs,” Rider said. “They’ve had some good years at TLCA in football. We’ve got to get back there. I was a little disappointed in last year. I think the kids were too with how we finished the year. We’ve got to get back to where we’re a playoff team and people are talking about us.”
To do that, the TLCA Eagles will have to be competitive. Some would argue there’s no better way to do that than to play high caliber teams.
That’s exactly what they’ll get in District 4-3A DII this year with Anson, Ballinger, Cisco and Merkel headlining the district.
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Last year, Rider and his staff transitioned the Eagles to the spread offense late in the year. Entering fall camp, TLCA was able to hit the ground running in terms of installing their offensive and defensive schemes. Rider says that will give his team a big boost this season.
“I feel like we’re a lot smoother than we were last year,” Rider said. “The offense is similar, the defense is similar to what we ran toward the end of the year. So, we’ve picked it up a lot faster. We’re ahead of where we were this time last year. I think we’re executing a lot better now and the energy has been where we want it.”
Another reason Rider is happy his team is picking up the schemes is the eight-team district they’re in. The Eagles will only get three games to prepare for district because of that.
“We’ve got to be able to execute quickly,” Rider emphasized. “Last year we took some time learning the offense. We were speaking a whole new language last year. This year, at least the kids know where to line up. If I say something, they know the words. We were starting from scratch last year. So, they have that base that we can build.”
Helping to add on to that base are five returning offensive starters and six defensive starters.
Highlighting those returners are quarterback Kaiden Kirkland, receiver Orlando Romero and lineman James Bishop.
Rider praised all three and thinks they will be impact players for the Eagles, but he was very impressed with his center, Bishop.
“He’s really stepped up and been a vocal leader,” Rider said. “We’re expecting big things from him. He’s been running the show on the offensive line and doing a good job on the defensive line as well.”
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Kirkland has progressed well in picking up the offense and “pulling the trigger,” according to Rider.
“He’s making quicker decisions,” Rider added. “He understands our offense. We were learning so much last year that his decision making wasn’t always right. Now he’s making the right decisions and the right reads. Last year, we put a lot on him. This year, I think we’ll be able to put even more on him and that’ll help us when we get into district.”
With explosive teams littered through District 4-3A DII, defensive play could be the difference between a making or missing the playoffs.
Last year, the Eagles allowed 38 points per game, but an attacking mindset on defense could put TLCA in an advantageous position.
“We’re going to be more of an attacking style this year,” Rider said. “I think the kids like it. We’ve been working on our blitz packages and our coverage. Again, they’re ahead of where we were last year. We’re flying around a little more. On defense, you don’t want to do a lot of thinking. The less thinking you do, the better they’re going to play.”
The Eagle’s 2018 campaign begins on the road at Eldorado on Friday, Aug. 31.
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