CHARLOTTESVILLE — Eastern Hancock’s 2020 football roster looks like someone just made a photo copy of the 2019 version.
That’s not the case, but when the Royals take the field for the season opener tonight, at home, against Alexandria, those names you hear on the public address system and read in the game program will sound and look familiar.
The Royals return a lot from a 2019 club that went 8-3, with two losses coming to regular season/sectional opponent Heritage Christian, which advanced to the Class 2A regional before losing to eventual state champion Western Boone.
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Coach Doug Armstrong is in his third year leading the Royals. He has close to 70 percent of the 2019 team back and his largest roster (47 players) during his time as the head coach.
He knows what he has, but also knows what lies ahead.
“We’re a good team, but we’re going to be playing good teams,” Armstrong said. “We have to figure out how to beat them and our health will be the key.”
Armstrong has a lot of talented players, but many will be playing on both sides of the ball.
Offensively, the Royals could be one of the most potent units in the state.
Junior quarterback Houston Swan is in his third year as a starter. In 2019, he threw for 2,511 yards, 11th most in the state and had 33 touchdown passes, tied for sixth in the state. He averaged 228.3 passing yards per game and completed 64.6 percent (201-of-311) of his passes.
To make this offense even more dangerous, most of those on the receiving end are back, too.
With the return of receivers Cole Rainbolt, J.P. Fuchs, Landon O’Neal and Cayden Sotelo, the Royals have 29 of those TD receptions back and 161 catches. Add running back Zach Arnold to the mix and the team has 32 TDs and 180 receptions back in the Royal Blue and White.
Rainbolt led the way, yardage-wise, with 56 grabs for 640 yards and eight scores. Fuchs caught nine for touchdowns and had 47 receptions for 637 yards. O’Neal was on the receiving end of five touchdown passes and had 32 catches for 441 yards. For Sotelo, who with Fuchs is the only senior of the group, had seven TD catches out of his 26 catches for 404 yards.
Arnold had 19 receptions for 257 yards and three scores.
“They know the route adjustments. They all have really good hands,” Armstrong said of the receivers. “Nobody cares who gets the most catches. They are all in it for each other.”
Junior Ashton Smith, who missed much of last season due to injury, is another wide receiver that could add to the Royals good-hands group.
“We’ve been playing together and have thrown together for four years,” O’Neal said. “We know each other, not just well enough to pass the ball, but a big thing for us is our blocking. Our running backs are familiar with (our blocking, too). It’s important to be together all-around with our catching and blocking.”
They’ll be doing much of their blocking for a pair of returning running backs.
Arnold and Jake Johnson are back in the backfield. Both showed strong signs last year, but both also missed time, like Smith, due to injury.
Arnold had 242 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. Johnson had 197 rushing yards last year. Victor Olivo, who graduated, led the Royals with 341 yards.
Swan should have time to throw and the running backs should have holes to run through.
Four starters return to the offensive line, including tackles Jackson Beaudry (6-3, 250) and Conner Knudson (6-3, 245) and guards Hunter Knudson (6-0, 260) and Tyler Cavaletto (6-5, 275). All four are seniors. Juniors Carter Dishman (5-10, 205) and Reed Hedrick (5-10, 245) are vying for time at center.
Graduation was a bit harder on the defense.
The Royals will miss graduated lineman Tyler Vandervliet, who tied for the conference lead in sacks with 5.5. Chase Settergren led last year’s linebacking crew with four sacks and had a team-high 17 tackles for loss. Linebacker Garrett Friesen, who was third in the MEC in tackles last season with 122, is another big graduation loss on the defensive side. Linebacker Connor Shultz, another from the Class of 2020, had 66 stops and three sacks last year.
Still, there is plenty of talent returning, many splitting time with their duties on offense.
O’Neal and Johnson are the team’s outside linebackers. Rainbolt and Sotelo are stalwarts at safety. Cavaletto and Hunter Knudson will be big factors on the line. Smith, Arnold and Fuchs will rotate at cornerback.
Rainbolt and Sotelo had four interceptions each last season and O’ Neal had two.
The defense will see some new faces in junior middle linebacker Chase Riggs. Senior lineman Tyler Speer and sophomore defensive back Kain Sotelo.
Swan and O’Neal will handle punting duties. Fuchs and freshman Aaron Redmon will be the kickers.
“Just working hard and being smart in all phases of the game,” Swan said, on the keys to the team’s success.
“Everyone wants it,” Cayden Sotelo added. “Everyone on this team has been working really hard.”
With many opening games, and some seasons, across the state being canceled due to issues related with the coronavirus pandemic, the Royals are glad to be able to take the field tonight.
“We’re thankful we’re going to play Week 1,” Armstrong said. “We want to play as well as we can and take that approach every week, but you’ve got to have a big picture improvement plan. When we get to the end of the season, we don’t want to be surprised we got there. We want to be ready when we get there by improving every day and every week.”
“I’ve been waiting for this opportunity for four years,” Johnson added. “This will be my last home opener ever. I’m beyond thankful it’s going to happen and very thankful for being able to play my home opener. My heart goes out to all those seniors out there that have had their season and games postponed.”
