Previewing the 2024 Eagle football schedule

Previewing the 2024 Eagle football schedule Image

• Julian Rodriguez (5) carries the ball down the field during a game against Detroit last season. The Como-Pickton Eagles have released their football schedule for the 2024 season, when they return to Ron Heflin Field after playing the entire 2023 season at Red Raider Stadium in Winnsboro. Photo by DJ Spencer

Dj Spencer Sports Editor Sat, 06/22/2024 - 05:49 Subhead

C-P returns to Ron Heflin Field

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COMO — The Como-Pickton Eagles have released their football schedule for the 2024 season. The schedule features five home games and five road games.

This will also be their first season under new Head Coach Jeremy Griffin.

After being forced to play all of their home games at Winnsboro’s Red Raider Stadium in 2023, the Eagles will be returning home to Ron Heflin Field for the 2024 season. The Eagles were unable to play in Como last season due to extensive damage to Ron Heflin Field following a tornado.

The Eagles are coming off a 1-9 season in 2023, in which they failed to win a district game, finishing 0-6. They enter 2024 looking for their first playoff appearance since 2020 and their first winning season since 2017.

The Eagles will once again be in District 9-2A/ D1, which like previous years, includes Alba-Golden, Boles, Cooper, Honey Grove and Rivercrest. Additionally, Pewitt joins the district, replacing Wolfe City.

Here is a look at the Eagles’ schedule, from week to week.

WEEK 1

VS. UNION GROVE

For their season opener, the Eagles welcome the Union Grove Lions to Ron Heflin Field Aug. 29. This will be the first time since Oct. 21, 2022 that the Eagles have hosted a game on their home field. It also features two teams largely unfamiliar with each other.

The Lions went 4-6 during the 2023 season. Despite going a perfect 4-0 in non-district play, the Lions lost all six of their district games, going 0-6 and finishing last in their district.

WEEK 2

AT BIG SANDY

In their second game, the Eagles hit the road for the first time, traveling to Big Sandy to play the Big Sandy Wildcats at Wildcat Stadium Sept. 6. This game will feature two teams largely unfamiliar with one another.

The Wildcats went 3-7 overall and 2-4 in district play in 2023, missing out on the playoffs. Their only wins were a 15-6 win against Linden-Kildare, a 22-14 victory over Union Grove, and a 61-43 win against Hawkins.

WEEK 3

AT CUMBY

For their third game, the Eagles hit the road once again, this time traveling to Cumby to take on their Hopkins County rival, the Cumby Trojans, at Frazier- Lawrence Field Sept. 13. Though both teams have enjoyed continuous rivalries in other sports — namely volleyball, basketball, and baseball — this is the first time the two teams will have met in football since 2015, which was a 3820 Cumby win.

The Trojans went just 3-7 overall in 2023, but managed to place fourth in district at 2-3, earning the final playoff spot in their district.

In the playoffs, the Trojans were shut out 58-0 by the eventual 2A/D2 state runners-up, the Mart Panthers, in the Bi-District round.

WEEK 4

VS. TRENTON The Eagles’ fourth game will see them wrap up non-district play against the Trenton Tigers Sept. 20 at Ron Heflin Field. This will be Como-Pickton’s homecoming game, against another team they are largely unfamiliar with.

The Tigers went 4-6 overall and 1-4 in district play last season. Despite finishing in fifth place, they made the playoffs as the fourth place team due to original third-place finisher Tom Bean being ineligible for the playoffs.

In the playoffs, the Tigers lost 57-12 to the Tolar Rattlers in the Bi-District round.

WEEK 5

AT ALBA-GOLDEN

For their fifth game, the Eagles begin district play by traveling to Alba to take on the Alba-Golden Panthers at Alba-Golden Stadium Sept. 27. The two teams played each other last season, which Alba-Golden won 55-0.

The Panthers went 7-3 overall and 3-3 in district last season, placing fourth and earning the final playoff spot in District 9-2A/ D1.

In the playoffs, the Panthers were shut out 41-0 by the Beckville Bearcats in the Bi-District round.

WEEK 6

VS. HONEY GROVE

In their second district game, the Eagles welcome the Honey Grove Warriors to Ron Heflin Field for their district home opener. In last year’s matchup between the two teams, the Warriors shut out the Eagles 44-0.

The Warriors enjoyed a dominant 2023 season, finishing 8-1 overall and 4-1 in district, placing second in District 9-2A/D1 behind Cooper.

In the playoffs, the Warriors shut out the Ore City Rebels 47-0 in the Bi-District round, then defeated the Centerville Tigers 40-36 in the Area round, before losing to the eventual 2A/D1 state champion Timpson Bears 68-7 in the Regional Semifinals.

WEEK 7

AT COOPER

For the seventh game of the season, the Eagles hit the road again, traveling to Cooper to square off against the Cooper Bulldogs at Bulldog Stadium. Last season, the Bulldogs defeated the Eagles 62-8.

The Bulldogs enjoyed a very successful 2023 season, going 9-1 overall and a perfect 6-0 in district, winning the District 9-2A/D1 championship.

In the playoffs, the Bulldogs shut out the Frankston Indians 61-0 in the Bi-District round, then, defeated the Shelbyville Dragons 69-28 in the Area round, before losing to the Garrison Bulldogs 47-20 in the Regional Semifinals.

WEEK 8

VS. PEWITT

In the eighth game of the year, the Eagles welcome the Pewitt Brahmas to Ron Heflin Field. This will be the Eagles’ “Pink Out” game, against another team they are largely unfamiliar with.

The Brahmas went 3-7 overall and 3-3 in district play last season. Unfortunately, they missed out on the playoffs due to being on the wrong side of a tiebreak.

WEEK 9

AT BOLES

For their ninth game, the Eagles hit the road for a final time, traveling to Quinlan to take on the Boles Hornets. In last year’s matchup between the two teams, the Hornets shut out the Eagles 49-0.

The Hornets endured a rough season in 2023, finishing just 2-8 overall and 1-5 in district, placing sixth in District 9-2A/D1. Their only other win in 2023 was a 59-35 win against Clarksville.

BYE WEEK

After nine consecutive games, the Eagles will have their bye week during the week of Nov. 1.

WEEK 10

VS. RIVERCREST

For their final game of the regular season, the Eagles welcome the Rivercrest Rebels to Ron Heflin Field for their Senior Night game. Last year, the Rebels shut out the Eagles 44-0.

The Rebels went 3-7 overall and 2-4 in district play last season, finishing fifth in District 9-2A/D1 and narrowing missing out on the playoffs. Their only other victories in 2023 were a 24-16 win against Prairiland, and a 50-0 shut out win over Boles.

The Eagles will look to improve upon their dismal record from last year and produce positive results. They will also look to win their first playoff game in school history.