Countdown to 8 Sports Blitz: Mills Godwin Eagles

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — The Mills Godwin High School Varsity Football team is gearing up for the 2024 season with hopes of building on the first year of the Earl Kinney era.

“Roller coaster ride, we opened up 4-0 and then we went like 2-4 and then we won a playoff game so it was up and down and up and down which was pretty much the first year,” said second-year head coach Earl Kinney.

In 2023, the Eagles finished with a 7-5 record, advancing to the Class 5 playoffs and securing a first-round win. They are looking to carry that momentum into the new season.

“We’ve seen now that we can do it,” said senior running back Jackson Eakes. “I wouldn’t say doubts, but we hadn’t won a playoff game in a long time. So to see us win that last year, like we definitely got some momentum coming off that because we know we can actually do it.”

Coach Kinney returns a large group of seniors this year—players who have weathered many challenges, from the COVID-19 pandemic to coaching changes. Their resilience will be crucial for the Eagles in 2024.

“This season’s group has been great through two coaches,” Coach Kinney said. “They are hoping to make it five playoffs in a row. They are a great group of kids, great leaders. They take whatever comes at them and make it work. Just a tremendous group of fine young men. They are different from each other, but they will go through whatever they need to get where they need to go.”

Mills Godwin will kick off their season on the road against Goochland High School at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 29.

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