El Dorado will host North Little Rock in a benefit football game to kick off the season Friday, beginning at 7 p.m. at Memorial Stadium. The 7A Charging Wildcats went 3-8 last season.
Admission is $5.
El Dorado coach Chris Hill said the Wildcats are eager to get on the field and line up against a team wearing different colors.
“We’re looking at a bunch of guys up front, it’s going to be their first varsity snaps. We’re trying to see how we compete against other people,” Hill said. “How do we do from a standpoint of knowing our assignments, executing our assignments, using the right technique? We’re to the point, we’ve hit on each other for a while. It’s time to play somebody else to find out what we do well and find out where our areas we need to improve are at. We’re looking forward to it. Our kids are excited about it. They’re just as excited to hit somebody in a different colored jersey.”
Hill said the format will be like a regular game except the kicking game will be dead. The plan is to use first and second teamers in the first half.
North Little Rock should provide a good test.
“They’re always going to be very athletic. They’ve been good for a long time. I don’t expect anything different from them this time,” said Hill. “They’re going to be young and inexperienced but athletically, they run and get to the football. It’ll be good for us.”
El Dorado is coming off a 5-6 season with a roster that features just 14 seniors. The Wildcats will introduce several new starters to the varsity level.
With that in mind, the coach was asked how much attention he will be paying to the scoreboard.
“Not much,” he answered. “You know how the game is going without having to look at the scoreboard. You know if you’re playing well. We just want to get lined up right and get our eyes where they’re supposed to be. See who plays well when the lights come on.”