EL DORADO

1995 RECORD: 7-4 overall, 4-1 in league.

COACH: Rick Jones (34-41 at school)

RETURNING STARTERS: 4 on offense, 3 on defense

TOP RETURNERS

Sharif Abdullah, TE/LB, 5-5, 165, Jr.; Brandon Broughton, OL/DL, 6-4, 200, Sr.; Mike Curtis, OL/DL, 5-11, 215, Jr.; Mike Derisio, QB/DB, 5-6, 160, Sr.; Jake Ehlen, FB/LB, 5-10, 190, Sr.; Brigg Hoenisch, 5-7, 190, Sr.; Brent Ihrig, OL/DL, 6-5, 250, Sr.; Matt McRae, TE/LB, 6-1, 190, Jr.; Carlos Rasch, WR/DB, 6-0, 160, Jr.; Ben Sanders, WR/DB, 6-4, 190, Sr.; Shawn Tabbaa, TE/LB, 6-0, 190, Sr.; Mike Zurhellen, OL/DL, 6-0, 225, Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS

Byron Davis, FB/LB, 5-11, 175, So; Donny Dymond, WR/DB, 5-8, 160, Jr.; Tim Fairfield, FB/LB, 5-8, 175, So.; Brandon Fischer, RB/DB, 5-7, 170, So.; Jason Permyler, RB/LB, 5-10, 180, So.; Mitch Nord, QB, 6-0, 170, So.; Steve Warfield, RB/LB, 5-5, 165, Jr.

OUTLOOK

After finishing second in the Empire League last season, the Golden Hawks are faced with a rebuilding season. Jones said he might be forced to start as many as 10 sophomores and some of them will be forced to start on both sides of the ball because of a lack of depth. Nord, who played freshman ball last season, figures to step into the starting quarterback job, although Jones said Derisio has been coming on in practice and is close behind. The running game of Warfield and Ehlen, an all-league player who rushed for 447 yards, should be one of the few bright spots. Jones promises his defense will be feisty. “I think the defense will be a positive force,” Jones said. “We’ll play hard, but we’re not going to out-talent anybody.”