6A

Team Preview: Mansfield Lake Ridge Eagles

by
Adam Ogburn
August 2

Mansfield Lake Ridge Eagles

Head Coach: Kirk Thor (12^th season)

Last Season: 4-6; 3-4 in district

Lake Ridge Key Players and Storylines

Last season, Lake Ridge came up just a game short of snapping a playoff drought that dates back to 2018.

This year, head coach Kirk Thor said the expectation will be for his Eagles to get over that hump and make it back to the postseason with six starters back on offense and five returning on defense.

Promising dual threat quarterback Kennen Miller(2,140 passing yards and 20 TDs; 605 rushing yards and 10 TDs) is back to give the offense a dynamic playmaker behind center.

However, the strength of this Lake Ridge team will be in the trenches. Seniors Joey Glendenning, Tharon Pitts, and Ndubuisi Wokocha are all back to lead the offensive line. Meanwhile, the defensive line boasts seniors Greg Bridges, Phillips Ojo, Tyson Hall, Isaiha Pena, and Ian Galan.

However, the talent isn’t just limited to the defensive line. Last year’s leading tackler nickel safety/linebacker Hunter Reeves is back (83 tackles), while Thor expects linebackers Jaden Jones, who can also play defensive end, and Owen Tipping to also be key contributors.

The Eagles have a great foundation to build off of this year with how strong they’ll be in the trenches. If the young skill talent delivers on offense like Thor hopes it will, he believes his Eagles have what it takes to return to the postseason for the first time in five years.