1A Team of the Week: Eden Bulldogs

Eden has just two upperclassmen on its roster, so it would be understandable if there were some growing pains early in the season.

It looked like that inexperience was going to get the best of the Bulldogs as they trailed Paint Rock 30-6 in the third quarter last Friday. However, head coach Aaron Maxwell and his Bulldogs weren’t ready to throw in the towel just yet.

“We talk a lot about chopping wood and getting water, the basic things you need to survive and thrive, and focusing on the things we can control,” Maxwell said. “We reminded the boys of this and to trust each other.”

The Bulldogs evidently took that message to heart. They roared back with 36 unanswered points, capped off by an Eli Torres rushing touchdown late in the game to secure a remarkable 42-30 victory.

Maxwell said Torres, fellow running back Nate Barba, receiver Shelby Condarco, and freshman Easton Miller all played key roles in the comeback offensively. Defensively, he was most impressed by sophomores Mauro Ponce, Jaime Morales, and Condarco as well.

“We are so impressed with how they rose to the occasion and fought their way back to get the victory,” Maxwell said. “We are an extremely young team, and it was awesome to see our guys meet the challenge.  Our program motto is ‘Earn the Right’ and our team did just that Friday.”

Confidence can go a long way for a young team, and the Bulldogs certainly will have plenty of it as they prepare to hit the road this Friday to face Bronte.