By Daniel Green | BWS Sports

ROSEPINE — Last year was the most successful season in the history of the football program at Rosepine as the Eagles reached the Class 2A quarterfinals before bowing out to state finalist Many.

And with a number of starters returning from that squad, head coach Brad Ducote and the Eagles have high expectations entering the new campaign.

With Jake Smith moving into the quarterback role vacated by the graduation of Ethan Frey, the Eagles will look to the leadership of senior running back Grant Ducote and a powerful offensive line to give him support, along with a solid crew of receivers led by Isaiah Stinson and Aden Cline,

Defensively, the Eagles will look to Michael Woods to lead the way, while Cline will be relied upon as the team’s kicker on special teams.

The Eagles open the regular season with six non-district games, all six coming against former district foes. Rosepine will host East Beauregard and South Beauregard in the first two weeks, before journeying the next two weeks against Kinder and Vinton.

In Week 5, the Eagles return to the friendly confines of McKee-McCain Stadium to face DeQuincy, before a Week 6 road game at Logansport.

The Eagles open District 4-2A play on Oct. 14 in the 23rd annual Battle for the Big Dog Jug against Pickering at home, before back-to-back road games against Menard and Avoyelles, a team which reached the Class 2A semifinals a season ago, nearly beating Many.

On the final date of the regular season, the Eagles will return home to face Oakdale.