Unity key for Eldorado

Ray Brewer

Tuesday, Aug. 26, 1997 | 11:01 a.m.

New division: Northeast, Sunrise Division

Last year: 3-6

Coach: Ken Trujillo

Four to watch

In all team sports -- and especially in football -- chemistry and togetherness are essential to success.

Unity is a commodity the Eldorado football team has developed almost out of necessity.

While the Sundevils lost 19 seniors to graduation and have an extremely young team, the players believe they can improve on last season's 3-6 mark by playing as a unit.

"With this crew, we are real team orientated," Eldorado coach Ken Trujillo said. "When in the past we had kids concerned about themselves, this team is nothing like that. We feel that is a big plus."

The squad formed a bond in the off-season, when the Sundevils attended three football camps and hit the weight room hard.

"We feel like we had a good off-season," Trujillo said.

Eldorado returns just two starters on each side of the football.

On offense, tackle Jeff Stringer (6-3, 250) and offensive guard Derek Cannon (6-1, 200) are the only players with starting experience coming back.

Defensively, tackle Billy Joe Murray (5-11, 240) and senior defensive back Cory Boyd are the only returners.

With the lack of experienced players, Eldorado will count on many new faces.

"I feel like we have some good young kids coming up," Trujillo said. "But we are still young."

Newcomers on defense include linebackers Brent Tarbett (6-1, 225) and Matt Desterson (5-10, 240) and strong safety Lito Rayos.

Offensively, the Sundevils will let junior Roger Linn (6-4, 190) run the show at QB, with DeMareo Robinson getting the nod at running back and Anthony Lacayo penciled in at wide receiver.

Their lack of experience notwithstanding, the Sundevils plan to maintain the tradition of a hard-hitting defense.

"Typically with Eldorado football, we'll come out and hit you," Trujillo said. "We are usually one of the hardest hitting teams in town.

"The kids are real excited and anxious to get going. They felt a little uneasy about what happened last year."

Eldorado is part of the new Northeast Conference of the Sunrise Division.

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