With a 48-6 win over Edwards County in Week 7, the Carmi-White County Bulldogs have clinched a spot in the 2024 IHSA Playoffs. Making the playoffs is one thing, but it’s another to put yourself in the best possible position to make a playoff run. That is where these next two weeks are huge for Carmi-White County. Before a pivotal Week 9 battle at Johnston City, the Bulldogs welcome in the Eldorado Eagles to Harrington-Jeffries Sports Complex on Friday.
The Eagles come in with a 3-4 record as they are fighting for their playoff lives. Eldorado plays winless CZR in Week 9, so if they can pull off a win over the Bulldogs, they will in all likelihood make it to the postseason. Don’t overlook their 3-4 record, the Eagles are a couple bounces away from having a winning record. They defeated Edwards County 22-20 in Week 1, but went toe-to-toe with Fairfield in Week 2, losing 28-20. They hosted Johnston City in Week 3 and trailed 14-0 at the end of the 1st Quarter before the game was called due to storms. They fell to Flora 36-22 in Week 4, and a last second touchdown led them over Hamilton County 14-8 in Week 5, a Hamilton County team that had Carmi on the ropes in Week 2. They received a forfeit win over Vienna-Goreville in Week 6 before falling to Sesser-Valier 40-14 last week.
Eldorado has the athletes and physicality to compete with the Bulldogs, however they will be without their one of their top rushers for the remainder of the season. Senior Jake Phelps injured his knee in their Week 5 win over the Foxes. With Phelps out, head coach Joe Clark has relied heavily on Kaiden Henson and Maddex Rash. Henson (#15 5’10 210 lbs Jr) has been one of the top rushers in the BDC this year. Henson has 573 rushing yards on 110 carries with 3 touchdowns. In every game this season, outside of their 1 quarter against JC, Henson has rushed for 95+ yards, including a 112 yard performance against Sesser-Valier last week. Rash (#9 6’1 190 lbs Jr) has seen an increase in usage since Phelps’ injury. On the season, he has 58 carries for 286 yards and 5 touchdowns.
The Eagles were dominant in the mid-2010s led by their rushing attack in the T-Formation. In the last few seasons we’ve seen them switch things up, but they’ve shifted back to the T for a majority of their offense in 2024. Jordan Jones (#7 6’2 175 lbs Jr) is the quarterback. He has thrown the ball 28 times this year for 106 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Eldorado still likes to spread things out occasionally, and they’ll bring in Ethan Chamberlain to run the spread. Chamberlain (#10 6’2 165 lbs Jr) has only thrown the ball 3 times for 38 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, Eldorado will do what every team has done against CWC this season – stack the box. Expect the Eagles to either run a 50 or 70 defense, with 5, 6, or 7 players on the line of scrimmage. They’re going to try to make Carmi throw the ball, but they’ll have to stop a Bulldog running game that has rushed for over 2,000 yards this season.
In last week’s win over Edwards County, Noah Pollard passed Brandon Pringle for the 3rd-most rushing yards in CWCHS history. Pollard has 1,329 rushing yards this season alone with 15 touchdowns.
The Bulldogs will be without one of their starters on Friday. Sophomore Javan Agan injured his shoulder in last week’s win and will not play this week, but he is expected to return next week against Johnston City. Cade Allen will handle the right tight end duties.
“We have to come ready to play,” said head coach Kurt Simon. “This team almost beat us last year, and they always play well against us.”
Last year the Bulldogs went into Eldorado with a 6-1 record and were nearly upset by the 1-6 Eagles, escaping with a 14-8 win.
Calpreps.com predicts a 38-21 win for Carmi-White County.
Fans who can’t attend Friday’s game can watch and listen to the game on 97.3 FM WRUL and the WRUL Sports YouTube Channel.
The senior night ceremony will be streamed on the WRUL Sports YouTube Channel, beginning around 6:40 PM. Kickoff is set for 7 PM.
