16 Aug 2017 CUTTER MORNING STAR: Eagles eye playoff berth in deep 5-2A

Conference: 5-2A
Coach: T.C. Shamel
’16 Record: 4-6

The Cutter Morning Star Eagles started 2016 with a 4-2 record and looked prime to punch a ticket to the playoffs. But the Eagles faltered down the stretch, going winless and just missing out on the playoffs.

“We were very close to being a playoff team with a break here or there,” Coach T.C. Shamel said.

The Eagles rushed for almost 2,000 yards as a team last fall and hope to bring that same power to the ground game this year. Senior Michael Kimpton won the starting quarterback job in the spring. Senior Emilio Arteaga keys the Eagle rushing attack. Jay Dee Mace, Matthew Tims, Matthew Cook and Mason Treat start at receiver in Cutter’s Spread offense. The Eagles start upperclassmen up front with seniors Lester Menjivar, Austin Price, Cole Sorrells and Paul O’Dell and junior Seth Alexander.

Junior Dakota Lepitre, sophomore Kade Hernandez, Price, Alexander and Menjivar rotate on the defensive line. Kimpton, Arteaga and sophomore Shamus Mace defend the middle from their linebacker positions. Treat, Cook and junior Jay Dee Mace project as starters in the secondary.

5 Players to Watch:
Dakota Lepitre (Jr. RB/DL)
Michael Kimpton (Sr. QB/LB)
Lester Menjivar (Sr. OL/DL)
Austin Price (Sr. OL/DL)
Emilio Arteaga (Sr. RB/LB)

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1 Must-see Game:
“Mt. Pine, which is returning to the 5-2A next cycle. This will be a big Week 2 matchup. They will be much improved, and it is a big county rivalry.” — Shamel