LINDALE, Texas — Offense wins games, but defense wins championships.
It's a quote that's been uttered by coaches for decades and with the Lindale Eagles, it couldn't ring more true.
Returning eight starters on defense, Lindale looks to take advantage of turnovers to get points on the board.
The Eagles will need plenty of muscle as they fight for first place among those in the "District of Doom."
Other teams Lindale will face in district play include:
- Henderson
- Kilgore
- Pine Tree
- Mabank
- Palestine
- Chapel Hill
"Last year was a good year, but it wasn't a fantastic year," head football coach Chris Cochran said. "So the five and one district, that was good, but we always want to be district champs, I mean that's the goal."
The Eagles put themselves in a hole early starting off the 2023 season 1-3. But, when district came around, they knocked off five of their last six opponents.
The team won their first-round playoff game by 21 points, so the hope is the team can carry that momentum into this season.
"[We] won a playoff game, and when you start a season like that I think it's the sign of a good program to be able to recover, and salvage wins, win big games, get playoff wins, win gold balls, despite adversity early in the season," senior defensive lineman Gunner Johnson said.
Players and coaches seem to agree the strength of this team is its line – on both sides of the ball.
Despite graduating a pair of supremely talented offensive linemen to Division I programs last year, Cochran still likes the group he has and believes they'll allow the team to effectively execute their run-heavy offense.
"Several years around here we've run the ball really, really well," Coach Cochran said. "Losing Casey Poe and Christian Pettway...that's tough, but I believe that we'll continue to run the ball well. We've got some good O-lineman that are returning in the interior part, and we've got some younger ones that have proven themselves during fall camp."
Last season had its ups and downs, but the start of the new season provides a clean slate for everybody. These Eagles are raring and ready to go, and they're not afraid of anybody.
"You know tough people win, so we're gonna," senior offensive lineman Andrew Ragland said. "Whatever opponent we play, we're going to show them who we are."
The Eagles open up their 2024 campaign Thursday, Aug. 29, at home against the Hallsville Bobcats.