Brad Ducote thought his football coaching days were over, but an abrupt departure of his successor brought him back to the sidelines.

As interim head coach, Ducote will look to continue the Eagles recent run of success. Ducote is 43-15 in five seasons, including three 10-win campaigns in the last four years. Troy Gardner stepped down for personal reason before the Eagles’ preseason scrimmage against Westlake last week.

The Eagles are coming off one of the school’s best years, 10-3 last season and finishing second in District 4-2A (3-1) before advancing all the way to the Class 2A quarterfinals where they fell to eventual state champion Many by a mere 14-7. It was the Eagles’ second consecutive quarterfinal appearance, the only two in school history.

He’ll have an inexperienced team that returns only seven starters, four on offense and three on defense.

“This group is a very talented group,” Ducote said. “Are they as talented as the last two years? That is yet to be seen.

“Overall, these kids have been in the shadows of the Grants (Ducote), Ethan Freys and Donahues. It is next man up mentality. I am really excited to see how they do in live game action.”

The bulk of the offensive skill production that produced a fairly balanced 2,496 yards rushing and 1,658 yards passing last season will have to be replaced, with only one starter returning among the four offensive skill position players, fullback Lane Willis. But three of the five offensive linemen return — including first-team all-district performer Blaine Savoie at guard and Gabryel Leslie and Keyton Jackson at the tackles, both of whom were honorable mention.

“We lost quite a bit on both sides,” Ducote said. “We do have three returning lineups and I would say that is where our maturity is. That is a good place to have it. If the other two guys step up we should be pretty solid on both sides of the football I would say right now that would be our strength.”

But the glamour positions will be mostly new faces, with running backs Devin Janice Landon Lawrence getting the inevitable task of replacing Grant’s Ducote’s 1,700 yards rushing and 23 touchdowns.

“I have two different tailback backs that will probably split time, Devin Janice and Landyn Lawrence,” Ducote said. “I saw some good things about of them in the scrimmage.

“I have a fullback, Lane Willis, that I am super excited about. He has increased his speed quite a bit and has always been a good blocker. I really think he is going to thrive with what we have.”

Defensively the returners are spread from up front (defensive end Kobey Collins), to a linebacker spot (Lawrence) to the free safety (Auston Thompson).