NEW MADRID, Mo — Despite the departure of several key players, New Madrid County Central remains committed to its high standards.

The previous era may now be in the rearview mirror, with it the four best offensive years in recent Eagles’ football history. Still, even with the uncertainty facing this roster heading into the new season, the expectations from within, have not dampened.

“The expectations don’t change for us,” Eagles head coach Tyler Fullhart said. “We keep the standards pretty high and we try to reach for those standards. We try to get better every day. The biggest thing that stood out this summer was the willingness of the guys to come in consistently and work.

“There have been some changes to how we do things and the team responded well,” he continued. “I am very proud of the players’ effort and look forward to watching them this season.”

NMCC finished 9-2 for the second consecutive season last year, and Fullhart shared the SEMO-Central Coach of the Year award with Dexter’s Chad Jamerson.

However. the Eagles’ season ended at home disastrously, falling 70-28 to Scott City in the Class 2 District 1 semifinals.

It was Nolan Mungle’s first start as a freshman quarterback. He had his moments, such as a 62-yard touchdown pass, but was ultimately overwhelmed by the Rams stampede.

Although he is in a quarterback competition with Caleb Moore, Mungle appears ready for the starting role after an impressive performance at the Jackson Gatorade Game on Aug. 2, in Jackson, Mo.

“He has progressed a long way,” Fullhart said. “He’s done a lot of really good things, working hard. He’s been putting in the work, and doing all the right things. He looks really good right now.

“The other kid, Caleb Moore, he stepped in and gave us a lot of good reps too,” he added. “He does a really good job as well.”

Fullhart said “It’s all competition” for most spots.

Junior Jakwon Jones and senior Erik Tillmon return and are expected to fill the void left by the Male Athlete of the Year at the Semoball Awards, Jadis Jone.

“Those guys will be a big part of our offense,” Fullhart said.

Running back Charlie Resonno is back for his junior year and ready to step up in place of Ty Williams. He’s seen some playing time in the past, including the playoffs, which should pay off for this season.

“That was great for him to get that experience,” Fullhart said. “I think he’s ready to go this year. He is in great shape and look forward to seeing him.”

The offensive line will have three returning starters in seniors Zach Gamblin, Marvion Cranford, and Trae Hydle, and Fullhart expects the trio to help lead the team from the front.

“We lean on those guys to be leaders for us,” Fullhart said. “I expect big things from them.

With no star yet to command the attention of the opposing defense, Fullhart expects the offense to strive toward a balanced approach.

“We try to play to our players’ strengths,” Fullhart said. “We try to be balanced in pretty much everything we do. If something’s working, you don’t fix it.”

Last year, the Eagles defense, led by Semoball Award finalist Jason Jones, averaged under 24 points allowed per game for the third straight season. Although there has been a lot of turmoil, most of the players set to assume starting roles have seen varsity time in the past season.

Some top defenders are seniors Slade Courtois and Connor Henderson and juniors Jack Pipkin and Malakhi Hughes.

“Most of those guys got a lot of reps last year,” Fullhart said. “Some of them, you wouldn’t call them starters, but they played a lot. So there’s a lot of experience on the defense. I expect to see a lot of positive out of our defense.

“We also have freshmen and sophomores that we expect to see the field. Each one has progressed well and we look for them to continue that.”

Fullhart believes that New Madrid County Central’s biggest strength is attention to detail and toughness. He sees these qualities as crucial to their success this season. However, he acknowledges that experience is a challenge for the team, as many players are still developing their skills.

Despite this, Fullhart maintains high expectations for the Eagles. He emphasizes the importance of hard work, competition, and continuous improvement. The coach is excited about the team’s potential and believes they have a group of dedicated young men who are ready to compete.

The 2024 season starts with the most anticipated opener in all the SEMO Conference, with a road trip to Cape Central. The Tigers are coming off their second straight state semifinal season and return their “Thunder & Lightning” running back duo of KeyShawn Boyd and Zai’aire Thomas, both Semoball Awards finalists.

For the Eagles, the first test might be their greatest test of the season.

“Cape Central is a very good team, a very well-coached program, very good players,” Fullhart said. “It’s a great atmosphere to go in, especially Week 1, so I’m looking for our guys to go up and compete and not be shell-shocked.”