E-T Hopes for Homecoming Magic

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Game-planning for a winless team that's been outscored 406-25 isn't as easy as it sounds.

Not when the opposing coach is Duff Sanders, who has made trick plays and unusual formations the norm during his brief time in the Black Diamond Conference.

Sanders, who coached the Eldorado Eagles for two years before moving on to Elverado-Trico this season, has often employed the "lonesome polecat" formation (sometimes also known as the "swinging gate") for his Falcons this season.

In it, the center is eligible to catch a pass, as he stands a few yards to the right or left of the other six linemen.

One running back lines up behind the linemen and the quarterback is in shotgun formation behind the center, with two wideouts on one side or the other.

"It really spreads you out defensively and they do have a couple of fast kids to get the ball to," said Carmi-White County coach Kurt Simon, who will take his 2-5 Bulldogs to Elkville Friday to face the 0-7 Falcons.

"They've done a little bit of everything, from what I understand. We're kind of going into it a little bit blind in a sense that they could come out in anything. They don't trade tapes, so we really have no idea. We have to be ready for about anything."

The Falcons' two speedy playmakers are 5-foot-7, 165-pound junior wideout Herby Sandlin and 5-10, 130-pound senior wideout Coy Cobin.

"Both those guys returned a kick for a touchdown against McLeansboro," noted Simon.

Elverado's trigger man is 5-8, 175-pound junior Clay Salinas, who throws to several targets including 6-foot-4 tight end Jimmy Cavins.

The largest lineman on the Falcons' 19-man roster is sophomore tackle Donivan Weidig at 5-10, 245 pounds.

"Defensively, they may line up in something unconventional, too, but our philosophy won't really change offensively," said Simon. "We just need to stick to our ground game, get first downs, not turn the ball over and eat some clock. I don't know if we'll be able to score 50 points like some other teams have against them because we're a slower-scoring offense, but our whole idea is to be very sound offensively and not the turn the ball over.

"We don't take anybody lightly. Although all indications would show that we should be able to win the football game, we're taking this very seriously."

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Friday in Elkville.

Its Homecoming week for E-T, which has been led in rushing during recent games by sophomore Randy Goetz (5'10, 170).