VILONIA EAGLES
Conference: 5A-West
Head coach: Jim Stanley
Record last year: 7-3, 4-3
Points scored, points allowed: 274-156
Playoff appearances since 1968: 10
Last playoff appearance: 2004
Playoff record: 5-10

Key returning starters: QB Kevin Puckett, OL/DL Luke Bartlett, WR/CB Nathan Paul, C/DT Bryan Head, LB Jackson Valentine, CV Chris Fuller, LB Brett Hedrick, RB/DE Buck Bray, LB Ross Estes.

Outlook: The Vilonia Eagles will operate out of the Spread offense in 2007 with four wide receivers as Jim Stanley completely abandons his time-tested running game. That's what the rumors have been anyway as Vilonia prepares for a new season. Stanley will open up his offense and will be more balanced, but he will not sellout completely in favor of the pass. Quarterback Kevin Puckett did display his ability to move the Eagles last year with an effective passing attack. In fact, Vilonia's biggest win of the season was a 24-21 win over Greenwood in which Puckett guided the Eagles 86 yards for the winning touchdown. Puckett completed four of seven passes in the drive, including a 30-yard touchdown pass to Nathan Paul with 29 seconds left. Despite that victory, though, Vilonia missed the playoffs on the tie-breaker after finishing in a three-way tie for third place. Puckett threw for 645 yards and five touchdowns last year and was invited to the Top Gun Quarterback Challenge. Vilonia also returns some talented running backs in Jackson Valentine, who was a move-in from Grapevine, Texas, last year, and Aaron Odie, who moved in from Florida. Buck Bray returns as an experienced running back as does Ross Estes, who missed most of last year with an injury. Two-way linemen Luke Bartlett and Bryan Head also return.

Comments from Stanley: "We're going to throw it more. We try to evaluate each season. It seems we would have the lead in the fourth quarter and not be able to hold it. We'd have a drive going and get a penalty, and not be able to overcome it. We had to do something where we could score quicker. We wouldn't do this if we didn't have a quarterback that could do this. We're going to be more multiple and do some different things. We still have a long way to go. My biggest concern was pass blocking and running precise routes. I hope we're not trying to do too much, but I don't want to coach to just win seven games a year. We're closer to being a competitive team year in and year out."