But now comes a new season and with the loss of Sam Durley and the ensuing 15 minutes of fame for Eureka, you would think the team can move on and focus on the rest of the players on the team. Until you open the first few pages of their 2013 Media Guide and see a 2-page spread recounting Durley's 736 yard day and the media whirlwind that followed. We hope this is just a marketing ploy and that the coaches actually care more about winning than furthering the fame of now Assistant-Coach Sam Durley (let's not even mention the pro careers of their other assistant coaches). I digress though, enough about the off-the-field drama and let's get down to how Eureka pans out on paper.
Big Losses
As you all already know, clearly the biggest statistical loss for the Red Devils is QB Sam Durley, who despite the flack we give him, was actually a decent UMAC quarterback and had a great career with 8,162 passing yards and 61 TDs, good enough to garner interest from a few pro teams. Mr. Durley was the Red Devils primary play caller for the majority of the past three seasons and now Eureka must find a new man to run their offense, and if they are lucky, maybe even throw for 737 yards in a game. As the only QB on Eureka's team with a collegiate pass attempt, we expect the Red Devils may turn to the former-NAIA quarterback, junior Blake Robles, as their starter. However, after examining the three other potential starters on the roster, the Red Devils also have freshman QB Conrad Schumann, who was the quarterback for the national football team of Germany in 2012 and was a five-time league all-star over in his European homeland. Whoever the Red Devils put on the field, he will have to fill the big shoes left behind by Mr. ESPN – Sam Durley.
Also departing the Red Devils after last season due to graduation are two of Durley's favorite targets in receivers Jordan Kindred and Matt Dawson. Kindred led the Devils in receiving yardage with 928 yards to go with 3 touchdowns while Dawson led the team in receiving scores with 6 TDs and gained 467 yards with his hands.
Losing the leading passer and receiver to graduation is always going to be tough on a team, but the Red Devils also appear to have lost their leading rusher and point scorer in RB Zach McCoy, who is no longer listed on the teams roster. McCoy led the team with 750 rushing yards and 8 TDs last season as a freshman. At least they still have their second leading scorer from last season though, right? Wrong. Kicker Travis Huber, who made 7/8 field goals and 26/28 extra points also graduated.
So many tough losses for the Red Devils, but on the bright side for them, losses aren't always bad as they said goodbye to two senior lineman who along with the other three lineman allowed a conference leading 29 sacks and had the 3rd lowest rushing yards-per-game average in the UMAC. Maybe they can now start fresh on the O-Line and improve those statistics.
There were no glaring losses on defense, the only one worth mentioning is the loss of third leading tackler DB Murad Abbed who totaled 74 tackles throughout the season.
Key Returners
Despite so many important players departing, the Red Devils do have a few glimmers of hope on their returning roster. Senior WR Cody Followell was the second leading receiver last season with 49 receptions for 527 yards and 3 touchdowns. We hope Followell can use his experience to "lead-well" and help the less-experienced receivers prepare for this season. Also returning for the receiving-corps is senior Jake Bane who was right behind Followell with 523 yards receiving last year.
Hoping to come back strong after an injury cost him the first half of last season is senior RB Corey Dawson. He gained nearly 600 yards in the 2011 season, but last season was unable to regain that form through the last half of the season.
Defensively, the Red Devils have a few returners who will be making an impact this year. Senior linebackers Jacob Carls (Outstanding 2012 LB/1st team All-UMAC) and Frankie Bray (2nd team All-UMAC) are both bright spots on a defense that allowed the second most yards per game and third most points per game last season. The Red Devils also return four other starters on defense whose experience will hopefully bring change after the team's defensive performance of last season.
Keys to 2013
1. Shed their 2012 identity as the Eureka Fighting Durleys – Because of the loss of so many of their offensive weapons, coach Kurt Barth must consider the players he has now and not look at who Eureka has been in the past but create a new identity if he wants his career from here on out to be known as being more than just the coach of that one quarterback who threw a lot in one game.
2. Run the ball effectively – While it is great to be able to throw a lot, if the defense knows what is coming, they can game plan for a one-dimensional offensive attack. This takes a lot of pressure off of opposing defensive coordinators who do not have to stack the box against a run game. If Eureka can find a way to become a threat on the ground, their opponents will not have the luxury of keeping eight men in coverage while their three lineman hound the quarterback.
3. Play defense – If the Red Devils can even play average defense in the UMAC, they will be help prevent their offense from having to play from behind. In those three "close" end of year losses last season, Sam Durley nearly led 4th quarter comebacks from down 17 points, 21 points, and 11 points. Just think if the defense had locked down earlier in those games how differently the season's outcome may have been.
Prediction
Losing a starting quarterback is one thing, losing the Sam Durley and nearly the rest of your entire offensive production is another thing. With so many losses on the offense, the Red Devils will be fighting an uphill battle this season. Although, as anyone who's been to their home field knows, the Red Devils are used to fighting uphill at McKinzie Field, we do not think this metaphor will play out into reality. Eureka will finish this conference season 2-7, but we do see the trophy of Abraham Lincoln's head spending another year at Eureka, the home of Ronald Reagan, with a non-conference victory over Knox.
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