There’s a reason the numbers are up for football in Hugoton. The Eagles were 10-1 last year and went undefeated during their final year in the Hi Plains League and were 3-0 in the district which included a win over rival Ulysses. The Eagles have 55 out for football at the 4A school which is closer to the number fifth year head coach Clint Merritt wants to see. Hugoton also begins play in the Greater Western Athletic Conference this year with 4A and 3A schools like Scott City, Ulysses, Holcomb, Goodland, Pratt, and Colby. Hugoton returns just three starters on both sides of the ball after a talented 15 member class of 2010 graduated last spring. It was a talented group with Shrine Bowl player Caleb Gifford going to Hutch to play football and fellow Eagles Keithen Martin (Garden City), David Hawk (Garden City), Angel Lopez (Garden City), Colten Ghumm (Dodge City), Bubba Beltz (West Texas baseball), and Zach Dunlap (New Mexico Junior College golf) going on to play college sports.

Key Eagles this year include: sr. ot/ng Colby Mann, sr. wr/olb Trae Stelzer, sr. fb/olb Cristian Camacho, sr. wr/cb Koy Watkins, jr. ol/de Colten Lissolo, and jr. qb/fs Cody Frederick who played wide receiver and outside linebacker last year.

Last year’s senior class won 16 games in two years but took some lumps as freshmen and sophomores. This year’s HHS team hopes to be well ahead of that pace and hopes recent success carries over.

2010 Schedule

Sept. 3- Goodland

Sept. 10- at Colby

Sept. 17- Guymon

Sept. 24- Oakley

Oct. 1- at Scott City

Oct. 8- at Southwestern Heights

Oct. 15- Larned

Oct. 22- at Holcomb

Oct. 28- Ulysses