Tim Hayes
COEBURN, Va. - It's hard to say what was most impressive for the Eastside Spartans on Thursday night as they opened their 2025 football season with a resounding 44-0 whipping of Wise County Central.
Was it that determined defense that held the Warriors off the scoreboard while limiting them to just 111 yards or was it that explosive offense that rolled up 450 total yards and pretty much did what it pleased?
You couldn't go wrong with either answer as the crew from Coeburn was in complete control in front of a large crowd at Carl McConnell Stadium.
"Everything was clicking for us," said Landry Carico, who was a force for the winning squad on both the offensive and defensive line. "It really was. When you go forward in a football game, that's how you win."
After Central went backwards in going three and out on its first possession, Eastside put together an eight-play, 60-yard drive that culminated in junior Keldan Hamilton's 11-yard touchdown run.
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That's pretty much how things played out the rest of the evening: Central couldn't get anything going and Eastside couldn't be stopped.
By the time the night was over, Hamilton had run for 241 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries. He also made nine tackles and forced a fumble which he recovered.
After rushing for 2,077 yards a year ago, the 6-foot-1, 200-pound junior is already ahead of that pace one game into the current season.
"We want to try to limit his carries to under 20 in the regular season when we can so he's fresh in the postseason," said Eastside coach Mike Rhodes. "He's a warrior and refuses to go down sometimes. First quarter, second quarter you might get him, but you still have to tackle him in the third and fourth quarter and it gets harder and harder."
It's also hard to solely focus on Hamilton as Eastside has plenty of other weapons.
Sophomore Rocky Bond showcased his speed by gaining 125 rushing yards on just five carries with a touchdown, while also scoring on a 36-yard touchdown pass from Landon Pannell.
"When I see an open field, I just fly," Bond said. "I get good blocks and just go."
Meanwhile, Pannell was 3-of-4 through the air for 75 yards, while also scoring on a touchdown run.
Dalton Yates made a team-high 10 tackles and Mason Cooke recorded a highlight-reel interception to lead the defensive unit.
"We've got power, we've got speed," Carico said. "We're pretty good all the way around."
That also includes up front as Eastside overpowered and overwhelmed the opposition in the trenches.
"They've got a program and are very established, which is a good thing for them," said Wise County Central coach Josh Spurlock. "But we've got to figure out how to get a block. We've got some pretty good backs and I think we can move the ball, but we've got to get some blocks."
Central debuted a new offensive scheme as rugged running back Colton Elkins lined up at quarterback and took the snaps. Elkins rushed for 73 yards but needed 22 carries to do so.
A long kickoff return by Shawn Collier late in the first half put the Warriors at Eastside's 15-yard line but they couldn't punch it in the end zone and didn't come close again.
Aiden French played hard defensively for Central, which plays Marion on Sept. 5.
"We moved to the Wildcat [formation] ... down-blocking everything," Spurlock said. "In doing that, it's a quick change in one week. I'm not a big fan of excuses for anything, but we've got young guys everywhere. It's kind of the same old saga. Hurry up and wait but also coach our hearts out and teach them how to play football and do one thing right; and then we'll go to two. That's pretty much where we're at and we'll keep it simple."
The aims are much higher for the Spartans.
Eastside hadn't played a game that counted since a 26-20 loss to Rye Cove - a setback decided in the final seconds - last November in the VHSL Region 1D title game. The Spartans used that playoff defeat as motivation throughout the offseason and they were certainly focused on Thursday.
"We were ready to get out there," Hamilton said. "We were biting at the bit for sure. We're happy to get out here and get a good team win."
The only stat that didn't go in Eastside's favor was the 104 yards worth of penalties they amassed.
"That's something we have to clean up and we'll work on," Rhodes said.
A trip to Hurley on Sept. 5 is next for Eastside, which certainly opened the season in style.
"Coming out for the first game, it was a pretty good showing and I thought we executed well," Rhodes said.
Wise Central 0 0 0 0 -- 0
Eastside 22 14 8 0 -- 44
Scoring Summary
E - K. Hamilton 11 run (run failed)
E - K. Hamilton 8 run (Bond run)
E - Bond 36 pass from Pannell (Barnette run)
E - Pannell 5 run (Freeman run)
E - Bond 56 run (run failed)
E - K. Hamilton 45 run (Barnette run)
Team Stats
First Downs: WC 8, E 17; Rushes-Yards: WC 34-107, E 34-375; Passing Yards: WC 4, E 75; Comp.-Att.-Int. WC 1-5-1, E 3-4-0; Fumbles-Lost; WC 4-2, E 3-1; Penalties-Yards: WC 7-40, E 9-104; Punts-Average: WC 4-35.8, E 0-0.
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