The Pleasant Home Eagles have been working hard throughout the offseason in as they prepare for the 2018 football season and look to get back in the playoffs.

“We have had one injury so far this fall,” Pleasant Home head coach Rick Mercer said. “That’s key at this level because when one guy goes down the dominoes fall and you have to put this guy at that place and so on. With our depth, that creates a problem.”

Despite the injury, Mercer said he has been pleased with how fall practice has gone.

“Overall, I’ve been pleased,” Mercer said. “Day-to-day we are getting better. We are getting in shape. We are better than we were last year at this point as far as being in shape and ready for that first game. With guys not coming off the field, we are certainly going to have to be in better shape, but it’s still going to be a tall order. That heat index and that humidity are tough on those young boys and plus we are starting this year at week zero instead of week one.”

The weather has created some problems for practice, but Mercer said he likes what he sees out of his players.

“It’s been going well,” Mercer said. “I was very pleased yesterday after the storm and that was probably our best practice. As long as we keep improving and having those type practices, I think we will be game ready next week.”

Mercer said the biggest focus has been finding depth.

“It’s just finding depth at positions,” Mercer said. “We’ve got some starters returning up front, but they will be giving the sign wanting to come off of the field so we have to get these younger guys ready even if it’s just knowing where to line up. That’s a tall order sometimes, let alone playing the play. We have been stressing hustle, line up right, assignments and hustle. On defense, you are going to get blocked, but don’t stay blocked and fly to the football. That’s all defense is, get a read and go get it.”

Mercer said that the team has spent more time working on the offense this fall.

“Offense is a lot more difficult so we have spent more time on that,” Mercer said. “Our young guys practice with us and that’s good for them so that they will be ready on Monday nights. It helps us because they serve as our scout team.”

Pleasant Home opens up the season at home on Aug. 24 against Elberta.