Last season, the Goshen Eagles came into the season with a new head coach and a young team.

It ended the season with an 8-4 overall record, a trip to the second round of the playoffs and a more experienced team and coaching staff.

Now, this year, the Eagles will be looking to build on 2009’s accomplishments in the hopes of winning a state championship in 2010.

GHS got its season off to a promising start last week in an exhibition game against Ariton.

The Eagles were able to get out to an early lead and never looked back, as it won big, 19-3.

Senior running back Marcus Jackson played a big role in the victory, thanks to his ability to run and catch the football effectively.

When it was all said and done, Jackson finished with 95 yards on the ground with two touchdowns as well as another 43 yards through the air.

“We did a lot of things right (against Ariton),” head coach Bart Snyder said Wednesday afternoon.

“But there were a lot of things we didn’t do that well. And we have been working on those mistakes we saw in the film all week.”

It will be a short week for Snyder and the Eagles, however, as the Eagles will begin their regular season tonight against G.W. Long, in Goshen.

“We had to put a lot in the past three days,” the coach said.

“We have been a little sluggish along the way, but hopefully, that is because of the heat.”

The Eagles’ first opponent will be coming into the Eagle’s nest looking to build off of some late season success in 2009.

The Rebels, which are a part of 2A Region 3, finished 5-5 last season with three of those losses coming away from their home turf. There are four returning starters on offensive, and five returning on defense.

While the team does not have its quarterback returning, it still has several other offensive weapons in its arsenal.

Sophomore running back Zach Walker and senior wide receiver Tyler Watson will provide a tough one-two punch for the Eagles’ defense.

“We don’t know too much about them,” Snyder said about G.W. Long. “We know they are a big team and they are very disciplined. (Rebels’ head coach Scott Horne) will have his team ready to play, and I have told our guys that. We have to prepared for a good ball club.”

The Rebels’ defense gave up a combined 246 points in ten games last year, while the offense only scored 202 points.

One Eagle who will be looking to attack GWL defense will junior running back Reginald Foster.

Last week, Foster only carried the ball twice due to injury, but Snyder said the back would be ready to go for tonight’s showdown.

The Eagles’ regular season opener with the Rebels will get underway at 7 p.m. in Goshen.