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EAST PEORIA — A dozen years ago, Sam Durley was an NCAA record-setting college quarterback.
Now, the first-year East Peoria coach is taking his program to new heights, guiding the Raiders to their first 3-0 start in 10 years. East Peoria beat Limestone, 47-28, to open Mid-Illini Conference play Friday night at Corwin Clatt Field.
“This is exactly what we envisioned,” Durley said following the victory as his players celebrated with classmates, family and friends. “It’s awesome. You can just kind of feel it throughout the school. … There’s some excitement in community. You have random people reaching out.
“I think that’s great for our kids to see, because I do think it’s a community that’s kind of starving for that success.”
The confident rookie coach
The former Eureka College offensive coordinator, who in December was hired as the fifth EP coach since 2013, says he knew EP had talented players, observed from the start of offseason workouts. It was just a matter of getting those guys in the weight room and changing the mindset and outlook of Raiders football.
“Create the Culture” has become the team’s official motto under Durley, who in 2012 threw for an NCAA all-levels single-game record of 736 yards for Division-III Eureka College in a 62-55 victory at Knox College.
“It’s a fresh start for our players, and for us,” Durley said. “But they’ve listened from Day 1. They’ve bought into the vision.”
East Peoria (3-0, 1-0) has taken its fair share of lumps in recent years, entering the 2024 campaign having gone 17-76 since its last winning season. In 2012, the Raiders were 7-3 and earned a berth in the Class 5A playoffs under Doug Martin.
But Durley knew throwing a complicated playbook at his team could ultimately work out well. They watched film, asked questions and absorbed nearly…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/ihsa-football-scores-3-reasons-061438837.html
Author : Journal Star
Publish date : 2024-09-14 06:14:38
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