By Ryan Storz
The Sullivan Eagles football team began practices on Monday for the 2010 season.
With the sudden and tragic death of former quarterback Daniel Schatz, who helped lead the Eagles to the state semifinals two years ago, the season begins with heavy hearts.
Schatz’s funeral on Monday morning meant players did not start practicing until that evening.
This year’s seniors were sophomores that year, and will no doubt carry Schatz in their hearts and minds this season.
Sullivan’s 2010 team opens at Hermann on Aug. 27. Last year, the Eagles got the season off to a rousing start by beating the Bearcats, 25-7.
That set the tone for a record-breaking season by running back Chris Frye. The bruising back carried the ball 26 times for 174 yards in the win.
Sullivan will miss Frye, who was one of the area’s biggest workhorses last year.
Ryan Hewkin started his first game as a Sullivan Eagle against Hermann and completed five passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns.
Their big Week 1 win was the beginning of what would be another 5-0 start to the season.
While the offense lagged in Week 2 and 3 victories over Crystal City and St. Clair, Chris Frye annihilated North County in a 24-21 win.
Frye carried the ball 44 times for 243 yards in his final Homecoming game.
John Koppelmann assumed the quarterback duties starting in that game. He was 7-16 with 91 yards and an interception.
Sullivan kept rolling in a 25-15 win over Park Hills Central the following week. Frye had 124 yards, while Koppelmann threw for 181 yards and a touchdown.
Luke Mayer had a monstrous game, hauling in six catches for 139 yards and returning a kickoff for a touchdown.
The Eagles defense gave up just 171 yards of offense to the Rebels.
But the winning streak stopped there, as the Eagles ran into Union in Week 6 and promptly lost, 39-2.
For the second year in a row, Union had handed Sullivan their first loss.
Chris Savage threw for 421 yards and five touchdowns. Ryan Baser collected 98 yards on the ground.
Ben Britton’s safety was responsible for the two Sullivan points.
Sullivan was knocked around in Week 7 by a resurgent Pacific team.
The Indians won 36-0, halting Frye to just 40 yards on a muddy field.
Hewkin, who had assumed the starting job at quarterback after Koppelmann was hurt against Park Hills, threw for just 14 yards.
Pacific quarterback, Blake Arnette, ran for 109 yards in the win.
Sullivan got back in the win column the following week against St. James.
After two consecutive weeks of no points from the offense, Sullivan released their frustration on a one-win Tigers team.
Frye picked up 227 yards on the ground in a 48-14 district win. Dane Paneitz had 114 yards on just four carries.
Koppelmann was back under center and he threw for 53 yards and one touchdown.
The Eagles slipped against Salem in Week 9, as the two teams fought back and forth in the second half, with the Tigers getting a winning touchdown by Ty Floyd with over three minutes to play and trailing, 26-21.
Sullivan overcame that loss and another muddy field in a Week 10 24-0 win over Owensville.
Frye carried the ball 24 times for 82 yards.
The win was enough to send the Eagles to the playoffs for the second straight year, taking advantage of MSHSAA’s system that puts district runner-up teams into the tournament.
Pitted in a 2008 rematch against Mexico, the Eagles  struggled to move the ball and lost 7-0.
Sullivan must compensate for the losses of Frye and Ben Britton, who established himself as the team’s best defensive lineman.
Both Frye and Britton signed with Lindenwood.
Sullivan will also encounter another big challenge: a new class and a new district.
The Eagles will be grouped with Union, Pacific and St. Clair this season in Class 4.