E-A-G-L-E-S, EAGLES! When you hear that chant, you may think you are at a National Football League game for the Philadelphia Eagles, but the chant can be heard very loudly and very proudly at the Richmond Hill Recreation Complex on Timber Trail. 

The group that could be heard chanting would be the 8U Richmond Hill Eagles football team. Coming off of their first win of the season against 8U Bloomingdale on the road, the Eagles return to practice with some much needed enthusiasm and momentum to finish out their last three games of the football schedule. 

With veteran youth league coach Joel Harn at the helm, the Eagles have a chance to close out the season with a few more wins. “We put together a good game and we were able to get our first win of the year,” Harn said. “We have some good pieces to the team. Cooper Burke is a cornerback and Flanker for us that has really stepped up and shown that he can be a huge spark for us. He ran a little reverse play for a 50-yard touchdown in the win and it helped a lot.”

Harn first began his youth league coaching career about twenty years ago, when he began coaching his son. After he was done, he took a break from it and has since returned. “Well, I stopped once my son was done playing in the youth leagues,” Harn said. “It was time to come back and do it again, but this time, I get to coach my grandson.”

The Eagles earned their first victory by running a Power I-Formation from Shotgun and a 6-2 run-stopping defense. While the win was enjoyable for the athletes, their families and the coaches, it is not the main focus at this age level, according to the veteran coach. “For us, it’s not all about winning at this level,” Harn said. “For these 15-20 young men that we have, it’s about making sure that they have fun while playing this sport. I enjoy coaching and teaching, but I enjoy seeing them have fun!”

The 8U Richmond Hill Eagles (1-4) are set to take on the 8U Dawgs on Oct. 19 at Henderson Field 1. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.