Bee Best’s: No. 25 El Dorado kicks off our countdown to start of high school football
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Monday, July 26:
No. 25 El Dorado Cougars
City: Placerville
School opened: 1909
League: Sierra Valley
Division: V
Enrollment: 1,217
2021 spring record: 3-0
Coach: Christian Mahaffey
Outlook: El Dorado won each of its spring games in dramatic, last-minute fashion, none more thrilling than the Gold Nugget triumph of rival Union Mine in the season finale. The Cougars celebrated with 18 varsity players, a good many of them limping.
With players from a 3-1 junior varsity team now in the mix and with the varsity numbers up to 27, optimism abounds in El Dorado. The work starts this week.
“I’m playing golf today for the last time in a long while,” Cougars coach Christian Mahaffey said with a laugh over the weekend.
El Dorado graduated play-making quarterback star Caelen Bonniksen, but the program returns three starters on the offensive line, headed by 6-foot-4, 275-pound center and line leader Jakob Bell, son of position coach Dan Bell.
That unit will block for junior quarterback Anthony Mahaffey, son of the head coach, and running back Gio Pifferini, the team’s most versatile player. He plays every down on defense and special teams.
The other offensive linemen are Nate Long, Bodie Deanburg, Chase Nutting and Josh Miranda. This is the team’s strength, with several of them also manning the defensive line. The defense returns a host of players, including linebacker leader Evan Ward.
On coaching his son at such a crucial position, coach Mahaffey said, “He’s a smart kid. He recognizes the defense and secondary better than I do. When I took this job (three years ago), Anthony was more of a wrestler, a 104-pound freshman. I told him, “You don’t have to play football because of me.” Now he’s 6-foot and 150. He’s loving it. I am too.”
The Sierra Valley Conference includes longtime small-school power Bradshaw Christian, Galt, Liberty Ranch, Rosemont and Union Mine.
El Dorado opens the season at home on Aug. 20 against Amador, followed by an Aug. 27 game against Bear River.
This story was originally published July 26, 2021 at 8:54 AM.