Eastside High School enters the 2026 football season as the county’s underdog, tasked with replacing a senior class that helped the Rams capture first place in 3A District 5 a year ago.
Coach Harold Hoskins, a former NFL player, stresses discipline, physicality and a team‑first mindset as the young roster prepares to step onto the field.
A New Generation of Leaders
Junior quarterback Cadon Sutherland will be joined by playmakers such as Malicah Williams, Ja’Marian Reaves and Braeden Brockington, each of whom brings camp experience at power‑program schools and a hunger to fill the leadership void left by departed seniors.
The schedule is stacked with tough matchups against Buchholz, Bradford and North Marion, and every game is seen as a chance to prove the team’s consistency.
After dropping three contests to Buchholz in 2025, Hoskins says the Rams must play hard, fast and physical to avoid overconfidence and to translate their underdog mentality into on‑field production.
Leadership on the Rise
Sutherland acknowledges that his teammates look to him in critical moments, and the coaching staff believes the blend of youthful talent and disciplined execution can turn the Rams into a competitive force in the district.