COVINGTON, Ga. - Although the Eastside Eagles earned their first win of the season, they have had a rough go at it here in the early stages and a tough season will prove to be even more challenging with the loss of one of their top targets.

Eagles senior tight end Colby Shivers went down in his team’s game against the Newton Rams and from those in attendance it did not look favorable for the young man. Unfortunately, Shivers sustained a torn ACL, and it will end his senior season before it really even gets underway.

Shivers is a fantastic all-around athlete, who excels at both the tight end position in the fall and second base in the spring. There is no dropoff in talent from football to baseball as Shivers earned region player of the year last season.

Shivers had developed into one of Eagles quarterback Noah Cook’s most reliable targets and they had a bond that extended into the baseball season as well.

With Shivers playing second base and Cook at shortstop, the Eagles had a dynamic duo in their middle infield that was elite both offensively and defensively. Through the first two games of the season, other coaching staffs were already noting Shivers immaculate athletic ability.

Even Rams head football coach Camiel Grant Jr. made mention of how a pass from Cook to Shivers in the first half of the Rams-Eagles contest caught his eye and made him know that he had to make some defensive adjustments.

Shivers was already on the minds of our sports staff as we had him in our preseason top 10 teams, which he was most deserving. This is an absolutely huge loss for the Eagles but even more devastating situation for this young man.

Eagles head coach Troy Hoff hates to see this happen to any guy on any team, but for this to happen to a hard-working athlete like Colby Shivers, it makes the situation even tougher.

“It’s a very tough deal,” Hoff said. “Obviously he’s a great player, but the kid is a warrior and a tremendous kid that means a lot to our program.”

With Shivers out for the football season, Hoff is hopeful that Shivers can make it back to the baseball diamond before his senior season comes to a close.