There is no better feeling for Veritas Christian football coach Doug Bennett than knowing the Eagles’ opponents will have plenty to worry about.

Whether it’s a play-making quarterback, a dandy pair of running backs or a physical receiver, it seems Veritas will find the end zone this year, one way or another.

“Hopefully, it will keep the defenses guessing as to which way we’re going,” Bennett said. “They won’t be able to key on one thing.”

Veritas began its first full season of varsity eight-man football with a 58-12 victory over Kansas City (Mo.) East on Saturday. Playing independently in the Kansas Christian Athletic Assn., the Eagles have a nine-game regular season schedule, and at least one state playoff game in November.

The Eagles finished 4-4 last year, playing half junior varsity and half varsity contests as an unaffiliated school.

Since then, the Eagles have bonded, going together to an 8-man football camp in Oklahoma earlier this summer where they scrimmaged and gleaned techniques and fundamentals.

“It felt like it put us about two games into the season just being able to work together as a team down there,” Bennett said.

The Eagles are bit in the dark about what to expect this year, but big plays might be a good guess. Veritas has a solid 1-2 running back combination of Jesse Schultz and Paul Kempf to anchor the offense. Schultz rushed for 1,400 yards in eight games last year, while Kempf transferred from Lawrence High, where he saw action on a Class 6A state playoff team that went 7-3.

“(Kempf) led us in rushing when he was here as a ninth grader,” Bennett said. “That’s why we went to a divide backfield. We have two proven running backs.”

Front row, from left: coach Doug Bennett, Chris Maddock, Steven May, Casey Woods, Josh Hilger, William Ferguson, Tyler Williams, Isaiah Dover, coach Scott Schultz. Back row, from left: coach Marlyn Ziegler, Michael Humphrey, Josh Engle, Matt Moncher, Michael Kay, Paul Kempf, Mark Randtke, Andrew Bartlow, Krestan Boutross, Ben Reynolds, Jesse Schultz, coach Arle Ade.

Kempf will get some carries, but expect him to catch a lot of passes out of the backfield, too. Junior Casey Woods is back at quarterback, and having Kempf and 6-foot-4 receiver Mark Randtke as targets likely will inflate his passing numbers.

“Most people are going to have trouble covering both Paul and Mark,” Bennett said.

Bennett is also encouraged by his linemen, who have grown considerably in the past year.

“Our front line looks like it’ll be 180, 210 and 215 (pounds),” Bennett said. “That’s a far cry better than it was last year.”

With more experience, more size and an additional proven playmaker in Kempf, Veritas Christian has high hopes despite this being its first season in the KCAA.

“I really think we’re going to have a solid team,” Bennett said. “We don’t have a lot of depth, but I am pleased with what we do have.”