After losing several key offensive players, Goshen was not only looking for playmakers, they were looking for leaders.

The Eagles have found a leader in senior wide receiver Carlton Bean.

Bean is a three sport athlete at Goshen and is primed to lead the football program back to the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 2A playoffs this season.

“We want to make it back to the playoffs,” Bean said. “It’s my job to keep everybody up and going. Everyone isn’t going to have a good day everyday so the older guys have got to do a good job of helping keep everyone’s heads up.”

The Eagles lost their starting quarterback and running back from last season but Bean feels this team can still be competitive. Especially if everyone works together.

“Everybody is stepping into their roles,” he said. “We have a lot of young guys that are going to play a lot this year and if we don’t produce and give them something to look up too, things aren’t going to click right.”

Bean said he lead by example on the field.

“I try to go full speed every play,” he said.

Full speed is what Goshen coaches will expect as first-year offensive coordinator Ed Rigby has implemented a new spread style system.

“It’s working out good,” Bean said. “It’s a little different but the coaches have done a great job of teaching everybody what they need to know.”

Goshen head coach Bart Snyder says it is a blessing to have a leader like Bean step in and help take over a team with so much turnover.

“Carlton is a four-year starter and has done a great job of getting some our younger players in place,” Snyder said. “He’s like a coach on the field.”

With the intercounty rivalry game against Pike County High School looming on Thursday, Bean is ready to hit the field and hit someone in a different colored uniform.

“I’m ready,” he said. “It’s a big game for both teams.”

Goshen and Pike County will continue to watch as Tropical Storm Isaac makes its way through the gulf. Kickoff for both team’s regular season opener is set for 7 p.m. Thursday at Eagles Stadium.

Pike County fell to Charles Henderson 44-2 last week in the annual Pike County Classic while Goshen was outscored 27-0 in a jamboree versus Brantley.