​LANARK, Ill. (WTVO/WQRR) — The Eastland-Pearl City Wildcatz have been stacking playoff seasons together in football the last couple years. They want to stack another one on top this fall.EPC has had some very talented players in recent seasons but playing in the tough NUIC with the likes of Lena-Winslow, Stockton and until now Du-Pec, EPC was overshadowed, but the growth of the program hasn’t been overlooked by the players and coaches who wear the EPC colors.“I remember in the dog days my freshman year, and my brothers, they were 3-6 and missing the playoffs. So, we’re trying to keep that train rolling with the playoffs and nothing better than a playoff team,” said offensive linemen and linebacker Clayton Downs.The Wildcats do have some huge shoes to fill. Their all-time leading tackler, linebacker Will Birchen graduated. Lightning-fast running back Draven Zier also graduated, and so did standout all-conference tight end and edge rusher Zy Haverland.“We always say next man up,” said head coach Jared McNutt. “We’re going to have the same mentality of when those guys were in place. We might not have the capability of doing things on offense like we would with Draven, moving him all around, but we’ll have other guys fill those.”The Wildcatz also lost two more guys who would have been two of their top players this fall. Running back/linebacker Brody Simons and running back/defensive back Brecken Hayden. They suffered serious injuries playing baseball this past spring that will require more time to heal.“Losing Brody and Brecken, guys that you planned around for the last couple of years, the thinking that they’re going to be here (it’s tough), but the nice part is we learned about it in the spring,” said McNutt.So, who will be leading the Wildcatz? There’s returning starting quarterback Deaken Hofmaster. EPC tight end and defensive back Brycen Voegeli has complete confidence in the QB.“He has experience from last year. He’s gotten in the weight room. He’s gotten bigger. He’s gotten better.”“He’s really grown up this summer,” said McNutt of Hofmaster. ” He’s a guy that’s going to really make our offense go.”Sawyer Williams and Eli Baker will be the top running backs. Brycen Voegeli has excellent hands and will line up wide at receiver and at tight end.Clayton Downs will be an anchor on the offensive line. 300-pound junior Brogan Keltner will start at center, and he’s a returning second team all-conference defensive lineman. Sophomore Keegan Love provides more size and a lot of strength on the lines as well. On defense big Brodie Dahl will be a major run-stuffer at tackle.Linebackers Downs and Sawyer Williams will try to soften the blow of the graduation of Birchen with their talent and tenacity.“I feel like we all have got to raise our game,” said Downs. “It’s just not me. It’s going to be the other three linebackers out there. He (Birchen) taught us how to do what we do, and we’re g