— The Warner Eagles football team is soaring in rarified air these days.

Coach Chris McMullen’s squad enters this week with a 4-0 record. It’s just the fourth time in the history of the program that it has been undefeated at this point in the season.

“We’re kind of on a roll right now,” the third-year coach said. “The kids are playing well in all three phases. Hopefully, we’ll continue to improve. I’m proud of them.”

The Eagles started the 2007 season at 4-0 before finishing 5-5 under coach Curt Denton. They ended the 1998 season at 11-1, coached by Eddie Barnwell, after losing in the second round of the playoffs. The 1966 team of Ronnie Hales went 9-1 after a first-round playoff exit.

Senior quarterback Anthony Carney has been in the middle of this season’s success. He points to last season when things started turning around for the Eagles as they finished 5-5 after losing to eventual Class A state champion Wayne in the first round of the playoffs.

“We knew we had a lot of experience with 10 senior starters coming back,” Carney said. “It’s really turned around for us this season. Things are just clicking. We have a great passing game, our running game is even better and our defense is really good at shutting people down.”

More important than the 4-0 record, the Eagles are 1-0 in District A-8 after thumping preseason district favorite Foyil in the league opener last Friday night.

“We were nervous and excited about starting district,” Carney said. “Who better to start district than against the No. 1 team in our district. They scheduled us as their homecoming and we knew we had to go even harder. We went out and won. It was really a big boost and our confidence has skyrocketed.”

The Eagles also have drawn confidence from spending a lot of time in the weight room since the end of last season. Warner is bigger and stronger – physically and mentally – this season.

“No doubt, that’s helped,” McMullen said. “I’m a big believer in weights. For about two years, our guys were getting pushed around. This year, we’re pushing people around. Kids look at themselves in the mirror and see themselves swelling up and getting bigger. They get more confident.”

The strongest guy on the squad is 5-foot-11, 235-pound nose guard Luke Moses. Other players on the team who are at least 200 pounds include linemen Justin Cawvey, Blake Leybas, Maxwell McBride and Brandon Mealer.

“Last year we may have had two kids in the offensive line who weighed over 200 pounds,” McMullen said. “This year, we don’t have anyone less than 200 pounds.”

The Eagles look to throw their weight and strength around again this Friday when they host the Porter Pirates for homecoming.

“We’re gaining more confidence with each win,” McMullen said. “Hopefully, we can stay healthy and improve each week. We’re going to try to get better.”