Madison (0-8, 0-3 WHC) fell 40-14 to Owen last Friday night at home last Friday night. The Vikings snapped a three-game losing streak last season when they defeated Madison 30-6 in Marshall.
Scouting the Patriots:
The Madison Patriots are coached by first-year head coach Eric Schneider, who was promoted from the junior varsity position following the resignation of former coach Darren Ponder.
Madison returned only four starters in 2008 from a team that was the depiction of turmoil in 2007. Disciplinary measures severely depleted the ballclub, but the team has already doubled the number of times it scored in double figures from a season ago, having scored ten or more points four times this season.
Coach Schneider installed a multiple offense, running the football a majority of the time. Zack Sawyer (30 for 80 passing, 403 yards, 3 TD, 8 INT) began the season as the team’s starting quarterback, but Cameron Garrison (54 rushes, 225 yards, 5 TD; 9 of 24 passing, 89 yards, 4 INT passing) has seen time at the position the previous two contests.
Corry Heath Miller (54 rushes, 284 yards, TD) is just one of a number of running backs who have shared the burden of toting the pigskin for the Patriots this season.
Defensively, the Patriots have used a 3-5 alignment to prevent clubs from running to their outside, but will employ multiple defensive fronts as the play warrants.
The Low Down:
For Avery to come away victorious Friday night, the team must put the memory of last Friday night’s difficult loss behind them. Madison is a squad that has seen its share of struggles, and is a team that Avery matches up well against.
There is the potential for Friday night’s contest to transpire quickly as both teams will likely concentrate on running the football and grinding out yardage.
This week’s game may easily depend on turnovers, and which team’s defense can create team. On paper Avery appears to be the more diverse offense despite injuries, but Madison has given Avery trouble in the past (a 20-14 overtime win in Avery’s 11-3 third round playoff season of 2005, for example).
By the Numbers:
0 – number of points for Avery through 47:50 seconds of 48 minutes during last week’s loss to Polk County.
2- number of touchdown runs by Madison QB/RB Cameron Garrison in last week’s loss to Owen.
5- turnovers forced by the Avery defense in last season’s win over Madison.
60 – total passing yards by the Vikings in last week’s loss.
328 – total rushing yards surrendered by Madison in last week’s home loss to Owen.
351- total yards gained by Avery in last year’s 30-6 victory over the Patriots.
413- total yards surrendered by the Avery defense in last week’s game against the Wolverines.
Read next week’s edition of the Avery Journal-Times for a recap of this week’s game against Madison, as well as a preview of next week’s game at Mountain Heritage.
