Avery was shut out at Mountain Heritage 42-0 last Friday night, while Mitchell defeated Madison 29-16 last Friday night.
Scouting the Mountaineers:
The Mitchell Mountaineers are coached by second year head coach Russell Barnett (8-14 overall) and return three offensive and five defensive starters from last season’s club.
Mitchell is led on the field by quarterback Logan Jensen, who has rushed for over 1,000 yards this season and thrown for over 800 yards and ten touchdowns prior to last week’s win. The junior played at the wide receiver a season ago, but was moved to quarterback following the graduation of Joe Hoilman, an all-conference performer who threw for 2,900 yards and ran for 1,200 yards.
The Mountaineers continue to run the spread offense, but look to run more than in 2007, using quarterback draws to take advantage of Jensen’s speed in the backfield. The team also uses two-back formations that highlight the skills of Jensen as well as senior running back and team leader Jake Jarrett (5’8”, 151 lbs.).
Wide receivers Billy Bomar and Austin Burleson hold down receiver slots, but the Mountaineers also utilize their tight end position with Zach Stamey and Corey Green. The offensive line returned only one starter from last year in Casey Peterson.
Defensively the team will use its speed and athleticism to get to the football with linebackers Burleson and top returning tackler Willie Hughes, as well as Taylor Hall and Billy Boone.
The Low Down:
If Avery plays with the intensity and effort it displayed a week ago against a talented Mountain Heritage team, the seniors may leave the field unhappy Friday night.
For the positives the team displayed against Madison, especially on the defensive side of the football, fortunes turned quickly the other way last week.
The Vikings will have to stop the running of Jensen and Jarrett to win Friday’s contest, and must show the intestinal fortitude to shrug off last Friday’s performance.
Offensively, the Vikings must find a way to get into the end zone, as the team has struggled to score points in recent weeks.
Mitchell will look to concentrate its efforts on slowing down the big play ability of quarterback Adam Pate, who has looked as healthy as he has all season coming off a hamstring pull earlier in the season.
This is a rebuilding year for both ballclubs, but the Avery/Mitchell rivalry always seems to come down to the team who makes the fewest mistakes and the biggest key plays on offense. Mitchell is coming off a big win over Madison in much the same way Avery did two weeks ago.
There are 16 seniors on the Avery roster who wish to finish their final regular season with a win over its bitter rival, but it will take an impressive effort to hold off the Mountaineers this week.
By the Numbers:
0- points scored in Avery’s loss last week to Mountain Heritage.
5- first downs earned by the Viking offense in last week’s 42-0 contest.
6- rushing touchdowns surrendered by Avery in last week’s game.
18.3 – number of points per game averaged by Mitchell in games this season.
56- total yards gained by Avery last week, after gaining over 200 on the ground the prior week.
Read the Avery Journal-Times next week for a full recap of Friday’s Senior Night contest against Mitchell, as well as a preview of any possible opponent that Avery may face the following week in the NCHSAA 1-AA state playoffs. For up-to-date scores and news anytime, visit the Journal-Times Sports blog at: www.ajtsports.blogspot.com
