This Friday, October 15, the Vikings travel to Columbus to tangle with Polk, who was upset 24-23 last week at Mitchell. Avery is riding high off a 23-14 win last week over Hendersonville, the team’s first over the school in four seasons.
A season ago, the Wolverines visited MacDonald Stadium and defeated the Vikings 46-20, and have won the last four meetings in the season series between the teams. Avery last defeated Polk in 2005, when they squeaked by the Wolverines 30-28 in Newland.
Scouting the Wolverines
The Polk Wolverines are coached by ninth-year head coach Bruce Ollis (77-29 record at Polk; 160-110 record overall) and finished tied for the conference championship last season with a 10-3 record and 6-1 conference mark.
Polk returned eight starters on both sides of the football from last year’s team that advanced to the second round of the state 2A playoffs before falling 13-10 in overtime to Thomasville. Over the past seven years, the Wolverines have won 69 games and three conference championships.
The team’s undisputed offensive leader is senior quarterback/athlete Andre Overholt. The 2009 Western Highlands Conference Player of the Year is making another strong case this season for the honor, with 1,059 yards passing and 10 touchdowns both passing and rushing this season.
Defensively, the team possesses great speed and is anchored by a pair of experienced linebackers in JJ Maxwell, who is among the state leaders in tackles, as well as Tyler Philpott. The pair, along with defensive back Ryan Thomas, were all named All-Conference a season ago.
On special teams, kicker Jacob Christiansen has a strong leg and provides Polk the flexibility of attempting field goals from inside 40-45 yards away.
The Low Down
For the Vikings to go to Columbus and pull out the win this week, they must take care of the football and find success both running and passing the football. Throughout the season, the Big Red defense has proven itself able to hem in explosive offenses, and last week’s test with Hendersonville quarterback Desmond Whiteside should prove great practice when trying to contain a similar threat in Overholt.
Polk’s defense is likely the stingiest the Vikings offense has had to contend with this season, so the Vikings will need to execute across the board, from the offensive line to the backs and receivers, with precision.
Expect Polk County to stack the line of scrimmage and try to force the Vikings to become a one-dimensional passing attack, putting pressure on quarterback Dustin Childress and the Avery receivers to make plays.
Childress made Hendersonville pay for the strategy last week, most notably with a long completion to Remington Austin which set up a Viking touchdown last week, and has the capability to do the same again Friday night.
The Wolverines will enter Friday with additional motivation after suffering its first loss in upset fashion at Mitchell last week, which means the Vikings must prepare for Polk’s best shot on both sides of the football this week.
By the Numbers
Polk’s defense is likely the stingiest the Vikings offense has had to contend with this season, so the Vikings will need to execute across the board, from the offensive line to the backs and receivers, with precision.
Expect Polk County to stack the line of scrimmage and try to force the Vikings to become a one-dimensional passing attack, putting pressure on quarterback Dustin Childress and the Avery receivers to make plays.
Childress made Hendersonville pay for the strategy last week, most notably with a long completion to Remington Austin which set up a Viking touchdown last week, and has the capability to do the same again Friday night.
The Wolverines will enter Friday with additional motivation after suffering its first loss in upset fashion at Mitchell last week, which means the Vikings must prepare for Polk’s best shot on both sides of the football this week.
By the Numbers
0 – points allowed by the Avery defense in the second half of last week’s win over Hendersonville
6- times the Avery defense sacked Hendersonville quarterback Desmond Whiteside last week, including three by senior Lucas Lecka
16- average points per game allowed by Avery in its seven games this season
99- yards in penalties committed by Polk County in its 24-23 loss to Mitchell last week
127 – rushing yards by Polk quarterback Andre Overholt in last year’s 46-20 Polk win
139- rushing yards for Colton Blackburn in Friday’s 23-14 win over Hendersonville, giving the senior 494 yards rushing in five games this season
Read next week’s edition of The Avery Journal-Times for a full recap of this week’s game at Polk County, as well as a preview of next week’s home game against Madison.
Read next week’s edition of The Avery Journal-Times for a full recap of this week’s game at Polk County, as well as a preview of next week’s home game against Madison.
