Arguably the most significant game in the history of two high schools will take place this Friday, Nov. 26, when the Avery Vikings welcome the Mitchell Mountaineers to MacDonald Stadium.
For the second time in only four weeks, the squads meet again on the gridiron, with high stakes on the line in the form of a berth in the 1-AA state semifinal round.
The Vikings (10-3) enter the contest after a dominating 30-12 winning performance against the Swain Maroon Devils at home last week, while Mitchell (7-6) rolls into Newland riding the momentum of road victories over Cherryville in round one and a 35-29 win in Miller’s Creek against West Wilkes last week.
On Nov. 5, the Vikings defeated Mitchell 14-7 in the snow on Senior Night in a game that went a long way in securing home field advantage for Avery throughout its playoff run this season.
Scouting the Mountaineers:
The Mitchell Mountaineers is led by head coach Russell Barnett and utilizes a spread offense while occasionally using the I-formation. The team, regardless of formation, has staked its success and built its identity throughout the 2010 season by utilizing talented linemen and backs to execute an effective rushing offense.
Quarterback Justin Hughes emerged as the primary signal-caller for Mitchell for his ability to hurt defenses using both his legs and arm, as evidenced by his 273-yard, five rushing touchdown outing two weeks ago against Cherryville. Overall, Hughes has run for 894 yards on 138 carries, with 19 rushing touchdowns this season. The junior also enters this week’s game coming off consecutive weeks of rushing for more than 100 yards.
Teamed up in the backfield with Hughes has been senior Shawn Jackson. With 1,228 rushing yards on 185 carries and 11 touchdowns, Jackson has six 100-yard rushing games this season, as he and Hughes combine for a potent 1-2 offensive punch.
When Mitchell throws the football, the team at times looks to the arm of quarterback/running back Troy Self. The 6’1”, 215-poind junior has thrown the football 59 times this season, but has seen more action in recent weeks at running back. He has gained 556 yards on 76 carries, and has scored seven rushing touchdowns.
Michael Styles has also been a key contributor to the diverse nature of the Mitchell running game. The junior has run for 532 yards in 2010 and scored seven touchdowns.
In its first meeting with Avery, the Mountaineers ran the football 45 times for 205 yards, gaining most of the yards with a ball-control attack in the second half. Jackson led Mitchell with 70 rushing yards, with 66 yards from Styles and 63 from Hughes.
On the rare occasions that the Mountaineers throws the football, Ryan Sparks (22 receptions, 307 yards) and Hunter Rathbone (8 receptions, 140 yards) are the team’s leaders in catches and yardage.
On the defensive side of the football, Ben Smith leads the club with 152 tackles, with 103 tackles from Styles and 101 from Jackson.
Dayshawn Blackmon has emerged as another effective defender with 96 tackles, while Josh McClellan has recorded 84 tackles and Hughes has offered support with 82 tackles. Styles leads the Mountaineers with five sacks, while Hughes has picked off three passes, including a 50-yard pick for a touchdown in last week’s win.
The Low Down:
In the last meeting between Avery and Mitchell, both teams were forced by the driving snow and wind to utilize its running game on an almost exclusive basis. Throughout the season, the Vikings has prided itself in its offensive diversity both running and throwing the football. Avery had enough firepower with a pair of first-half touchdowns to hold off a furious Mountaineer rally, fending off a last-ditch Mountaineer scoring drive with a defensive stand in the game’s final minute. If the weather is improved from the first matchup, the advantage belongs to the Big Red.
At this point in the season, both teams will likely change little in its philosophy and preparation, and will rely on their respective strengths. Over the past three weeks, the Avery defense has been downright stingy, putting pressure on the quarterback and using the momentum of a strong performance against the Mountaineers to propel the Vikings to strong efforts against both Bessemer City and Swain County.
Hughes has been the go-to player for the Mountaineers in recent weeks, and he must continue that trend to give Mitchell its best hope for a road victory. Avery played a tremendous first half and grabbed an early lead against the Maroon Devils last week.
In similar fashion, Avery will want to put pressure on the Mountaineers by forcing its offense to play from behind and make Mitchell throw the football more than desired.
Colton Blackburn ran for more than 100 yards in last week’s win over Swain, and he ran for more than 120 yards in Avery’s win over Mitchell. If the Viking offensive line continues to open holes for the running game and the team takes care of the football, Avery has a good chance to advance to the state semifinal round.
As with the first matchup, the wild card may very well be Avery quarterback Alex Villanueva. The junior threw for more than 240 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s win. If he can equal or better those numbers this week and get the run support of recent weeks, it will be very difficult for Mitchell to match the Vikings on the scoreboard.
Fans of both schools are encouraged to “PACK THE MAC” this Friday, Nov. 26, for this once-in-a-generation showdown.
By the Numbers:
2 – touchdown passes by Avery’s Alex Villanueva in last week’s win over Swain. Also the number of Taylor Potter rushing touchdowns in last week’s second round triumph.
6 – fumbles by the Mountaineers in the Nov. 5 matchup against the Vikings (2 lost)
8- discrepancy in total yards (248 for Avery, 240 for Mitchell) in the first meeting this season between the schools.
15 – combined pass attempts by Avery and Mitchell in the Nov. 5th “Snow Bowl” game at MacDonald Stadium.
43 – rushing attempts by Mitchell (compared to only two passes) in the Mountaineers’ 35-29 win at West Wilkes last week.
95 – rushing yards by Avery running back Colton Blackburn in last week’s 30-12 win over Swain.
380 – combined rushing yards by Mitchell’s Justin Hughes during the first two weeks of the 2010 postseason.
2005 – the last season the Avery Vikings advanced to the third round of the state football playoffs.
2,337 – combined rushing yardage for Mitchell’s Shawn Jackson (1,228) and Avery’s Colton Blackburn (1,109) this season.
Pick up a copy of next week’s edition of The Avery Journal-Times for a full recap of this week’s showdown with the Mountaineers, as well as a preview (if necessary) of a potential regional semifinal playoff contest.
For the second time in only four weeks, the squads meet again on the gridiron, with high stakes on the line in the form of a berth in the 1-AA state semifinal round.
The Vikings (10-3) enter the contest after a dominating 30-12 winning performance against the Swain Maroon Devils at home last week, while Mitchell (7-6) rolls into Newland riding the momentum of road victories over Cherryville in round one and a 35-29 win in Miller’s Creek against West Wilkes last week.
On Nov. 5, the Vikings defeated Mitchell 14-7 in the snow on Senior Night in a game that went a long way in securing home field advantage for Avery throughout its playoff run this season.
Scouting the Mountaineers:
The Mitchell Mountaineers is led by head coach Russell Barnett and utilizes a spread offense while occasionally using the I-formation. The team, regardless of formation, has staked its success and built its identity throughout the 2010 season by utilizing talented linemen and backs to execute an effective rushing offense.
Quarterback Justin Hughes emerged as the primary signal-caller for Mitchell for his ability to hurt defenses using both his legs and arm, as evidenced by his 273-yard, five rushing touchdown outing two weeks ago against Cherryville. Overall, Hughes has run for 894 yards on 138 carries, with 19 rushing touchdowns this season. The junior also enters this week’s game coming off consecutive weeks of rushing for more than 100 yards.
Teamed up in the backfield with Hughes has been senior Shawn Jackson. With 1,228 rushing yards on 185 carries and 11 touchdowns, Jackson has six 100-yard rushing games this season, as he and Hughes combine for a potent 1-2 offensive punch.
When Mitchell throws the football, the team at times looks to the arm of quarterback/running back Troy Self. The 6’1”, 215-poind junior has thrown the football 59 times this season, but has seen more action in recent weeks at running back. He has gained 556 yards on 76 carries, and has scored seven rushing touchdowns.
Michael Styles has also been a key contributor to the diverse nature of the Mitchell running game. The junior has run for 532 yards in 2010 and scored seven touchdowns.
In its first meeting with Avery, the Mountaineers ran the football 45 times for 205 yards, gaining most of the yards with a ball-control attack in the second half. Jackson led Mitchell with 70 rushing yards, with 66 yards from Styles and 63 from Hughes.
On the rare occasions that the Mountaineers throws the football, Ryan Sparks (22 receptions, 307 yards) and Hunter Rathbone (8 receptions, 140 yards) are the team’s leaders in catches and yardage.
On the defensive side of the football, Ben Smith leads the club with 152 tackles, with 103 tackles from Styles and 101 from Jackson.
Dayshawn Blackmon has emerged as another effective defender with 96 tackles, while Josh McClellan has recorded 84 tackles and Hughes has offered support with 82 tackles. Styles leads the Mountaineers with five sacks, while Hughes has picked off three passes, including a 50-yard pick for a touchdown in last week’s win.
The Low Down:
In the last meeting between Avery and Mitchell, both teams were forced by the driving snow and wind to utilize its running game on an almost exclusive basis. Throughout the season, the Vikings has prided itself in its offensive diversity both running and throwing the football. Avery had enough firepower with a pair of first-half touchdowns to hold off a furious Mountaineer rally, fending off a last-ditch Mountaineer scoring drive with a defensive stand in the game’s final minute. If the weather is improved from the first matchup, the advantage belongs to the Big Red.
At this point in the season, both teams will likely change little in its philosophy and preparation, and will rely on their respective strengths. Over the past three weeks, the Avery defense has been downright stingy, putting pressure on the quarterback and using the momentum of a strong performance against the Mountaineers to propel the Vikings to strong efforts against both Bessemer City and Swain County.
Hughes has been the go-to player for the Mountaineers in recent weeks, and he must continue that trend to give Mitchell its best hope for a road victory. Avery played a tremendous first half and grabbed an early lead against the Maroon Devils last week.
In similar fashion, Avery will want to put pressure on the Mountaineers by forcing its offense to play from behind and make Mitchell throw the football more than desired.
Colton Blackburn ran for more than 100 yards in last week’s win over Swain, and he ran for more than 120 yards in Avery’s win over Mitchell. If the Viking offensive line continues to open holes for the running game and the team takes care of the football, Avery has a good chance to advance to the state semifinal round.
As with the first matchup, the wild card may very well be Avery quarterback Alex Villanueva. The junior threw for more than 240 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s win. If he can equal or better those numbers this week and get the run support of recent weeks, it will be very difficult for Mitchell to match the Vikings on the scoreboard.
Fans of both schools are encouraged to “PACK THE MAC” this Friday, Nov. 26, for this once-in-a-generation showdown.
By the Numbers:
2 – touchdown passes by Avery’s Alex Villanueva in last week’s win over Swain. Also the number of Taylor Potter rushing touchdowns in last week’s second round triumph.
6 – fumbles by the Mountaineers in the Nov. 5 matchup against the Vikings (2 lost)
8- discrepancy in total yards (248 for Avery, 240 for Mitchell) in the first meeting this season between the schools.
15 – combined pass attempts by Avery and Mitchell in the Nov. 5th “Snow Bowl” game at MacDonald Stadium.
43 – rushing attempts by Mitchell (compared to only two passes) in the Mountaineers’ 35-29 win at West Wilkes last week.
95 – rushing yards by Avery running back Colton Blackburn in last week’s 30-12 win over Swain.
380 – combined rushing yards by Mitchell’s Justin Hughes during the first two weeks of the 2010 postseason.
2005 – the last season the Avery Vikings advanced to the third round of the state football playoffs.
2,337 – combined rushing yardage for Mitchell’s Shawn Jackson (1,228) and Avery’s Colton Blackburn (1,109) this season.
Pick up a copy of next week’s edition of The Avery Journal-Times for a full recap of this week’s showdown with the Mountaineers, as well as a preview (if necessary) of a potential regional semifinal playoff contest.
