Vikings Set Sights on Robbinsville in Season-Opener

Following a long, hot summer of 7 on 7s, weight training, scrimmages, and jamborees, the 2009 season officially kicks off Friday night when this year’s edition of the Avery Vikings make the three-hour trek down the spine of the Smoky Mountains to Robbinsville to take on the Black Knights.

Avery finished the 2008 season with a 2-10 record and opening round exit in the 1-AA state playoffs, while Robbinsville finished with a 12-2 overall record, and are this year’s favorite to claim a conference championship. A late-game missed field goal at Elkin in last year’s playoffs prevented the Knights from reaching the state 1A semifinals.

The Vikings have lost their last two meetings with the Knights, falling 35-13 at MacDonald Stadium one season ago and 41-34 the last time the team traveled to Graham County in 2007.

Scouting the Knights:
The Robbinsville Black Knights are members of the Smoky Mountain Conference, and are led by second-year head coach Dee Walsh. The squad utilizes a run-heavy offense and has run a Wing-T formation with great success. The team also utilized one-back and two-back set, as well as a Power-I formation during its encounter with the Big Red a season ago to feature its rushing game.

Robbinsville returns a pair of its top rushers, a leading receiver, as well as its starting quarterback from a season ago. Senior running back Kurt Odom ran for 2,063 yards and 36 touchdowns a season ago, among the state leaders returning this season in both categories. Odom has returned kicks and punts for the Knights and displays deceptive speed and quickness. Odom also shows a nose for the football on the defensive side of the ball, commonly running down backs from behind and is one of the team’s leading tacklers.

Odom is not alone in the offensive backfield as teammate Blake Anderson, who missed a portion of last season due to injury, returns after gaining 929 yards rushing and scoring six touchdowns last year. In the trenches for the Knights will be big men Cody Anderson and Jeremiah Holder. Defensively, the pair accounted for more than 100 tackles, 50 assisted tackles, and 10 tackles for losses last season.

Other returning senior starters include wide receiver Randy Hernandez, who had 952 yards and reached the end zone ten times, as well as Colby White, who had 86 tackles, 23 assisted tackles, seven tackles for loss, and two blocked punts last year, and Taylor Wachacha with 306 yards, seven touchdowns, and 159 tackles.

Hopes were even higher as Robbinsville returned its two-year starting quarterback Luke Perkins, who completed 72 passes for 1,076 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2008. Unfortunately for the Knights, they will have to play without the services of the 6’5” signal-caller for at least the next four weeks, as he is sidelined after surgery on a torn meniscus in his knee sustained at practice last week.

The Low Down:
For Avery to find success at Robbinsville Friday night, a number of things must fall into place. The Vikings must be sure tacklers against a team that thrives on running through or racing by its opponent. Avery’s defense must focus on wrapping up and taking down runners rather than simply attempting to strip a football or force a turnover. This point was evident in the team’s final scrimmage a week ago, as opponent Hampton managed to move the football for around 190 rushing yards in a 12-minute scoreboard clock span.

The loss of Robbinsville QB Luke Perkins is a tough blow to the Knights’ hopes for a championship, but the injury will only galvanize the team and force them to rely more on its running attack to carry the team.

Avery will look to utilize multiple offensive formations to keep Robbinsville off-balance, including a Wing-T formation to complement the team’s Spread offense. This young Avery club must have success rushing the football with the likes of Kenny Hicks, Taylor Potter, Cole Blackburn, and the other Viking running backs to keep the Robbinsville offense off the field and control the clock. Without a doubt, this week’s matchup will make it crucial for the young Vikings to mature quickly if it hopes to spring the upset at Big Oaks Stadium this week.

By the Numbers:
2- Friday’s game marks the second career start for Avery sophomore QB Alex Villanueva. His first was in last year’s opening round playoff game at Hendersonville.
5- number of senior players on the latest 2009 Avery varsity football roster.
10- number of 1A state football championships won by Robbinsville.
163- miles between Avery High School and Robbinsville High School, according to Mapquest.
177- total yards rushing by senior RB Kurt Odom in last year’s season finale at Elkin during the 1A state quarterfinals.
1992- the date of the Black Knights’ last state championship in football.

Read the Avery Journal-Times next week for a full recap of this week’s Endowment game with Robbinsville, as well as a preview of next week’s showdown at West Wilkes.