Vikings Look to Return to Winning Circle at Madison County

Following a pair of blowout losses over consecutive weeks against Hendersonville and Polk County, the Avery Vikings (4-4, 2-2 WHC) travel to Marshall in an attempt to pick up their elusive first win over the Madison Patriots (3-5, 1-3 WHC). Avery defeated Madison 22-14 at MacDonald Stadium a season ago and has beaten the Patriots in every contest played this decade. Avery fell 46-20 last week to Polk, while Madison lost 34-14 to Owen last Friday night.

Scouting the Patriots
The Madison Patriots are led by first-year head coach Mark Gosnell, a former assistant coach at Erwin, Tuscola, and Stephens County (GA). Gosnell is a Madison alum, playing quarterback for the school before concentrating on baseball during his collegiate career at Wingate University.

Gosnell is the school’s athletic director and is the fourth Patriots head coach in the past five seasons, and helped the school break a 23-game winless streak entering this season with an opening week blowout of Rosman.

The Patriots employ a multiple-I offense, as Robbie Shelton (46 for 108, 667 yards, 8 TD in 2009) calls signals behind center. Thus far this season Madison has relied heavily on its junior running back Brandon Henderson (152 rushes, 1047 yards, 12 TD in 2009) to carry the offensive burden.

Madison also looks to bolster its running game by using senior running back Corry Heath Miller (30 rushes, 230 yards, 4 TD in 2009). Its passing game, when utilized, relies upon a pair of senior receivers in Austin Nix, Garrett Cuthbertson, and Cameron Garrison.

The Patriots rely on a strong running game due to a young yet large offensive line, including junior Robert Taffer, sophomore Lucas Garrett, and junior Brandon Lisenbee.

Madison has switched to a 4-3 defensive scheme in 2009, with Garrison, Cuthbertson, Ethan Ball, and junior Craig Mace anchoring the secondary.

The Low Down

Avery has enjoyed a decade of dominance against Madison, taking advantage of a usually hapless Patriots club to chalk up victory after victory. The Vikings do not have the luxury of overlooking Madison this year, however. The Patriots have a strong rushing attack that can potentially pose problems to the Avery defense.

Madison’s wins have come against less-than-stellar teams in Thomas Jefferson and Rosman, in addition to a victory over Hayesville.

When the Vikings have been successful, the team has held turnovers to a minimum. Avery has committed nine turnovers over the past two contests, allowing its opponent to take large early leads en route to victories. The Vikings must take better care of the football if they wish to have any chance at victory on the road this week.

By the Numbers
0 – wins by Madison over Avery in varsity football since 1999.
3- touchdown passes by Avery quarterback Alex Villanueva in last Friday’s game against Polk County.
22- points per game allowed by the Madison defense this season.
58 – combined points given up by Avery in the first half of its last two games.
80- rushing yards gained by the Big Red in last week’s game against Polk County.
236- rushing yards surrendered by the Vikings in last week’s loss to the Wolverines.

Check out next week’s edition of the Avery Journal-Times for a full recap of this week’s game against Madison, as well as a preview of next week’s Senior Night home finale against Mountain Heritage.