Scouting the Mountaineers:
Mitchell head coach Russell Barnett has the luxury of one of the leading dual threat rushers and passers in
The Mountaineers returned seven starters on offense and eight players on the defense from last season’s 3-9 club. Offensively, Mitchell employs the spread offense to take greatest advantage of their talented players in Jensen, as well as fellow senior wide receiver Billy Bomar, who gained 529 receiving yards last season and has 25 receptions for 735 yards and eight touchdowns this season.
An area of need entering the season for Mitchell was at running back. Aside from Jensen, the Mountaineers have filled the gap with talented playmakers like junior Shawn Jackson (107 rushes, 666 yards, 8 TD) and sophomore Dylan Forbes (22 rushes, 148 yards, 2 TD).
On the defensive side of the football, Mitchell relies upon a 4-4 base, but will show multiple formations as game scenarios warrant.
Filling in gaps to provide leadership to the club will be Blake Boone a senior linebacker who registered 87 tackles a season ago. Stalwarts for the Mountaineers on defense also include defensive ends Jarrett Roberts and Hunter Cornett who anchor the front line, as well as safeties Jensen and Josh Bennett, with defensive back Zach Stamey patrolling the secondary.The Low Down:
Both the Mountaineers and the Vikings have a lot to play for this week. The teams hold identical season and conference records, giving the winner of this game a leg up in the seeding process for the state 1A football playoffs which begin next week.
Avery has had great success playing in Ledger, winning two years ago as a heavy underdog by a 28-27 score on a daring two-point conversion call. For history to repeat itself, the Vikings must find a way defensively to contain Logan Jensen and force one or more of his teammates to make enough plays to win the ballgame.
A question mark for Avery entering Friday’s game will be the health and availability of Vikings sophomore quarterback Alex Villanueva, who sustained an injury in the fourth quarter of last week’s loss to Mountain Heritage and did not return to the contest. If Villanueva is unable to play, Avery’s pass offense will be more limited, forcing the Vikings running backs such as Colton Blackburn, Kenny Hicks, Nathaniel Buchanan, and Taylor Potter to shoulder a greater burden.
The Vikings defense did not play poorly last week against a juggernaut in Mountain Heritage, but it did surrender over 400 yards on the ground. Look for Avery to try to control the clock and try to keep the Mitchell offense off the field as much as possible this week.
By the Numbers:
4- highest conference finish by the Mitchell Mountaineers this decade (’00,’02-’03, ’06-’07)
20- points scored in the first quarter of Mitchell’s shutout of
28 – touchdowns accounted for by Avery quarterback Alex Villanueva (11 rushing, 17 passing)
161 – yards rushing on 20 carries with three touchdowns by Mitchell QB Logan Jensen in last season’s meeting.
402 – yards gained by Avery leading rusher
616 – receiving yards by Vikings wide receiver Andy Gonzalez to lead all receivers in
Read next week’s edition of the Journal-Times for a full recap of Friday’s game against the Mountaineers, as well as a preview of Avery’s potential first-round state playoff contest.
