Records can be deceiving, and even scores can sometimes tell lies, too.
So setting aside for a second the fact that Madison is a predictable 6-0, that they’ve continued last year’s ritualistic throttling of all opponents to date, how good does coach Fred McClain think his Bulldogs have been this year?
He believes both sides of the ball have been solid. It’s that third phase of the game that McClain says still needs some work.
“I think we’ve played pretty well,” McClain said. “I think really, what needs to step up a little bit is our (special) teams, our punt coverage and our kickoff coverage and our kickoff return. We get our (special) teams going a little bit, that’s gonna make us a lot better, and I think if we’re gonna be a contender, that has to happen.”
The records and rankings say the Bulldogs are contenders as they are — something they can reaffirm tonight if they return from the house of another undefeated squad, Crest, with a win.
The Bulldog defense has been particularly stingy — led by such playmakers as defensive backs Reece Childers and Henry Ott, linebackers Shane Ballard and Kale Schankie and linemen Dylan Barnard and Keegan Kingery, Madison has surrendered more than 12 points just once so far this year and has three shutouts.
On offense, the two Zachs, Fox and Nowell, have been a big part of the Bulldog rushing attack, with Kole Schankie also delivering some big runs — Schankie ran for 107 yards in last week’s 44-8 win over Hartford. Ott’s leadership at the quarterback position is key, and Collin Kile stepped in ably when Ott went down earlier this year with injury and illness.
“Offensively, we’ve been good,” McClain said. “But we haven’t been as smooth as maybe we’ve been in the past, because we’re still kind of finding our personality a little bit. And with the quarterbacks going in and out, that kind of took a little of our personality away.”
A year ago, before Madison hosted Crest, McClain proclaimed the Lancers the best team his Bulldogs had faced so far. Then the Bulldogs made Crest another mercy-rule victim, ending the game at halftime with a 46-0 deficit.
This week, McClain believes the same thing — Crest is the Bulldogs’ best opponent thus far in 2009.
“They got four or five guys that really have their motor running,” McClain said. “They play hard right through the whistle. Coaches talk about it all the time, but to get kids to do that, sometimes it’s not as easy as it sounds.”
Bryan Newton is Crest’s top offensive threat — he’s run for 807 yards on 113 carries and scored 13 rushing TDs, along with two touchdown catches. Quarterback Kyle Hammond is actually averaging slightly more yards per carry than Newton at 7.60, and he’s scored 15 rushing touchdowns. Dakota Ramsey, yet another running threat, has just under 8.6 yards per carry with 10 TDs.
Crest’s opponent last week, Marmaton Valley, has come the closest to the Lancers on the scoreboard, losing 58-36. Crest has won every other game by at least 30 points, and McClain believes the Lancers are the type of team Madison needs to face before it reaches the State playoffs.
“There’s three teams undefeated in our district — Lebo, us and Crest,” McClain said. “And someone’s gonna be handing in their uniforms here in a couple of weeks.”
Other surrounding-area games tonight:
Lebo (6-0, 5-0) at Hartford (3-3, 3-2)
For Hartford, this game represents the end of the grueling three-game stretch of its district schedule that began with losses to Crest and Madison. For the Wolves, it’s a great chance to go to 7-0 — and run their district record to 3-0 — before Lebo’s final two games against those district heavyweights.
Chase Co. (4-2) at Peabody-Burns (0-6)
Chase County begins play in its three-team district against winless Peabody-Burns, and it looks as if the Bulldogs have a great shot at making a return trip to the Class 2-1A playoffs. Chase County will host Lyndon next week in a nondistrict game before concluding district play at Moundridge (1-5) on Oct. 29.
N. Heights (3-3, 3-2) at C. Grove (4-2, 3-2)
Heights will try to ride the momentum of two straight victories, including a 39-7 smoking of West Franklin last week. Quarterback D.J. Bronson completed 14-of-27 passes and used six different receivers in that win, led by Nick Mendez’s five catches for 77 yards. Council Grove is coming off a 16-6 loss to Chase County.
Olpe vs. Maranatha, cancelled
Olpe has known since the preseason that Maranatha Academy wasn’t going to field a team this year, and that it would be forfeiting tonight’s scheduled game.
That should sound familiar, because Maranatha forefeited last year’s game against Olpe, too. But last season, it played all of its scheduled games up until the week of the Olpe game; this year, Maranatha didn’t even get started thanks to insufficient numbers.
Olpe coach Chris Schmidt said he made some calls to try to fill this week with another opponent, but the Eagles staff will instead use tonight to scout some other teams.
With tonight’s forfeit victory, the Eagles will move to 7-0 on the year and turn its attention to their two district games, beginning with next week’s trip to Yates Center.
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