Fairbanks’ Tyler Beem (8) flips the ball to an official after a play against Greeneview. The Panthers will host Madison Plains on Friday.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Mac Cordell)
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A pair of football teams with contrasting styles will meet on Fairbanks High School’s Kyre Field on Friday.
The spread and pass-oriented Panthers (1-2) will host the predominately land-loving Madison Plains Golden Eagles, who sport a 2-1 record.
Madison Plains has defeated Westfall and Northeastern and fell to state-ranked London so far this season.
The Eagles will line up in the Wing T and rely on the formation’s standards of the buck sweep and the toss, with an occasion play-action pass thrown in for good measure.
The unit is led by sophomore quarterback Jarrett Vallery.
“He’s a decent runner, but he throws the ball like ‘Edward Scissor-hands,’” said FHS coach Patrick Cotter. “They’ve also got three running backs (Chris Coil, Ryan Bevington and Connor Jones) who are bulldozers.”
The Eagles don’t have a really strong corps of wide receivers. When they do go to the air, their running backs are the primary targets.
“Our defense will need to read its keys and get downhill quickly,” said Cotter. “We know that Madison Plains wants to run the ball, but I think their offensive line will leave gaps for us to get through.”
The Golden Eagles have shown both 3-4 and 4-2 defensive fronts.
Cotter feels Madison Plains will stick with the 4-2 with five defensive backs to counter the Panthers’ passing game.
“They will blitz in the middle to put pressure on Jake (FHS quarterback Nicol),” he said. “Our line is going to have to protect Jake, just like they did last week against Greeneview.”
Cotter said the Panthers must improve their perimeter offensive game.
“We have to get better on the edges and catch the football,” he said. “We also can’t shoot ourselves in the foot with penalties like we did a week ago.”
The Panther boss said fundamental offense and defense will be the keys to victory for his squad.
“We’ve got to pursue the ball on defense and get off the field on third downs,” he said. “Conversely, we have to stay on the field after third down and finish drives.
“We got inside Greeneview’s 30-yard-line six times and didn’t stay on the field,” said Cotter. “We have to come out and we ready to play.”
The Panthers may once again have to play without running back Beau Sloan, who is nursing an ankle injury.
Cotter said Sloan is listed as day-to-day.