Mustangs looking for younger players to step up on defense
There is no denying the strength of the 2006 Madison Academy football team was its defense. In 12 games, the Mustangs allowed just 110 points, including just five in their two postseason games (a 3-2 win over Sardis and a 3-0 loss to Leeds).
Several key players from that dominating defense have graduated, leaving Madison Academy with several big holes to fill this season. Free safety/wide receiver Lance Clark and linebacker Erich Crowson were both Alabama Sports Writers Association All-State players and each earned a college scholarship - Crowson to Davidson and Clark to Carson-Newman.
"Last year we had a veteran defense; a lot of guys were seniors who had played since they were sophomores," Madison Academy head coach Matt Clouser said. "We don't have that this year, although the young players we have now have a lot of talent."
Clouser is especially excited about the Mustangs' linebackers, all of whom have "size and can run to the ball." They are Romelle Rice, Zach Riggins, Joseph Grounds and Walter Huff. He said the secondary will be young but athletic, consisting of four sophomores in Jordan Matthews, Justin Matthews, Jordan Kerr and Zayne Riggins.
"Our defense is full of players who are athletic and have very good speed," Clouser said. "But right now they're untested in varsity football so we'll just have to see how they do on Fridays."
There is a little more stability on offense, where senior running back Jeremy Rice has already collected more than 3,000 rushing yards in his career, a school record. Junior Kenneth "KK" Horton gives the Mustangs a talented option to spell Rice when he needs a rest.
"I think there might be a little more pressure on the offense because the defense is so young," Rice said. "I've got a good offensive line that I'm depending on a lot. They push me and I push them to just get better every time."
The quarterback position is currently between two seniors in Carter Hamric and Tyler Parker. The wide receivers will be a lot of the same sophomores who play in the defensive secondary, including Jordan and Justin Matthews. James Williamson is a senior who also returns at receiver.
The Mustangs also have several new faces on the coaching staff this season, bringing a pair of Tennessee Valley Vipers players onboard. Quarterbacks coach Tony Colston is a quarterback with the Vipers and played at Tusculumb and wide receivers coach Joel Babb is a member of the Vipers and played at Alabama, where he won the Charlie Compton Award for Senior Leadership.
The other members of the Mustangs' staff are Bobby Chandler, defensive line; Bobby Milam, offensive line; Gary Mayes, receivers and running backs; Matt Weaver, linebackers and Butch Weaver, defensive coordinator.
"The kids have really responded well to our new coaches, especially the ones on the Vipers," Clouser said.
Madison Academy is defending champion in Class 3A, Region 7, a region that also includes New Hope, Good Hope, Sumiton Christian, Vinemont, Danville, Hanceville and Holly Pond. The Mustangs have non-region games against Class 4A Brooks, Class 3A Elkmont and Class 6A Bob Jones.
Madison Academy's listed enrollment according to the Alabama High School Athletic Association is 231; Bob Jones' is 1,447. Last year the Patriots won 24-0.
"There hasn't been a day go by where I haven't second-guessed agreeing to play this game," Clouser said with a laugh. "We've got no business playing the largest high school in the state."
Rice, who was injured in the second quarter of last year's Bob Jones game, likes playing the bigger opponent.
"It's an exciting game," he said. "The only difference I see is they have more students than we do. Football is football; their players might be a little bit bigger, but it's all about who has the most heart."
