ON TAP TODAY: FOOTBALL FRIDAY — ATHENS ONLY GAME ON DOCKET (2020-10-23)
Valley Sports ReportTHE VALLEY - With Sayre's home game against Wellsboro canceled, Athens is the only Valley football team in the Valley in action, with a road game at Montgomery.
The Red Raiders enter the contest at 3-3, and are coming off an impressive 43-19 win over Wyalusing, while the Wildcats rallied from an 18-7 first-half deficit to top South Williamsport, 35-18.
"They're big and they're talented," said Athens coach Jack Young of the Red Raiders.
WHEN MONTGOMERY HAS THE BALLKaide Drick rushed for 277 yards and four TDs in the win over Wyalusing,and Colby Springman added 95 yards as the Red Raiders ran for 393 yards.
Montgomery QB Logan Almeida also threw for 173 yards and one TD, completing 10 of 14 pass attempts.
"They have a very good running back in Kaide Drick, and their quarterback (Logan Almedia) can sling it around," said Young.
"They want to run the ball by design, but they've done a really, really good job of speaking the field," he noted. "They throw the ball downfield, they throw it across, they use the field really well.
"We have to be fundamental on defense. We have to have 11 guys clicking, and doing their job," added Young. "We have to maintain that physicality we had in the second half last week. If we can do that, and we tackle well, I think we'll be in great shape."
WHEN ATHENS HAS THE BALLThe Wildcats are averaging 289.6 yards per game in total offense - 151.2 yards on the ground, and 138.4 through the air.
Junior Shayne Reid leads the ground game with 465 yards and five TDs.
Mason Lister, who has run for five scores, has completed 53 percent (60 completions in 113 attempts) for 692 yards and two TDs, with junior Karter Rude (23 receptions for 337 yards) and Reid (19-149-1) his top receivers.
"Defensively, they are a little bit all over the place," said Young. "Mostly, they play a three-man front that looks like a five-man front sometimes.
"They're not overly aggressive like some of the teams we've played, but they'll crank the pressure up here and there.
"With the number of athletes they have, it will make us work offensively, especially with what we want to do in trying to spread the field," added Young.
Common opponents: Athens topped South Williamsport, 35-18, while the Mounties neat Montgomery, 33-13. ... Athens bested Wyalusing, 21-14, while the Montgomery rolled over the Rams, 43-19.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
