Athens (3-0) vs Jackson (2-1)

[baller99]

Jackson is just young and when a young team meets up with older experienced team that is pretty good the old team usually show the youths inexperience. Jackson starts 6 juniors and 5 sophomores on offense and about the same on offense with only 4 or 5 with varsity experience. This team will only grow and get bigger and faster and more experienced. So hang in there red

[Dundas]

Right now, Athens is the team to beat in southeast Ohio. They are having a terrific run and the talent they currently have is great! Jackson on the other hand is young AND inexperienced. BUT Jackson has a TON of young talent that could potentially have them at the top of southeast Ohio in a few short years. This game imo won't be close, but in a couple years, Jackson will be returning the favor of these losses they're taking now.

[93Bulldog]

Jackson is just young and when a young team meets up with older experienced team that is pretty good the old team usually show the youths inexperience. Jackson starts 6 juniors and 5 sophomores on offense and about the same on offense with only 4 or 5 with varsity experience. This team will only grow and get bigger and faster and more experienced. So hang in there red

Older?

Athens has 6 seniors on the entire roster.

[ironman02]

I think Athens is the more experienced team, top to bottom, but they're also very young. It's amazing what they've been able to accomplish despite relying on so many young guys. They're certainly not your average group of athletes though.

Jackson did hold Athens to just 21 points last season, forcing some timely turnovers, and also benefitting from some unforced errors. Coach Hall and his staff will have an outstanding gameplan devised again, I'm sure. It's up to the Ironmen to execute that gameplan, and against a team like this, that's much easier said than done.

I would imagine the best way to defend the Athens offense is to keep them on the sideline, so you can bet Jackson is gonna run the football. They have three very good backs and a QB that is very capable of running as well. It's up to the offensive line to control the line of scrimmage and keep that clock running. Last week, Jackson struggled up front. This week, to have any chance at winning, they have to be much better.

I know Athens is treating this like THE game of their season, but Jackson has to do that too if they want to achieve their goal of making it to the playoffs. The Ironmen are hurting after a loss, their backs are against the wall...they have to scrap and fight for 48 minutes on Friday night. Play hard, play physical, and play fast. Hopefully they can pull off a big surprise.

[billcox]

Anyone have junior high schedules for Jackson ? Thanks

[baller99]

[quote="93Bulldog"][quote="iman24"]Jackson is just young and when a young team meets up with older experienced team that is pretty good the old team usually show the youths inexperience. Jackson starts 6 juniors and 5 sophomores on offense and about the same on offense with only 4 or 5 with varsity experience. This team will only grow and get bigger and faster and more experienced. So hang in there red[/quote]

Older?

Athens has 6 seniors on the entire roster.[/quote]

I was speaking of West Jeff. Athens and Jackson our age wise pretty much the same with experience going to Athens this should turn out to be great game but next year this would of been a huge game with all these kids returning.

[baller99]

This game will go as the front guys for jackson play if they allow Athens to push them around on the o/d line like Wj did this will be out of hand by half. WJ had to win last week or watch their season slip away and they came out and hit,pushed,pinned Jackson players to the ground on blocks (taunting I'm sure) and we gave ground. when in doubt they hit us held us and what ever it took and it was effective. We acted like they where the older brother and we where unsure what to do about it. Grow up time is over staff better tell them there in a fight for their season the next two weeks and if you allow someone to bully you it over so toughen up and don't take anything from anyone on the field and if your not sure HIT HIT HIT

[A-Town Big Dog]

Jackson is just young and when a young team meets up with older experienced team that is pretty good the old team usually show the youths inexperience. Jackson starts 6 juniors and 5 sophomores on offense and about the same on offense with only 4 or 5 with varsity experience. This team will only grow and get bigger and faster and more experienced. So hang in there red

Older?

Athens has 6 seniors on the entire roster.

7 if you count the kicker. :122245

[A-Town Big Dog]

I believe after this game is finished on Friday night that the upshot will be that Jackson is not as bad as they are being portrayed after the West Jefferson game and maybe Athens has not peaked or be as good as the hype yet.

Don't get me wrong Athens is probably the best area team no doubt, and they are clearly the favorites make no mistake about it, but they may be surprised at how not so bad Jackson is or at least is being portrayed after the West Jefferson game.

In a couple days we will know, but I think that may be what we find out Friday. Still rooting for David in the David vs. Goliath match-up.

I don't think anyone in Athens is overlooking Jackson, some posters have made some bold predictions but most of them are followers of other teams. I for one expect a very good game on Friday night.

[camnott]

With a D1 prospect in the backfield no one should be putting that many points on the board. I think the bulldogs win but not by as many as some may think. Gonna be fairly close for three quarters.

[firecracker]

If Jackson's front line is getting pushed around, why doesn't the coaches pull those players out for a few plays? This is same thing issue this team faced last year. I see alot of kids more than willing to play.

[doubleplay643]

With a D1 prospect in the backfield no one should be putting that many points on the board. I think the bulldogs win but not by as many as some may think. Gonna be fairly close for three quarters.

Hopefully Mr. Williams will meet Mr. Burrows not just before the game at the captains meeting and coin flip, but numerous times after that during the game as well. If that happens then we are in business. If Burrows sits back and just wings it everywhere with little to no pressure we are in trouble.

Defensively we cannot be "gassed" as the game progresses, look for more substitutions than we have seen in the last couple games I think to keep everyone fresh especially later in the game. Just my thoughts, that and a buck get you a coffee Friday night.

[93Bulldog]

FROM THE ATHENS MESSENGER TODAY:


The Athens Bulldogs have been perfect inside the Tri-Valley Conference Ohio Division the last two seasons, winning two outright league titles.
But head coach Ryan Adams isn’t thinking about league play on Friday. He wants to win the unofficial Southeastern Ohio Athletic League title
The Bulldogs welcome the Jackson Ironmen into Scott Riggs and Family Stadium Friday for a 7:30 p.m. kick off.
Athens is currently 24-3 since the start of the 2011 season, with two losses coming to SEOAL teams.
The Bulldogs lost to SEOAL champion Jackson in the first round of the playoffs in 2011.
Last season, Athens lost to SEOAL champion Gallia Academy in the season opener.
The Bulldogs are 2-0 against the SEOAL so far this season, beating Gallia Academy and Warren by a combined count of 104-25.
Now the Bulldogs can go for the SEOAL sweep Friday.
Of course, Athens competed in the SEOAL for more than 80 years before joining the TVC after the 2007-08 school year.
“We’re aware of the fact that a couple years ago Jackson got the best of us in a playoff game, even though we beat Gallia that year,” Adams said.
“Certainly we’re going to talk about discussing the fact that the only way that we can feel really good about ourselves is to take care of Jackson and sweep the SEOAL with at least the three teams that are on our schedule.”
The Bulldogs don’t play SEOAL members Logan and Portsmouth.
Through three games, Athens looks like it could certainly compete in any league in wants to. The Bulldogs have scored 157 points and given up only 28.

[93Bulldog]

Article about the 2003 game Athens vs Jackson in todays paper ... http://www.athensohiotoday.com/sports/l ... 79e31.html

[baller99]

This game will be won or lost by role players. Who's will step up and bully the others

[M0TIVAT0R]

Jackson is just young and when a young team meets up with older experienced team that is pretty good the old team usually show the youths inexperience. Jackson starts 6 juniors and 5 sophomores on offense and about the same on offense with only 4 or 5 with varsity experience. This team will only grow and get bigger and faster and more experienced. So hang in there red

Older?

Athens has 6 seniors on the entire roster.

7 if you count the kicker. :122245

So out of 63 or so players only 7 of them are seniors? WOW!

[doubleplay643]

70% Chance of Showers for the David vs. Goliath match-up tonight in The Plains

[moonshine]

Rain and storms might make a difference in this game. Game day prediction:

Bullpuppies 38

Jackson 24

[doubleplay643]

Ironmen bringing their stone and sling tonight in the David vs. Goliath match-up.

[A-Town Big Dog]

Weather could be a factor for sure, I know field conditions won't be a problem but wet footballs lead to more drops and higher chance for turnovers especially through fumbles.