Kicking off

Vilonia faces Monticello in football game series

By Eric Moore

LITTLE ROCK — The Vilonia Eagles have the privilege of being part of the opening games Monday when they take on the Monticello Billies in the Simmons First Hootens.com Kickoff Week.

Vilonia will look to continue their hot streak they started a year ago when they reeled off six wins in a row before falling to Little Rock Christian in the 5A state playoff semifinal game.

Some of the stars from last year’s team are gone, as is the spread formation, which Vilonia used for the first half of the season. The Eagles returned to their Double Wing formation, which history has shown is tough to stop when they have the right athletes running the ball. And this year they do have the right athletes.

Will it be enough against a defense like Monticello’s, which returns seven starters from a team that also lost to Little Rock Christian in the state playoffs? Monticello finished the 2007 season with a 9-3 overall record, and was just one game away from facing Vilonia at the end of the season, but a 35-20 loss to Little Rock Christian meant this matchup would be saved for this season.

QUARTERBACK

Vilonia lost Kevin Puckett to graduation last year, but senior Tyler Head is expected to take over the role and do well. With the Eagles’ power coming from the running game, Head will not be expected to pass as much as Puckett was, and his mobility will be an asset in this game and this season.

Monticello also likes to usea running quarterback. Senior Ty Ferrell did not play last season, but as a sophomore was an efficient rusher. The passing game from the Billies and their Wing-T formation will be nearly nonexistent in this game.

ADVANTAGE: Vilonia BACKFIELD

This is an area where both teams shine, but the difference maker could be on Vilonia’s sideline. The River Valley & Ozark Edition Player to Watch, Aaron Oade, will be lining up to start for another season. Last season he rushed for 19 touchdowns, caught three more and returned a kickoff for a touchdown. TheEagles also have the benefit of having more than one threat in the event that Monticello tries to focus just on Oade. Seniors Ross Estes, Kory Howard and Marcus Brewer will help Oade give the defensive line and linebackers fits throughout the game.

Monticello could be known as Fullback High with the attention paid to the position. The Billies will depend on senior Andy Ashcraft to do a lot of the heavy lifting with wingback Brishen Matthews also in there to gain yards.

ADVANTAGE: Vilonia RECEIVING

Don’t expect a lot of passing to be happening when either team is on offense. That’s not to say that the Eagles don’t have the personnel to do it, it’s that they’re so loaded in the backfield that finding time to get the ball to senior Mason Kindsfaterand sophomore Zac Mitchell.

The receiving corps of Monticello is equally as talented, and quick, too. When the Billies take to the air, the ball will likely go to junior Brandon Matthews or senior James Jones.

ADVANTAGE: None OFFENSIVE LINE

Sheer size will be the name of the game for the Eagles on the line. With an all-senior line consisting of Tyler Stauch (6-5, 280) and Zac Ellis (6-3, 260) at the tackle positions, running lanes should be opening up all night.

While slightly smaller and less experienced than Vilonia, Monticello has come to expect a lot from their offensive line in recent years and there’s no reason to think this game willbe any different.

ADVANTAGE: Vilonia DEFENSIVE LINE

Heath Riggans and Josh Wright will be two of the main players responsible for being the first line of defense against the Billies’ running game. Alex Crawford will play end as well as center and will give the Eagles some speed on the outside.

Speed and power abound from Monticello’s defensive line with Joe Carmichael and Cedric Leonard. If there was a line to test the blocking ability of Vilonia at any point in the season, it could be this one.

ADVANTAGE: Monticello LINEBACKERS

Estes recorded 125 tackles from his linebacker position last year, and a year of experienced has only heightened his abilityto find the ball. The linemen will try to funnel the runners to Estes, who is the surest tackler on the team.

The Billies have experience returning at every position, and linebacker is no exception. Like many of the other players on the team, the linebackers are quick and strong. Led by Caleb Bryant and J.J. Smith, the linebackers should be able to stop anyone the defensive line misses before they get too far.

ADVANTAGE: Monticello SECONDARY

Howard and Brewer will patrol the secondary for the Eagles, using their running back-type speed to close in on runners or chase down the occasional pass.

The Billies return a young,but experienced secondary which snagged several interceptions a year ago.

ADVANTAGE: None

River Valley Ozark, Pages 70 on 08/28/2008