Riding a wave of confidence following last week’s road win over Mountain Heritage in Burnsville, Polk County football returns home to the Little Big House tonight.
In what should prove to be the team’s toughest challenge of the season thus far, the Wolverines will line up against the Mountaineers of Mitchell High School, a team that advanced deep into the playoffs last year before losing to the eventual 1AA State Champion Albemarle Bulldogs.
According to Polk head coach Bruce Ollis, the Wolverines, sporting an overall record of 5-1 and a perfect 2-0 in conference competition, are primed and ready for the visitors from Bakersville.
“We have not had to worry about getting our players motivated, as Mitchell was the only blemish on our regular season record last year,” said Ollis.
The Mountaineers run the Wing-T out of the shotgun, an attack very similar to the offense faced by the Wolverines last week during their visit to “The Pit” in Yancey County. The key difference this week is that the Polk County defense must find a way to neutralize Mitchell QB Justin Hughes. As the leading rusher in the mountains, Hughes has already surpassed the 1000 yard mark in just the first six games of the season.
With a run to pass ratio of 10-1, Mitchell rarely puts the ball in the air.
“One of our goals defensively each week is to make the opposition do something they don’t feel comfortable doing,” said Ollis.
For their part, the Mountaineers are expected to roll into Columbus spoiling for a fight, as the team seeks redemption for last week’s heartbreaking triple overtime loss to the Owen Warhorses at Swannanoa, a game in which Hughes led all rushers with 251 yards on 22 carries.
Any way you slice it, the Wolverines will have their work cut out for them this evening.
“Every starter [for Mitchell] on each side of the ball is a senior that was part of a playoff run last season that took them all the way to the Western final,” said Ollis. “They have great confidence and, without a doubt, a tremendous senior leader.”
The action kicks off tonight at 7:30 p.m. under the lights at PCHS.