by Fulton Hampton
Polk County goes to visit the Mitchell Mountaineers tonight and as usual the game has major conference implications. For Polk, now 1-1 in the conference standings, this is a pivotal game. Polk has been on the losing end the last two years, ironically by the same 28 -27 score both years.
Head Coach Bruce Ollis said, “Mitchell has sort of been a thorn in our side the last couple years.  Mitchell is always a tough place to play… kind of a different atmosphere; the stands are so far away from the field.”
Most Polk fans will vividly remember the last game at Mitchell. There was considerable controversy over the official’s “clock management.” By most accounts, the clock was inexplicably stopped repeatedly, providing Mitchell additional time for its last-second score and the win.
However,  Polk comes in after a positive outing with an enhanced running game, more balanced offense and improved defensive secondary play. The Wolverines rushed the ball for 350 yards and threw for almost 100 yards (99).  The running game was spread between Tyler Jackson (126 yards, three TDs), Matt Darden (70 yards, two TDs) and Alec Philpott (147 yards, one TD).
Still leading the team in rushing, Philpott carried the ball 7-8 fewer times than in previous games because of the emergence of Jackson and Darden. This seemed to allow Philpott to be more of a force on defense, intercepting one pass and knocking down several others. Ollis also attributed last week’s success to improved blocking not only by the linemen but by the wide receivers as well.