Athens’ defense will face an important new challenge against Vinton County, a team that likes to throw the ball, Friday night.
Athens’ 2016 secondary is inexperienced and largely untested. Of the four defensive backs that play a significant amount of time each week, two are sophomores, though sophomore Logan Maxfield already has three interceptions— one returned for a touchdown —on the season.
Treyce Albin has been practicing with the cornerbacks this week, but it is uncertain if he will play many snaps this week.
But, Maxfield and fellow sophomore Lane Heller still have a lot to learn. Secondary coach Kris Kostival believes Friday’s game will be a good test for his young unit.
"This week will be nice because we’re gonna see a lot of different formations,” Kostival said. “(Vinton County quarterback Naylan Yates) throws the ball well and he scrambles well. So it’s gonna make our kids have to man up and find a receiver once he scrambles.”
Through the first three weeks of the season, the members of Athens’ secondary were not used to seeing the ball come their way. All three opponents ran an option offense which involved very little passing.
Alexander didn’t throw the ball a ton last week, either, but it was still more than the Bulldogs had seen all season, and they didn’t hold up as well as they would’ve liked.
“Keep your eyes trained,” Kostival said. “That’s what happened to us against Alexander. Our eyes came off and it gave the Harris boy a chance to blow by us.”
Chace Harris’ receiving touchdown went for 47 yards, and it wasn’t the only big play Athens’ secondary allowed him that night. There were multiple other big completions to Harris last Friday, but Kostival realizes he’s dealing with young players.
“We’re not gonna sit and yell at the kid and harp at the kid,” Kostival said. “Typically they can tell you what they did wrong. Ya coach them up, pat them on the butt and send them out to play.”
He said the most important part in developing his young secondary will be the experience they gain defending the pass. With the inexperienced players that played junior varsity a season ago, Kostival said they didn’t see a lot of complicated pass plays or top-flight receivers at that level.
The matchup against Vinton County will provide his secondary with the experience Kostival is looking for.
