James Madison Sports Blog

The Madison Offence is the unit that usually gets all the love and praise after a football game, and this year might turn out that way, but in Thursday’s season opener the Defense stepped up to deliver the victory. Madison entered the game in what looked to be a difficult situation as some felt the talent on the other side of the ball was going to be too much for Madison to overcome. But the Mavs proved that team work and a swarming defense can make the victories seem like they come easy.

Madison’s offence would not produce a bunch of the long quick scores that we are accustomed to seeing in years past but would effectively produce the points needed to pull out the victory. The Mavs would start the game with out the services of highly touted running back Devin Thomas but would have several players step up to fill the void.

One player to make a name for himself during the course of the game was junior wide out Chris Powel, so much so that he would be presented with the most valuable player award at the end of the contest. Powel would pick up 142 yards on 4 catches and a nifty 65+ yard TD reception in the 2nd quarter. Madison would use two QB’s during the game and both would prove to be productive. Matt Towne would start the game at Qb and would complete 3 of 5 passes for 100 yards including the quick slant to Powel for the long score. Devin Myler would break Towne through out the game and would also go 3 of 5 passing. Myler would have a key run late in the game on third down deep in Seguin’s territory that would set up the final score.

Names like Powel, Towne, and Myler are names you will read about through out the year, but the true hero’s on the offensive side of the ball on Thursday night was the line. Probably one of the most experienced lines Madison has had to start a season; they gave the QBs time to throw and gave the RBs holes to dart through all night long. Seguin’s defense was touted as one of the best in the area with several kids already receiving scholarship offers from D-I schools at the next level. The Mavs may not face a defense this good for some time but the offensive line showed Thursday why they are the strength of the 2006 Team.

While the offensive line was impressive the Madison Defensive was dominate. Seguin’s star running Back Isaiah Sneed could only muster 18 yards on 13 carries, and Seguin who tried their best to establish the running game could not get much past the line of scrimmage all night long. The Madison DBs held there own against some highly touted WRs as the matadors scattered 150 yards passing though out the game; but the most impressive stat on the defensive side of the ball was the score. Holding Seguin to just 11 points, recovering 2 fumbles and recording an interception, the defense made a statement and did not make many mistakes through out the game.

GO MAVS!