The undefeated Monterey Wildcats are preparing for their toughest test of the season so far in fifth-ranked 2A school Bledsoe County.
The Wildcats (5-0, 3-0) are looking to build off the momentum they built in week seven’s 31-0 win at Jo Byrns.
“I was proud of our defense,” said MHS head coach Scott Hughes. “We had to make some adjustments. Our guys did a great job of adjusting on the fly. We had very few missed assignments, very few missed tackles. Any time you can get a shutout it’s a huge testament to the defense.”
The Wildcats have enjoyed a fast start to the 2020 season, outscoring opponents 184-36 in five games. The MHS defense has been particularly stout, allowing six points in the last two games against Jackson County and Jo Byrns.
“It’s been huge,” said Hughes on his defense.
The remaining schedule for Monterey is tough on-paper, beginning with 6-0 Bledsoe County. The five teams the Wildcats have faced so far have a combined nine wins, with four belonging to Jackson County. The four remaining teams have 16.
Hughes said his offense will need to be prepared to put drives together over the coming weeks.
“Eventually we’re going to be in games where we aren’t going to hold teams to six points, or hold teams to zero,” said Hughes. “We’re going to have to find a way to win in a shootout or whatever it may be. We’ve got to be able to balance out our team more a little bit more than what we’ve been doing. I say that coming off a game where we did score 31 points, but I also know with the rest of our schedule, we’re going to have to be able to sustain drives when we get that opportunity.”
The Bledsoe County Warriors have been dominant throughout the 2020 season, outscoring opponents 195-40 through six games, including two straight shutouts over Sequatchie County and Marion County.
“Bledsoe County is a tremendous football team,” said Hughes. “We’re going to have to bring a whole other type of physicality to this game. When you watch the tape, they’re big and physical. They play extremely fast. It’s almost like you’re watching them in fast-forward. This game right here is going to be a completely different mindset for our guys.”
The Wildcats are the 10th ranked 1A team in the latest associated press poll and currently sit tied for first in Region 4/1A along with Gordonsville (4-3, 3-0). Hughes said his team has vastly improved since the start of the season, but still has work to do to reach the next level.
“We have improved a tremendous amount from the middle of August, but I still feel we have a tremendous amount to go,” said Hughes. “I don’t think we’re close to peaking, because when you watch us there’s still so many little things we’re messing up on that great teams don’t mess up on. That’s why I still feel we’re a pretty common football team right now until we can clean some of the little things up.
Kickoff between the Warriors and Wildcats is set for Friday at 7 p.m. in Monterey.