Vidalia hopes to match Avoyelles’ offense

Published 12:02 am Friday, October 24, 2014

High-powered offense is always expected when the (4-3) Avoyelles Mustangs take the football field.

But Vidalia head coach Jeff Hancock is hoping his team can muster up an offensive showcase of their own Friday night.

Avoyelles averages 41 points per game, but has given up 40 points per game in seven games this season, opening the door for an offensive explosion from Vidalia.

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“We’re playing a team that onside kicks, never punts and never kicks an extra point, so we better score offensively,” Hancock said.

The 0-7 Vikings are coming off of a 51-0 loss to Marksville. Hancock attributed Marksville’s physical dominance as the key factor in Friday’s loss to the Tigers.

“They were athletic,” Hancock said. “Not only that but they were strong. After the game, I told our team to remember (Marksville) in the middle of winter when we’re working out, because you can tell that team has been in a great weight program for three or four years. Ours is just starting. You can’t not lift weights and expect to compete nowadays.”

Vidalia has averaged less than six points per game this season. Despite Vidalia’s lack of production on offense, Hancock said senior quarterback Landon Seyfarth has played exceptionally well considering the situation.

“This is his first year to play quarterback,” Hancock said. “I wish I could have him longer because he’s done extremely well.”

With Seyfarth at quarterback, Hancock has introduced a no-huddle, up-tempo-playing style he hopes to feature prominently in 2015. Hancock said this season has been more about paving the way for a brighter future for the Vikings, and with that in mind, Hancock has already started installing next year’s offense.

“We’re obviously adding every week to what we’re doing offensively,” Hancock said. “Next year, we’ll be more no huddle, up-tempo. We started laying the foundation for that, and in practice, we’ll go no-huddle and signal everything in. But you can’t just do that overnight.”

Hancock said the Vikings likely won’t run any no huddle against Avoyelles Friday night.