Millbrook football
PHOTO BY ROB ORAZI
The Millbrook defense, including Austin Merritt (from left), Jarrick Feaster, Matt Aronowitz, Greg Gilchrist and Justus Hoffmann, will get plenty opportunities to make tackles against Fuquay-Varina's stout running attack Friday night.
Wildcats prepare for
Fuquay running attack
As Millbrook football coach Clarence Inscore explained it, there are three phases to interpreting Fuquay-Varina running back Cory Hunter's 463-yard performance earlier this season.
First, shock. ("My first reaction? Oh my God," the coach admitted.)
Second. Who did the Bengals play?
And thirdly?
"Well, it doesn't matter who they played because you have to be a pretty good running back to put up 460-some yards," Inscore reasoned.
Inscore and the Wildcats get to see Hunter and the Bengals' stout running attack in person Friday night as the two squads square off in the first round of the 4-AA state playoffs.
While Inscore went into detail about liking Fuquay-Varina's whole game, what caught the coach's attention on game film first wasn't the 32-point-per-game offense.
Rather, it was the Bengals' play on the other side of the ball.
"They are probably the best tackling team I've seen," Inscore concluded. "They don't miss tackles. They are always in great position. They are well coached. They are disciplined and it shows. It is going to be a tough game for us."
Fuquay-Varina (9-2) enters the contest having compiled an impressive resume this fall, losing just two games by a total of five points, and clinching a second-place tie in the Tri-9 Conference.
On the other hand, Millbrook (6-5) reached the playoffs pulling off a much-needed victory over Enloe in its season finale. Inscore classified the Wildcats' season as "up and down" and their results prove it.
After a 3-1 start, Millbrook dropped three straight before rebounding with a second-half comeback win over Sanderson and a thrilling 39-23 victory over Leesville Road.
But a week after the Wildcats bumped off the Pride, Wake Forest-Rolesville shut out Millbrook, setting up last week's week's crucial showdown with Enloe — with a postseason spot on the line.
Millbrook senior Austin Merritt called last week's game their "first playoff game" during an interview last week.
Playing Fuquay, a run-heavy, physical brand of football, won't be anything new for the Wildcats as Millbrook comes off contests with Wake Forest-Rolesville and Enloe.
Both squads feature run first, run second and run third mentalities. But Inscore pointed out, they both differ from Fuquay's attack.
"They are not a traditional Wing-T team like Wake Forest-Rolesville is," the coach said of the Bengals. "They're feature back is their fullback. WF-R uses their tailback as their feature back."
Hunter, who has rushed for 1,800 yards this season, is the main weapon. But the Bengals also give plenty of touches to Nate Budde — a 1,000 yard back this season — and Malcom Thaxton and Eric Powell, both with more than 300 total rushing yards apiece.
And you can't put up big running numbers without the guys upfront blocking well, Inscore said, and Fuquay's line does its job well.
The Bengals play great "assignment football," the coach added, explaining each unit knows its responsibilities, and sticks to the game plan.
To combat Fuquay's ground game, the Wildcats will need a stellar performance from their defensive front, including Greg Gilchrist, Marcus Plummer, Caleb High Tyler Floyd and Matt Aurowitz.
Inscore said a key Friday will be keeping Millbrook's linebackers free to make tackles.
While keeping the running game under wraps is a concern for the Wildcats, Millbrook's offense should get a big boost from the likely return of sophomore sensation Keith Marshall.
Ironically, while Inscore talked about the Bengals' runners, a school staff member dropped by talk about Marshall being cleared to play.
Although Inscore didn't guarantee Marshall's return, the Wildcats' leading rusher, with more than 1,100 yards, was expected to practice late this week.
Inscore conceded having the Wildcats' starting backfield back in place would provide a huge lift.
Though the coach commended senior Scott Gray for carrying the workload last week against Enloe, scoring four touchdowns and tallying 116 yards on just 17 carries.
"Whenever we move Scott to running back, it takes away from the receiving a little bit, so it would be nice to have Scott outside," Inscore said. "We are hoping to have Keith back, but if not, I'm confident with Scott in the backfield."
He later lauded Gray and senior Michael Thornton's astute play, explaining the duo excels at "putting themselves in a position to make plays."
QB Trey McFarland continues to show good leadership despite some struggles of late, Inscore explained, adding the first-year starter has suffered a few bumps but bounced back each time.
The Bengals and Wildcats don't have much of a recent history, and Inscore could not recall the last time the two teams met.
But the unfamiliarity could be a nice change for Millbrook, which faced Garner last year in the first round after defeating the Trojans during the regular season. In the rematch, Garner pulled off a 33-30 win.
"This time of year, you don't want to face someone you've already played," Inscore said. "Either way it can be a distraction. If you beat them the first time then maybe your kids get too confident. And if you lost to them, maybe you get too pumped up for getting revenge, and you make mistakes trying to do too much."
