“It is a challenge,” Poff said as his Mohawks prepared to host Milton-Union on Friday at 7 p.m. for homecoming. “You want them to have a good time during spirit week and enjoy everything, but you need them to be dialed in on Friday night.”
Madison, 3-2 overall and 1-0 in the Southwestern Buckeye League Buckeye Division, was dialed in for last week’s 48-28 win over Oakwood that kept the Mohawks in the top eight in the playoff chase in Division V, Region 20.
However, getting a read on the group has not been easy for Poff.
“There are some weeks that we have bad practices and play well on Friday night,” he said. “There are some weeks that we have good practices and don’t play well, but so far they have done a pretty good job.”
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Milton-Union enters 2-3, 1-1, after dropping a 29-6 decision to a Preble Shawnee squad that Madison dismantled 47-0.
The loss puts the Bulldogs’ backs against the wall when it comes to chasing a Buckeye Division title.
“This is definitely one we’ve got to get if we want to stay competitive in the division,” Milton-Union coach Mark Lane said. “They are in our division and region, and that makes this game more important.”
What Poff sees on film and what he sees in practice tells him the Bulldogs and Mohawks have much in common.
“I have never coached in a game against Milton-Union where they weren’t physical, and we are a physical team,” Poff said. “Mark always gets the best out of his kids. We are going to have to concentrate all night to get the win.”
It should be a short night to concentrate.
Madison averages six passes per game while Milton-Union has thrown 58 times in five weeks.
The Mohawks average 375 yards per game, 326.6 on the ground, while the Bulldogs churn out 332.2 of their 372.2 yards per game on the ground.
“Friday night is going to have an old-school feel,” Poff said. “We are going to have to win the line of scrimmage and match their aggressiveness.”
Madison is led by Cameron Svarda’s 610 yards rushing on 83 carries, while Zach Shields has carried 101 times for 741 yards for Milton-Union.
“We are going to have to play a solid four quarters,” Lane said. “It is going to be a tough football game because both teams love to grind it out.”
If Madison doesn’t need more motivation than homecoming and the divisional and playoff implications, revenge is also on the table.
Milton-Union scored a late touchdown last year in the mud at home to take a 13-10 win.
“We held things pretty much the entire game,” Poff said. “We are hoping to come back and change that.”
Friday’s game
What: Milton-Union (2-3, 1-1 SWBL Buckeye) at Madison (3-2, 1-0 SWBL Buckeye), 7 p.m.
Where: Brandenburg Field, 5797 W. Alexandria Road, Madison Township
Last year: Milton-Union won 13-10
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