They’re 151 miles and two hours and 15 minutes apart, but 8-1 Audubon and 10-0 Montezuma do have a common opponent this football season.
Audubon, ranked sixth last week by the Associated Press, and the Braves, rated second, meet in the second round of Class 8 playoffs on Friday, Oct. 29, at Badger-Gabriel Field.
Southeast Warren is the common foe.
Audubon beat the Warhawks 48-21. The Braves defeated Southeast Warren 41-12.
Both teams are wound around their quarterback.
Montezuma fans know about Eddie Burgess. The 6-foot-4, 230-pounder is the Braves’ leading passer and rusher.
His updates: 1,975 passing yards and 27 scoring tosses. He has 1,206 rushing yards, an 8.2 per carry average, and 25 touchdowns.
Burgess also has seven receptions for 208 yards and five touchdowns.
Gavin Smith is the Audubon quarterback. He has thrown for 806 yards and 12 scores, and rushed for 1,691 yards on 221 carries, 36 for touchdowns. Smith is 6-1 and 170 pounds.
“Audubon is a very physical team that will spread you out to run and try to gain a numbers advantage against you with motion,” Braves Coach John Beck said. “It starts with their quarterback, but he has some very talented players to complement him.”
Carter Andreasen, a 5-11, 165-pounder, has rushed 69 times for 704 yards and 10 scores.
Top pass target has been 5-10, 152-pounder Braden Wessell, who has 17 receptions for 297 yards and five scores.
Montezuma and Audubon have each averaged 52 points a game. The Wheelers have given up 22 per contest, while the Braves’ yield has been 18 per game.
“Defensively, their line is good and physical. The linebackers and secondary flow and tackle well,” Beck said. “This game will again be won in the trenches by the team that can control the line of scrimmage.”
Audubon’s defeat was 68-42 at the hands of CAM-Anita, which has been at or very near the top of the state polls all season.
“Both teams have had Dome experience in the last few years and have played lights-out in some very big games,” said Beck. “It should be a great atmosphere on Friday.”
To win this one, the Braves will need to practice the golden rule of sports, which is: Do unto others before they do unto you, then keep doing it.
