By Chris Vogt, BCHSSReport.com
MADISON TWP. — The Madison High football team has seen its fair share of success in recent years.
Now the Mohawks will look to continue a winning trend under the fresh mindset of coach Ricky Davis
“This is going to be fun. Right now, it’s a good time to be a Mohawk,” said Davis, who took over the helm after Steve Poff stepped down this past December.
“This is a new era, and it’s a new team,” Davis added. “We’re focused on going week to week. The kids will talk about state, they’ll talk about league championship and different stuff like that. But my biggest thing is week to week.”
Madison reached the postseason in dominant fashion the last two years, compiling a combined 18-2 regular season record. The Mohawks ran into Wheelersburg deep in the playoffs each of those two seasons, falling in heartbreaking fashion both times.
But Davis said the upcoming campaign is a new opportunity.
“We’ve got to form our own culture. We’ve got to have our own character and our own identity,” Davis said. “Right now the guys are really working hard and have been great in the weight room and great in conditioning.”
The Mohawks were senior-heavy in 2018. So the lack of experience may play a roll in how offensive and defensive schemes will be implemented, according to Davis.
A 2017 Youngstown State graduate and quarterback who ran the spread, Davis said he’s leaning towards promoting what he knows best.
“The biggest thing right now is that we’ve lost a lot of seniors,” Davis said. “And we’ve got a very limited amount of returning starters coming back on offense and defense.
“With offensive installs, they’ve been great about us putting in a new offense,” Davis added. “We’re switching to the spread. We’re in the gun more. I love the spread. When I was in college, I ran the spread and I love it. Luckily our offensive line coach was familiar with it, too.”
Madison, which was won the Southwestern Buckeye League Buckeye Division outright the last two seasons, opens up at home against Franklin on Friday, Aug. 30.
“The expectations are back where they were,” Davis said. “We’re really excited about who we’ve got coming back. We’re excited about the younger guys that are stepping up into bigger roles. I’ve been really impressed with the weight room. It’s been really upbeat and it’s been exciting to watch them adapt to it.
“If you win every week, you’ve got a pretty good chance of getting where you want to be.”
Follow this reporter on Twitter @BCHSSReport. Chris Vogt can be reached at[email protected] or at (513) 225-3274.
