Farmington Bracing For Ashdown’s Speed

By Alex Abrams

Posted: November 13, 2009 at 5:40 a.m.

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FAYETTEVILLE — Based on his one-word response, Farmington coach Mike Adams is well aware of the challenge awaiting his defense tonight at Ashdown.

“Speed,” Adams said.

While studying game film of his first-round opponent in the Class 4A playoffs, Adams admitted he was struck by how fast several of Ashdown’s players appeared as they raced downfield.

They looked so fast, in fact, that Adams didn’t think it was possible for him to replicate in practice what his players will see at 7:30 p.m. today in Dick Hayes Stadium.

“They’ve got six or seven guys faster than anybody we could put out on the field,” Adams said, laughing. “Not by a little, but by a lot.”

If Farmington (6-3-1) — the No. 3 seed from the 4A-1 Conference — hopes to pull off the upset and advance in the playoffs, slowing down Ashdown’s high-powered offense and elusive quarterback Chris McFadden will be essential.

Of course, it doesn’t help that the senior is fast enough to run track.

“He’ll run and scramble out of necessity. We certainly don’t look to run him first,” Ashdown coach Chris Hill said. “We look for him to throw the ball to some other guys that are a little bit faster than he is.”

Hill joked that his players aren’t fast enough to win any track meets, adding that he doesn’t have any “flat-out burners” with 4.5-second speed in the 40-yard dash.

But the Panthers (9-1) — the No. 2 seed from 4A-7 Conference — run a high-powered offense out of the Shotgun that has had a tendency to score on either the first or second play of a drive.

While reviewing footage this week from four of Ashdown’s games, Adams said he counted at least 15 drives in which the Panthers scored on either the first or second snap.

The challenge facing Farmington’s defense is keeping Ashdown’s wide receivers from catching passes in the open field, where Adams acknowledged “we’re not going to catch ’em.”

“There’s a couple of things you can do. You can either put pressure on the quarterback and not let him make accurate throws,” Adams said. “Or you can give them some different looks on defense and disguise your secondary coverage and hope he’ll throw it into some places he shouldn’t.”

Adams said he hopes last week’s regular-season finale against Shiloh Christian prepared his team to face another explosive offense in Ashdown. Several missed assignments in man coverage led to Shiloh Christian quarterback Kiehl Frazier throwing for 261 yards and five touchdowns in the first half of a 42-14 win at Farmington.

The only problem?

“Ashdown is faster than Shiloh,” Adams said.

Today’s Class 4A Playoff Ticket

Farmington at Ashdown

KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Dick Hayes Stadium, Ashdown

RECORDS: Farmington Cardinals, 6-3-1; Ashdown Panthers, 9-1.

COACHES: Farmington, Mike Adams; Ashdown, Chris Hill.

LAST WEEK: Farmington lost 42-14 to Shiloh Christian; Ashdown defeated Mena 40-7.

HOOTEN’S RANKINGS: Farmington is ranked No. 22 in 4A; Ashdown is No. 6.

HOOTEN’S LINE: Ashdown by 17.

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