Schools
It's No Secret: Dodgers Will Run
Despite an overhaul in the backfield, Madison remains consistent on the ground.
No matter how big the stage, the Madison football team’s offensive approach is always clear.
With a run-first mentality, the Dodgers have essentially been daring each and every opponent they face this season to stop what they already know is coming.
And for 24 consecutive games, Madison has proven that what they do–run the football–they do pretty darn well.
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The next stop on the consecutive wins bus comes on Friday night, as Madison takes its Ground & Pound offense to Kean University, where it will once again dare an opponent to stop it.
This time, the opponent is Summit. And this time there's a North Jersey Section 2, Group II championship on the line.
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“I think we can [run the ball on anybody] with the backs we have,” quarterback Carson Lassiter explained. “But it’s not only [the backs]. I think the key to our offense is our line. All of those guys are veterans and are big, tough guys. I think that’s the key.”
With the likes of Justin Goodwin, Shone Register and Dilan Kluge teaming up with Lassiter to complete the four-headed Dodger rushing attack, the Madison offense hasn’t missed a beat, producing over 3,000 yards on the ground this season and finding the end zone a staggering 45 times.
“Honestly, yes, [I think we can run the ball on anyone],” said Register, who has rushed for more than 850 yards and six touchdowns this season. “Justin has a lot of speed and can take it to the outside to beat a lot of defenders. I just have pure strength, so I can carry the ball over defenders, and get short yardage.”
While the speedy Goodwin garners the majority of praise in the Dodger backfield–1,625 yards and 27 touchdowns on the ground can have that effect–Lassiter, Kluge and Register have been solid, rounding out the attack and adding a few new dimensions to the Dodger offense.
“The guys we really expected to fill in, guys like Carson Lassiter and Shone Register, to play at that level, we’re not shocked that they did that,” Madison Head Coach Chris Kubik said. “That was really what we expected out of those guys. By having guys like Dilan Kluge fill in and really make the backfield strong for us, it’s what our goal was.”
As is usually the case, much of the credit gets heaved at the guys running with the ball–and rightfully so. But its continuity on the offensive line over this 24-game stretch that's consumed the last two seasons, that is something that shouldn't go unnoticed.
With three returning members of last season’s “Train Station” offensive line, including seniors Mike and Steven Finelli and tight end Ben Anderson, as well as the blocking of halfback Register, among others, Madison has remained just as effective on the ground as they were in 2010.
In fact, with less of a passing threat from Madison this season–something that has resulted in more defenses loading the box in an effort to stop the run–the Dodgers’ rushing success in 2011 becomes even more impressive.
“[The offensive line] is just a great group,” said Kubik, who doubles as the offensive line coach. “We work hard and its something we take pride in. When you run the ball a lot, you get better at it. Sometimes passing teams get soft, and we don’t have that luxury to be able to throw the ball all over the place, so we have to be physical, and my offensive line works as hard as any offensive line.”
But overwhelming defenses with the run isn't the only aspect where these backs excel, as Goodwin, Register and Kluge combined for more than 250 yards and four TDs receiving out of the backfield this season.
And even with Madison heading into what appears to be its toughest test in two seasons–not too mention, on a huge stage–the Dodgers’ confidence hasn't appeared to waver one bit.
“They have us as the underdogs and I love being the underdog,” Register explained, “because they’re always the one that comes out and shows everybody what they really have. People don’t realize how good Madison football really is.”
On Friday night, Madison gets a chance to prove it.
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