The Athens Bulldogs (4-0) will once again face a rival team while not on their home turf when they go against the Vinton County Vikings (0-4) at Vinton County Stadium. Kickoff will be at 7 p.m. Friday.
The two teams’ first meeting was all the way back in 1988, and for years, there wasn’t much evidence of a rivalry brewing between them. However, that has recently changed.
Both schools and their fans adore their football programs and have gotten to watch players grow from young boys to more mature and experienced teenagers. For 12 straight years, Athens was the victor over Vinton County. However, the Vikings have won four meetings in a row, breaking the Bulldogs’ decade-long reign in 2020.
During the 2024 season, Athens was able to break Vinton County’s streak when the team secured a commanding 35-7 victory at Joe Burrow Stadium. This year, with how both squads are performing, it looks to be a tough night for Vinton County.
As stated previously, Vinton County is hungry for its first win of the season. They have struggled immensely on both sides of the ball. Keep in mind, the Vikings had a stellar defense during three of their four wins against the Bulldogs in that streak.
Vinton County held Athens to 14 points or less in those three games. Now, the Bulldogs have outscored all of their opponents by a combined 193-21 in four contests. It will ultimately come down to whether or not the Vikings can find a solution for Athens’ potent offense.
Vinton County’s younger players and coaching staff are likely going to rely on the shoulders of senior players such as wide receiver Landon Stiltner and defensive end Hunter Martin.
On the flip side, all the Bulldogs need to do in order to win Friday’s game is to perform how they’ve been performing all season. Their offensive and defensive lines haven’t been tested yet by a worthy adversary.
They are coming off their biggest win yet this season, a 71-0 blowout against Tri-Valley Conference rivals Alexander. Both the offense and defense were clicking in a statement win over an improved Spartans.
The Vikings could prove themselves to be that worthy adversary. After all, they are winless and getting to compete against a rival school on their home field will likely boost the confidence of all their players.
In football, it’s anyone’s game if one team isn’t too careful. Vinton County will need to play its best, capitalizing on any of Athens' miscues. Meanwhile, Athens will need to be disciplined and avoid looking down on an eager-to-win Vinton County team.
