The Irvington Vikings have started the season with a fantastic 6-0 record, dominating their opponents in every game. So far, they have outscored their opponents by a staggering 229-36. Irvington’s Head Coach, Anthony Jackson, believes this success is primarily because of Irvington’s ball security. Irvington has had very minimal turnovers on the offensive side of the ball and many forced turnovers on the defensive side. Another key factor, according to Coach Jackson, is the team’s chemistry. He states, “[The] players have camaraderie, they feel loyal to one another, and they feel brought into what is going on.” The chemistry has been very evident on the field this season, and Irvington hopes to continue their winning streak.
Focusing on the offensive side of the ball, Irvington has been on an absolute tear. In a recent interview, Coach Jackson mentioned that the offense starts with the run game to open up options downfield and control the clock. Star running back Matthew Forbes, one of the team’s captains and the head of the offense, has scored seventeen touchdowns in six games. Irvington’s run game has been very dominant so far. When Irvington needs to turn to the passing game, senior quarter back Angel Perez has been delivering. With an exceptional passer rating of 135.4 on the season, Irvington’s passing attack is slowly becoming just as effective as the run game.
On the defensive side of the ball, Coach Jackson highlighted captain Tommy Chang, a middle linebacker who is “an extension of the coaching staff.” His deep understanding of the game and leadership qualities make him a key asset to the team.
Although Irvington has been winning, there are still weaknesses they hope to address. The biggest one so far has been tackling. Coach Jackson admits, “I still think we need to tackle better, be physical on both sides of the ball and improve attention to detail.” He also stated that many of the kids on the team did not grow up playing football, so technique still needs to be taught to many of the players.
Ultimately, Coach Jackson’s goal for the season is to win a playoff game. However, it’s very early in the season and playoffs are still in the far future. Coach Jackson states, “Our goal is to go 1-0 every week. We’re not putting much emphasis on the total picture yet. We’re just putting one ingredient in at a time.” If the team continues refining these ingredients— sharp execution, strong chemistry and attention to detail— Irvington could be in for something bigger than just a great start. The right mix might just lead them to a playoff run that no one saw coming.
If you would like to donate to Irvington’s football program, please contact Irvington’s athletic director Michelle Stone at [email protected].
Piedmont whooped them 49-7 last thursday, not sure these guys are playoff material yet.