Five things to know as Polk County travels to Madison in week eight of the 2025 football season. Kickoff will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Marshall.
Last week: Madison lost 56-3 to Hendersonville; Polk County lost 51-8 at Mountain Heritage.
BLANKENSHIP ROLLS ON: Madison senior Ivan Blankenship has been a workhorse for the Patriots this season, carrying the ball 108 times for 868 yards and four touchdowns.
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Blankenship has topped 100 yards in five games this season and will be a handful for a Polk County defense that has allowed 30 or more points in five of its seven games.
Blankenship is equally impactful on defense, leading Madison with 82 tackles, including 11 for loss. Stopping him on both sides of the ball will be crucial for Polk County’s hopes of snapping a three-game losing streak.
PATRIOTS’ PASSING ATTACK: Madison has featured a two-quarterback system this season, though injuries have affected the rotation.
Caleb Griffin started the season as the primary signal caller, completing 25 of 44 passes for 385 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Griffin hasn’t played since the Patriots’ Sept. 12 loss to Chase.
Dallas Bartlett has taken over the quarterback duties, completing 13 of 24 passes for 175 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Bartlett has also been effective on the ground with 217 yards and six scores on 34 carries.
Senior Gavin Gault has been the Patriots’ top target with 18 catches for 291 yards and five touchdowns. Gault has also been a ballhawk on defense with four interceptions.
WILKINS FINDS HIS RHYTHM: Polk County quarterback Brody Wilkins showed signs of returning to early-season form in last week’s loss at Mountain Heritage.
The sophomore completed 10 of 17 passes for 141 yards, marking the first time he had thrown for more than 100 yards since the Wolverines’ Week 2 loss to Newton-Conover. Wilkins found a new target in the passing game as Acer Eadus caught his first two passes of the season, hauling in a pair for 49 yards.
If Wilkins can build on that performance, the Wolverines could find some offensive balance heading into their bye week.
MAKING HISTORY: Madison kicker Hannah Winters is the only girl playing football in Western North Carolina this season.
Winters is 2-for-5 on extra-point attempts for the Patriots. Madison also employs kicker Alex Morales-Valdez, who is 13-of-16 on extra points and has added a field goal.
DOMINANT STRETCH: Polk County has owned this series in recent years, winning 10 straight games against Madison.
The Wolverines defeated the Patriots 30-0 last season in Marshall in what was a non-conference matchup at the time. Madison’s last victory in the series came in 2012, a 28-21 triumph in Marshall.
This will be Polk County’s last game before a bye week, giving the Wolverines a chance to end their losing streak before a week off to regroup.
