Football 2025: MADISON ACADEMY MUSTANGS

Madison Academy football seven-year head coach Bob Godsey knows his 2025 48-player roster is a good mix of upper and lower classmen classes. The majority of those scheduled to start the newest season of Mustangs football are young, but do have experience. He played many young players last season where the squad posted an overall record of 7-5, which included 6-2 in Class 4A Region 8.

“This season’s team is a junior-sophomore laden squad as many of these athletes played vital roles last year,” said Godsey, who is in his 28th season as a high school head coach and 36th year overall in coaching. “I believe we have a lot of maturing to do, but most of these players have been in the battle.”

The newest season will quickly challenge that level of maturity as the Mustangs open the campaign with Mars Hill, the defending Class 3A state champions and a team Madison Academy lost to last season 34-7. Matter of fact, Madison Academy lost to both its non-region opponents before advancing to the second round of the post-season playoffs before bowing out of the season. The squad also graduated three All-State players.

OFFENSE
With six starters returning, including four offensive lineman, quarterback and a wide receiver, the offense should be balanced, but Godsey said, “We’re still developing a personality for this offense as we hope to be more explosive and spread the ball around more than in the past as we have more depth.”

Quarterback should be a non-worry position for Godsey as two players return after having both started during the 2024 campaign. Charleston Owens (So.) started the last five games of the season going 4-1 as a freshman. He’s a dual threat signal caller who is growing into the position. His official backup, is senior Alex Crider, who started the 2024 season and seven games before moving out to assist the wide receiver crew. “He’s found a home out there as he’s sneaky fast at 6-foot-3,” said Godsey.

As for the wide receivers, which includes Crider, the group features its only returning starter senior Zyan Williams who could be the most improved player headed into the new season. “He has experience, quickness and has certainly matured as a competitor,” added Godsey. An interesting receiver for Godsey will be Pearson Blue (Sr.) who has been a basketball and baseball player and is trying his first season of football in 2025.

The tight end position will feature two seniors who also start of defense. Barrett Canderday and Cam Wilson.
The running backs feature a trio of talent. Two seniors, Danny McCauley, who saw mostly a backup role last season, and Dayton Scott, and junior Bryan Merriweather. Godsey hopes his crew who touch the ball will perform at a higher level than last year’s team that scored just 28 points per outing.

Godsey’s hopes may just become reality behind the offensive line with four starters returning including senior Ajay Seaton who will step into his usual right guard spot. Last year’s other starting guard, Luke Foster (So.) has moved to starting center opening a spot for Henry Bragg (So.) and Ryan Patton (Jr.) to have a competition between them for the starting nod. They have some push from Zach Champion (So.) for playing time. Tackles are set with two juniors Devin Johnson and Slate Glover. We only had one returner going into last season, so with our experience this should be a stability position for us,” said Godsey.

DEFENSE
The 2024 version of the Mustangs’ defense could be described with one word. Awesome. The squad allowed just 15.5 points per outing and Godsey said of the 2025 version of the hitters, which features five returning starters, “Chance to be as good as last year’s as we have a lot of depth and we can do different looks with this group because of their talents.”

The main wall of the defense begins on the defensive line and in the middle of the stronghold is Ajay Seaton. The senior nose guard is 6-foot and weighs in at 275-pounds and has actually lost 30 pounds during the off season in diet change and extra physical workouts. All while losing the weight, he’s also gained strength and should be the leader for the defensive line. That groups includes senior Cam Wilson and three others who are fighting out for a rotating spot on the line. Those include Ryan Payton (Jr.), Zach Champion (So.) and Devin Johnson (Jr.).

The linebacker crew will feature two returning starters in Barrett Canderday (Sr.) and Jase Gaines (Jr.) both of whom started all 12 games last season and have both good speed and run well. “We are simplifying the schemes that will allow the linebackers to play even faster than they already do,” said Godsey. The inside area is taken care of with these two experienced players, while the outside linebackers spot will feature James Scheiman (So.), Jake Allman (Sr.) and Bryan Merriweather (Jr.). Godsey will also have an eighth grader at his call for help at linebacker in Edward Brewer.

The backfield should be able to standup to the task at hand with seniors Zyan Williams (Sr.), Dayton Scott (Sr.) and sophomore Aydan Niles (So.) taking care of the corners while safeties Danny McCauley (Sr.), Henry Yelverton (Sr.) and Knox McMonigle (Jr.) should stand tall as well.

SPECIAL TEAMS
The special teams unit is like cake batter for Godsey as he’s mixing his ingredients to come up with the perfect combination for the perfect fit. The place kicker looks to be senior Donnie Buchanan who kicked for the Mustangs as a sophomore, but he chose to concentrate on soccer only as a junior, but returns this year to give the Mustangs a boost in the special teams. Alex Crider (Sr.) took on some punting duties a season ago and hopes to do so again this season, but Godsey said there a couple additional players who are easily battling for the punting position. The same goes with the all-important long snapper. Junior Slate Glover has some experience, but Godsey is looking at others who may be the perfect fit to handle those duties. The kicking holder will be quarterback Charleston Owens (So.).

FUN FACTS
• Under Godsey, who took over as head coach in 2019, the Mustangs are 57-18 overall, but have a remarkable region record of 36-5
• Last year’s team posted a 2-4 record at home games
• This year’s squad will be one of the youngest in Region 8 with 14 seniors, 8 juniors, 15 sophomores, 9 freshman and 1 eighth grader
• The program has won three State Championships (2012, 2013, 2014)