Hornets face Brahmas in key 7-3A, DII game
OMAHA-NAPLES, Texas—Hooks has two crucial games over the next two weeks to climb into the playoff picture in District 7-3A, Division II.
The Hornets, who will have a bye in Week 11 (Nov. 10), travel to Paul Pewitt—currently tied for second in the league standings— tonight before hosting DeKalb next Friday. The Brahmas (4-3, 2-1) edged DeKalb, 36-34, last week after their bye week.
“For us, these last two are playoff games,” Hooks coach Chris Birdwell said. “The main thing is to do what we need to do: take care of ourselves, take care of the ball, don’t have penalties and focus on taking care of the Hornets. We’ve had a lot of games where we’ve hurt ourselves; we felt like we had a chance to win several of them but just didn’t find a way to win them.
“We’re preaching these last couple of weeks to fight through the fourth quarter, take care of us and give ourselves a chance.”
Hooks (3-5, 1-3) averages 26.3 points per game and allows 31.8, and Pewitt scores 29.4 points and gives up 31.6.
Phillip Dickerson leads the Hornet rushing attack with 76 carries for 735 yards and 15 TDs, and he has scored 18 total touchdowns this season. Nick Sanders adds 50 totes for 538 yards and a trio of TDs.
Coleton Mills has 103 tackles on the year for Hooks.
Mason Vasquez has completed 41 of 72 passes for 671 yards and seven scores, with the Hornet top receivers Slate Ruth (17 receptions, 181 yards), Carter Duncan (11-218), Logan Murray (9-134), Dickerson (8-125) and Marquiz Estell (6-247). Dickerson and Estell each have three receiving TDs.
“The game with Hooks has been a close one over the last couple of years,” Paul Pewitt coach Ryan Gentry said. “They’re known for being athletic and fast. Our kids always play well in that game, so it ought to be a really good matchup. We’re going to have to protect the football; we’re going to have to control the football as much as we can. They’ve got some really good running backs, and the more opportunities you give them the better it is for them.
“We need to play really good defense. Last week we faced the JaQuan Jackson kid (from DeKalb), and we had to gang-tackle him. We’ll have to do that again against their running backs.”
Brahma QB Lucas Hungerford and running back Labrandon Houston lead the Paul Pewitt run game. Hungerford had 101 carries for 564 yards and four TDs while connecting on 57 of 104 passes for 818 yards and seven scores. Houston adds 81 rushes for 299 yards and three TDs, and La-jathan Allen has rushed 48 times for 432 yards and 10 scores.
Allen also has 19 catches for 216 yards and a score. Sam Smith adds 14 receptions for 236 yards, and Nick Garrett has 13 for 214 and a pair of TDs.
D.J. Turner has 72 tackles to lead Pewitt.
Tonight’s Games All kickoffs 7:30 p.m.
Sulphur Springs at Mount Pleasant Gladewater at Atlanta Hughes Springs at New Boston Redwater at White Oak Hooks at Paul Pewitt Queen City at Daingerfield Linden-Kildare at James Bowie Clarksville at Maud