THS at Lufkin for bi-district engagement
Tigers to put 3-game win streak on line against cruising Panthers
LUFKIN, Texas — Texas High is back in the playoffs.
The Tigers will play one of the hottest teams in Class 5A, Division I in a bi-district football game at Lufkin.
The Panthers have won nine straight since a 3-point loss to defending state champion Longview (Class 6A, Division II).
Lufkin (9-1) won 8-5A, Div. I and host the Tigers (6-4) at 7 p.m. today at Abe Martin Stadium.
Texas High has won three straight to finish tied for third in 7-5A, Div. I. THS is the fourth seed.
“The biggest thing for us to continue to get better; we’ve been playing playoff games for the last month,” Texas High Gerry Stanford said. “We’ve had three games where we had to win to extend the season. So we understand what it takes, in our preparation and execution, to keep going in playoff-type football.”
The Tigers have scored 28.6 points and given up 22.9 points per game this season. Texas High averages 386.3 total yards and allows 284.3. THS had the top defense in its league.
The Panthers score 43.0 points and surrender 12.6 points per game. Lufkin has averaged 420.8 total yards and allowed 246.5 yards per outing.
During its three-game win streak, which THS had to win to clinch a postseason berth, the team has scored 108 points and allowed just 41 points.
“This game isn’t any different for us than the last three games; obviously we’re playing a great opponent, but from the aspect of what we need to do, it’s not any different,” Stanford said. “We need to take care of us and go play our best game, which is what the playoffs is about.”
The game will be live blogged at www.texarkanagazette.com/texashigh and broadcast on KTXK 91.5 FM, with pregame at 6:30 p.m. The winner of tonight’s game will advance to the area round to play either Frisco Independence or Mansfield.