NORTHEAST TEXAS PREVIEWS
ATLANTA (5-5) vs. JASPER (7-2)
SITE, TIME: Bulldog Stadium, Carthage, 7:30 p.m.
AT STAKE: Class 4A, Division II bi-district championship. G AM E FACT S : Atlanta finished four in a tough District 7-4A. Jasper was first out of District 8-4A. The Rabbits are scoring 31.0 points per game and give up an average of 34.2 points. The Bulldogs score 33.4 points per contest and have given up 17.4 points on average. COACH’S COMMENTS: Atlanta's Matt McClure—“I think within the last three weeks we've played our best football that we've played all year. The defense has stepped up and played well when it needed to. And we've hit our stride offensively and have been able to do well.
“We have never played Jasper. They are big and physical. They have guys who can really run. They have a power run team and play two tight ends. On defense they play a three man front. On offense they are a little unconventional, so we will have to button down in the trenches. Sometimes they line up with a 4 or 5-guy circus on one side. So we will have to move and get lined up where we need to be. They have some big linemen, so it will be a challenge for us up front. We will have to eliminate their big plays on offense. We will have to do a good job in the secondary in knowing who their eligible receivers are because they do a good job of hiding it.”
NEXT ROUND: The winner plays either Celina or Ferris in the area round.
REDWATER (5-5) vs. MOUNT VERNON (10-0)
SITE, TIME: Sam Parker Field, Mount Pleasant, 7:30 p.m.
AT STAKE: Class 3A, Division I bi-district championship. G AM E FACT S : Redwater finished fourth in District 8-3A. Mount Vernon was first out of District 7-3A. The Dragons average 38.0 points per contest and have given up an average of 32.9 points. The Tigers put up 38.6 points per game and have given up 13.0 points on average. COACH’S COMMENTS: Redwater's Tommy Graf— “Mount Vernon is undefeated, and I know that they are a very good football team. Their kids hustle and are hungry. They get after it, play tough, and are well coached. They execute well and they have some skillful kids. The passion and effort with how their team plays puts them over the top.
“First of all, we need to put forth great effort. It will be about that person that stays on the block just a little longer. We want to execute and not turn the ball over. In several of our losses, we turned the ball over 4 or 5 times. We will have to win the turnover battle. Out of the flexbone, its a different kind of offense that they run, where the ball is spread around. We will have two tailbacks that they'll have to account for. Lavondrick Vaughn and Peyton Davis have done a really good job. They'll also have to account for our quarterback, Jonah Ketchum, and our fullback. Joe Hendrix, our receiver, has made some big catches for us this year. Both teams will run the ball a lot. It comes down to those guys getting it done up front. We are really proud of our kids.”
NEXT ROUND: The winner plays either Kemp or Pottsboro in the area round.
HUGHES SPRINGS (8-2) vs. MINEOLA (5-5)
SITE, TIME: Bobcat Stadium, Hallsville, 7:30 p.m. AT STAKE: Class 3A, Division I bi-district championship. G AM E FACTS: The Mustangs were third in District 8-3A, Division I, and the Yellowjackets tied for second and are the second seed in 7-3A, Div. I. The Yellowjackets average 317 points and allow 27.7 points per game. Mineola went 2-2 in its last four games. The Mustangs score 37.6 and give up 31.6 points per game. Hughes Springs has won three straight following back-toback losses to White Oak and Jefferson. COACH’S COMMENTS: Hughes Springs' Chris Edwards—“Mineola is athletic, played a tough non-district schedule and are in a tough district. We have got to defend the pass; they like to throw it all over the place. They run it well also, but they like to sling it around and have some guys who can go get it.
“It's a whole lot better being in the playoffs than not being in the playoffs. This is the fun part of the season. When you go out and bust your tail and work hard all season, this is the fruits of your labor, whether it's first place, second, third or fourth place, anybody's got a chance. You've got to go out and have your best game.”
NEXT ROUND: The winner advances to the area round to play either Grandview or Pilot Point.
DAINGERFIELD (6-4) vs. LONE OAK (5-5)
SITE, TIME: Jack V. Murphy Bear Stadium, Gladewater, 7:30 p.m. AT STAKE: Class 3A, Division II bi-district title. G AM E FACT S : Daingerf ield was second in District 7-3A, Division II, and the Buffaloes were third in 8-3A, Div. II. The Tigers average 38.9 points and allow 18.5 points per game. Daingerfield went 5-1 in district play, its only loss a 24-21 decision to New Diana. Two of the Tigers' losses have been by a combined 4 points. Lone Oak has lost two in a row to close out the season. The Buffalo average 34.6 points and allow 27.9 points per game. COACH’S COMMENTS: Daingerfield's Mike Waldie— “Lone Oak is very well-coached and very disciplined on both sides of the ball. I truly mean that in a respectful manner, because you don't see that every week. They're a true 4-3 team, them make their adjustments well and tackle really well. They're very fundamental.
“Offensively, they spread it around. A good young quarterback, and he can spin it and run it real well. They've got a lot of depth at receiver and running back. They're pretty good all the way around.
“The foundation of our program is defense and creating turnovers, as well as winning the special teams battle. We're four points away from being on a 7-game winning streak. We lose on a 2-point conversion to White Oak, and we lost a 3-point game to New Diana. I give them a ton of credit, but we had the ball four times inside the 13 and didn't score. That wasn't a defensive problem, that's an offensive problem. Our defense is championship-caliber.
“Since we made a change at quarterback and are able to move Reggie Jeter to a bunch of different spots, we've scored 47 points per game in district. If we play good fundamental defense, like we play, and are explosive on offense, we should be in god position.”
NEXT ROUND: The winner plays either Gunter or Henrietta in the area round next week.
PAUL PEWITT (5-5) vs. HARMONY (10-0)
SITE, TIME: Pirate Stadium, Pine Tree, 7:30 p.m. AT STAKE: Class 3A, Division II bi-district championship. G AM E FACT S : Harmony (Big Sandy) won District 8-3A, while Paul Pewitt was fourth out of District 7-3A. The Brahmas average 31.3 points per game and give up 29.9 points per contest. The Eagles have scored an average of 53.4 points each game, and have given up 9.1 points. COACH’S COMMENTS: Paul Pewitt's Ryan Gentry— “Harmony has a lot of depth. They don't play many kids both ways so can wear out. They are big and strong up front. They have a lot of speed and that is recipe for good offense. Their defense is sound all over the field. They can line up and play base defense because they have talent in all of those spots. The coaches do a good job of coaching the kids.
“We have to get first downs on offense. We are going to try and control the football and the clock. We are going to try to get five or six yards per play and just drive down the field. If we make them earn it on every offensive play, I think we will have a chance to stay in the game and win.”
NEXT ROUND: The winner plays either Jacks boroor S&S Consolidated in the area round.
MAUD (4-6) vs. MERIDIAN (3-7)
SITE, TIME: Forney City Bank Stadium, 7:30 p.m. AT STAKE: Class 2A, Division II bi-district championship. G AM E FACTS: Maud finished second in District 9-2A. Meridian was third in District 10-3A. The Cardinals average 28.7 points per game and give up 35.3 points. The Yellowjackets have put up an average of 20.4 points and have given up 34.2 points on average. COACH’S COMMENTS: Maud's Allen Cross—“Meridian has played in the region the last couple of years. They have a solid program. They have kids that ran track. Their quarterback is a talented kid, so it should be a pretty good matchup.
“We have to be able to run the ball well. If we can effectively run at people, keep the chains moving, and keep the time of possession, then we should have a good game. Against Gateway, we had the ball 36 minutes.
Meridian is balanced and are about a 50-50, run and pass team. So we can't say we are going to stop this and we are going to stop that. Our kids are going to have to get reads. The linebackers, secondary, and line are going to have to read and react to the football. We are looking to minimize the mistakes that would lead to big plays for them.”
NEXT ROUND: The winner plays either Iola or Mt. Enterprise in the area round next week.