Atlanta, Mount Vernon square off

LONGVIEW, Texas—With inclement weather predicted for Friday, Atlanta and Mount Vernon will clash in their Class 3A, Division I regional football game tonight.

Originally set for Friday, the Rabbs and Tigers meet for the second time this fall with the season on the line at Pine Tree’s Pirate Stadium. Kickoff remains at 7:30 p.m.

Atlanta (7-5) has won three in a row and 7 of its last 8, including a 41-22 victory over Mount Vernon in mid-October during district play. The Rabbs average 37.9 points and allow 27.8 points per game (455-333 total).

Mount Vernon (9-3) has scored 401 (33.4 average), given up 177 points (14.8 average) and won 5 in a row since its loss to the Rabbs.

“Mount Vernon is a slot-T, wing-T type team; their offense is about ball control and really good at running the football,” Atlanta head coach Matt McClure said. “They play physical defense. We’ll have our hands full. We got the better of them in district, but now is a whole different part of the season. When it’s win or go home, you’ve got to come ready to play.”

The Rabbs sent District 6-3A champion Kemp home last week with a 42-21 win, and they beat West Rusk, 28-20 the week before.

Mount Vernon beat Dallas Madison, 52-8, in the area round and nipped Tatum, 32-26, in the opening round.

“I just want to see us continue to get better,” McClure said. “I told the team earlier, when teams get in the playoffs, the teams that play a while are the teams that get better week to week. We’ve been getting better in all phases, and we’re playing really good football. If we continue to get better, play physical and fast, then we’ll give ourselves an opportunity to win.”

The winner advances to next week’s state quarterfinal/regional championship game against either Malakoff or Gladewater.