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Mustangs try to build on season-opening win

By DEVIN HASSON, dhasson@acnpapers.com

Published: Thursday, September 1, 2011 6:31 PM CDT

Who: Sachse vs. Arlington Sam Houston

When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Homer B. Johnson Stadium

Records: Sachse--1-0; Arlington Sam Houston--0-1

Last meeting: Sachse 55, Arlington Sam Houston 14 (2010)

Series record: Sachse leads, 1-0

Seasons are not determined by the first game of the season.

But any team would prefer to go into its second game riding a wave of momentum rather than wondering what happened last week.

Sachse got just the kind of start it was hoping for last Friday with a 30-16 victory over Wylie. This might not have been the same Pirate team as the one that advanced to the Class 4A Division I state semifinals last season, but it was a quality victory, nonetheless.

"It was a big win for our program," Sachse head coach Mark "Red" Behrens said. "That is a quality program we played and we were the underdogs, so to go in on the road and get out with a win and get that first win was big. The kids went out and executed and did a great job."

The Mustangs exploded out of the gates in racing to a 23-7 lead at halftime. Quarterback Trent White threw touchdown passes of 64 and 41 yards to Chris Robb and another 45-yarder to Jeff Guckenberg.

White only took the field for two plays in the second half due to cramping, so Sachse turned Kent Myers. The sophomore was effective with his legs, rushing 10 times for 76 yards. His ability to run opened things up for Billy Cole, who had 12 carries for 102 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter that sealed the win.

"He (White) did a good job, but I thought everybody did," Behrens said. "And then our sophomore (Myers) came in and made some plays running the ball, especially there at the end, so that was good to see."

The biggest area of concern coming into the season was on the defensive side of the ball. But the Mustangs rose to the occasion in the opening week, allowing only 335 yards of total offense.

Aaron Shelby was among the leaders of that unit, recording 10 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble. Eldridge Showers had five tackles, including two for loss, and three quarterback pressures, Tyler Holmes had eight tackles, Fernando Morales had seven tackles and a fumble recovery, while Zach Rawlinson had a sack and recovered a fumble.

"They came to play," Behrens said. "We have some young guys over there and we thought our offense might have to carry us for a while, but they went out and did a great job and did the kind of things we need them to do."

Up next for Sachse is Arlington Sam Houston, which lost to Crowley in its season opener, 41-34. The Texans actually led the game for much of the way until Crowley scored two touchdowns late to steal the win.

Sam Houston is led by Kendall Jackson, an athletic playmaker at quarterback. Last week, he rushed for 143 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries and also completed 4-of-7 for 129 yards and another score.

Andrew Alvarado provided the compliment in the running game, gaining 71 yards on 21 carries, while Jalen Glass and Terrell Varnes are both big play threats on the outside.

This rematch of last year's game has a similar theme in that the key could be Sachse's ability to contain Sam Houston's athletes. The Mustangs were able to do that a year ago, corralling do-everything quarterback Jamal Turner (Nebraska) in a 55-14 victory.

"They are a good team, but if we take care of our business, I think we should be okay," Behrens said. "They are very athletic, so if you make a mistake it is going to cost you a touchdown. We need to come out guns blazing, running to the football and try to take on their team speed with sheer determination and relentlessness."

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