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Wranglers set sights on second win after impressive start

By DEVIN HASSON, dhasson@starlocalnews.com

Published: Wednesday, September 5, 2012 2:27 PM CDT

Who: West Mesquite vs. Wylie

When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Mesquite Memorial Stadium

Records: West Mesquite-1-0; Wylie-0-1

West Mesquite could not have asked for much more in its season-opening 43-17 win over Rockwall.

Behind quarterback Chason Virgil, the offense was in rhythm from the very start, the defense was stout, particularly in the first half when the game was close, and the special teams chipped in with a 100-yard kickoff return by Raashaan Reason.

It added up to a blowout victory last week and the Wranglers are hoping to follow a similar formula to success this week against Wylie.

Virgil, who missed the final few games last season with an injury, was on target, completing 20-of-28 passes for 311 yards and three touchdowns. He added a 33-yard scoring run on the ground.

And while Virgil is still only a sophomore, West Mesquite head coach Mike Overton does see a different quarterback out on the field.

"If you saw him in his first game as a freshman and you saw him in the first game this year, it is like night and day," Overton said. "He's poised, he's under control and he understands our offense so much better. Just with his mentality and his knowledge of the game, he really has progressed beyond his years."

Virgil spread the ball around to a wide receiving corps that does not include Eldridge Massington. The senior, a Division I talent who is currently committed to USC, suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament this summer and is out for the season.

With Massington sidelined, others stepped up. William Stanley had eight catches for 156 yards and two touchdowns, Akillian Butler had five receptions for 90 yards to lead a group of eight different players with at least one catch.

"I'm really proud of the receivers group," Overton said. "Obviously you can't just go and replace a guy like Massington, but we feel like we have a group of four to six guys that are very good and we are confident they can do what we need them to, so I think we'll be okay."

The defense slammed the door on Rockwall in the first half, allowing only a field goal as the Wranglers built a big lead. West Mesquite played the second half without a pair of top talents in Kameron Miles (Tennessee commitment) and Dimarya Mixon (Arizona St.) but still kept the Yellowjackets from posing a serious threat.

Both players are nursing minor injuries and their status for Friday is uncertain.

Wylie is coming off a heartbreaking loss to Sachse last week. The Pirates led late in the game before the Mustangs rallied to tie it and ultimately win it in overtime, 44-36.

Wylie teams rarely feature a lot of flash, but they do generally produce and this one looks no different. Carson Cook completed 50 percent of his passes last week for 141 yards and a touchdown.

Kameron Kelly caught four passes and also threw a scoring pass. Leland Dotson is an option running and catching the ball, while Freddie Gibbs had a 75-yard touchdown catch last week.

The Wylie defense gave up its share of yards and points, but Overton is expecting a focused group this week.

"Wylie is a good football team. The last three times we have played them, it has been hard-fought and it has been close late into the fourth quarter," he said. "They are a tough out. They are well-coached and physical so we are going to have to play very well if we want to come out with a win."

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