Sports > Schools
Second Step: Skeeters, Jaguars, Pirates face big hurdles in area round of playoffs
By DEVIN HASSON, dhasson@starlocalnews.com
The second round of the football playoffs is expected to bring tougher challenges, but that is especially true for the three Mesquite ISD teams.
Mesquite and Horn will face a pair of state-ranked opponents in Allen and Skyline, respectively. Poteet, meanwhile, draws a Lincoln team that has just one loss this season.
The Skeeters, Jaguars and Pirates all share a common dream of reaching the pinnacle of a state championship, but to be the best, they will have to beat the best and that journey continues this week.
Who: Mesquite vs. Allen
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: John Clark Stadium
Records: Mesquite-11-0; Allen-10-1
Few games around the state can match the anticipation surrounding Friday's clash between Mesquite and Allen in a Class 5A Division I area round game at John Clark Stadium in Plano.
The Skeeters, ranked 12th in the Associated Press Class 5A state poll, bring a perfect 11-0 into the game. The Eagles are the No. 6 team in the state with a 10-1 record, its only blemish being a 27-24 loss to Coppell, another state-ranked team.
Mesquite is coming off another signature performance in which it raced to a 50-7 lead before settling for a 50-28 victory over Sachse on Friday.
Skeeter quarterback Alex Cooper eclipsed the 3,000-yard mark passing for the season, throwing for 299 yards and two touchdowns. The senior has now accounted for 37 touchdowns while throwing just two interceptions.
Mesquite spread the wealth offensively. Junior Session and Tyson Gray each had rushing touchdowns, with Gray's 96-yarder putting an exclamation point on the win.
Jordan Bracy caught a touchdown pass and scored another on a fumble recovery, Dameon Gamblin had a scoring catch and Roderick McGruder returned a kickoff for a score.
Anthony Canady had an interception in only his second game back, and Marlin Simmons, Christian Williams, Javon Jones and others helped the first-string defense limit a Sachse offense that was averaging better than 42 points per game to only 207 yards and one touchdown before departing in the fourth quarter.
Allen had few problems with Richardson in a 63-14 victory in the first round.
The Eagles started the season strong with a 24-0 win over defending state champion Southlake Carroll, but as good as they looked then, they have really taken flight since sophomore Kyler Murray took over fulltime quarterback duties at the start of district play.
Murray, who accounted for more than 300 yards and four touchdowns last week, has passed for 1,390 yards and rushed for 839 more and will present one of the biggest challenges the Mesquite defense has faced.
Murray has plenty of help. Oliver Pierce, who started the year at quarterback, shifted outside to receiver where he has joined Kendall Clinton and Cole Carter as part of a formidable pass-catching corps.
In addition to Murray, Marcus Ward helps lead a deep rushing attack that features five players with at least 300 yards.
The Allen defense is yielding only 16 points per game and has allowed 25 or more only three times in 11 games.
While there is still a lot of football to be played beyond this week, the winner of Friday's game will vault to the top of the list of state championship contenders.
"We are well aware of who we are playing," Mesquite head coach Robbie Robinson said. "They are ranked in the top 10 year in and year out and they are really just one of the top programs in the state. I think it is going to be a tremendous challenge, but we feel we are ready. We are expecting a great game."
Who: Horn vs. Skyline
When: Saturday, 2 p.m.
Where: Wildcat-Ram Stadium
Records: Horn-8-3; Skyline-10-1
Horn (8-3) considers itself a team capable of winning the state championship. And while they might not be high on many people's list of contenders at this point, they will be if they can knock off a Skyline team that many consider to be a favorite when those teams meet in a Class 5A Division I area round game at Wildcat-Ram Stadium.
The Raiders (10-1) are ranked ninth in the Associated Press Class 5A state poll, with the only loss being a two-point setback to Arlington Bowie. Skyline has the ability to overwhelm opponents with its athleticism, but the Jaguars have good reason to believe they can match up.
Horn was nearly unstoppable in last week's 56-35 win over Garland, rolling up more than 550 yards of offense.
Quarterback Destri White had perhaps his best game of the season last week, throwing for 286 yards and three touchdowns while adding 110 yards and two scores on the ground.
Brian O'Bannon and Del'Michael High each had more than 100 yards receiving and a touchdown, while Justyn Oliphant had a huge scoring catch early in the second half.
Treyvon Marsh and Jay'lyn Lynch combined for three touchdowns and helped the Jaguars roll up 269 yards on the ground.
The Horn defense gave up its share of yards against a new-look Garland offense, but came up with big plays when it needed to.
Jordan Brasuell and Nathaniel Wagner came up with interceptions and Hunter Harwell and Colton King helped the front seven shut down the Owl running game in the second half.
Skyline presents a whole different set of problems on offense. Devante Kincade is one of the top all-around quarterbacks in the state, throwing for 2,235 yards and 34 touchdowns while rushing for 606 yards and 10 scores.
Jordan Stevenson is averaging better than nine yards per carry and Ra'Shaad Samples, one of the top wide receiver recruits in the nation, has 20 touchdowns among his 47 receptions.
The Skyline defense has been good, particularly of late, and is allowing 18 points per game. However, against tougher competition in non-district play, they yielded 30 points per contest.
"We know the challenge ahead. They are the real deal," Horn head coach Rodney Webb said. "Athletically, I think they are as gifted as any team I have ever seen, but we're excited about the challenge. We'll be there, we'll show up on time and be ready to go."
Who: Poteet vs. Lincoln
When: Friday, 1 p.m.
Where: Mesquite Memorial Stadium
Records: Poteet-9-2; Lincoln-10-1
Poteet bounced back nicely from a season-ending loss to West Mesquite with a 50-14 trouncing of Little Elm last week.
The Pirates (9-2) will look for a similar effort on Friday when they take on a red-hot Lincoln (10-1) team when they meet on Friday at 1 p.m. at the friendly confines of Mesquite Memorial Stadium.
Poteet gave up its share of yards against Little Elm's likely all-state running back Ke'uan Kinner, but they came up with big play after big play, forcing seven turnovers in all.
The Pirate offense made them pay, turning those short fields into points.
Quarterback Tanner Ramsey threw for 176 yards and three touchdowns and added two scores on the ground. The senior has now accounted for 39 touchdowns in 11 games.
Six different Poteet wide receivers caught passes last week, with Rodney Douglas catching a pair of touchdowns and Buck Rodges adding another.
They will try to continue to spread the wealth against a stingy Lincoln defense that has four shutouts, is giving up less than 10 points per game and has not surrendered more than 22 to any opponent this year.
The Tigers feature some offensive firepower of their own. Quarterback Erick Neal had been solid through the air (1,515 yards, 20 touchdowns) and on the ground (636 yards, 14 touchdowns).
Neal is one of three rushers that all average better than six yards per carry along with Monterric Surrell and Derrick Neal.
Mesquite and Horn will face a pair of state-ranked opponents in Allen and Skyline, respectively. Poteet, meanwhile, draws a Lincoln team that has just one loss this season.
The Skeeters, Jaguars and Pirates all share a common dream of reaching the pinnacle of a state championship, but to be the best, they will have to beat the best and that journey continues this week.
Who: Mesquite vs. Allen
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: John Clark Stadium
Records: Mesquite-11-0; Allen-10-1
Few games around the state can match the anticipation surrounding Friday's clash between Mesquite and Allen in a Class 5A Division I area round game at John Clark Stadium in Plano.
The Skeeters, ranked 12th in the Associated Press Class 5A state poll, bring a perfect 11-0 into the game. The Eagles are the No. 6 team in the state with a 10-1 record, its only blemish being a 27-24 loss to Coppell, another state-ranked team.
Mesquite is coming off another signature performance in which it raced to a 50-7 lead before settling for a 50-28 victory over Sachse on Friday.
Skeeter quarterback Alex Cooper eclipsed the 3,000-yard mark passing for the season, throwing for 299 yards and two touchdowns. The senior has now accounted for 37 touchdowns while throwing just two interceptions.
Mesquite spread the wealth offensively. Junior Session and Tyson Gray each had rushing touchdowns, with Gray's 96-yarder putting an exclamation point on the win.
Jordan Bracy caught a touchdown pass and scored another on a fumble recovery, Dameon Gamblin had a scoring catch and Roderick McGruder returned a kickoff for a score.
Anthony Canady had an interception in only his second game back, and Marlin Simmons, Christian Williams, Javon Jones and others helped the first-string defense limit a Sachse offense that was averaging better than 42 points per game to only 207 yards and one touchdown before departing in the fourth quarter.
Allen had few problems with Richardson in a 63-14 victory in the first round.
The Eagles started the season strong with a 24-0 win over defending state champion Southlake Carroll, but as good as they looked then, they have really taken flight since sophomore Kyler Murray took over fulltime quarterback duties at the start of district play.
Murray, who accounted for more than 300 yards and four touchdowns last week, has passed for 1,390 yards and rushed for 839 more and will present one of the biggest challenges the Mesquite defense has faced.
Murray has plenty of help. Oliver Pierce, who started the year at quarterback, shifted outside to receiver where he has joined Kendall Clinton and Cole Carter as part of a formidable pass-catching corps.
In addition to Murray, Marcus Ward helps lead a deep rushing attack that features five players with at least 300 yards.
The Allen defense is yielding only 16 points per game and has allowed 25 or more only three times in 11 games.
While there is still a lot of football to be played beyond this week, the winner of Friday's game will vault to the top of the list of state championship contenders.
"We are well aware of who we are playing," Mesquite head coach Robbie Robinson said. "They are ranked in the top 10 year in and year out and they are really just one of the top programs in the state. I think it is going to be a tremendous challenge, but we feel we are ready. We are expecting a great game."
Who: Horn vs. Skyline
When: Saturday, 2 p.m.
Where: Wildcat-Ram Stadium
Records: Horn-8-3; Skyline-10-1
Horn (8-3) considers itself a team capable of winning the state championship. And while they might not be high on many people's list of contenders at this point, they will be if they can knock off a Skyline team that many consider to be a favorite when those teams meet in a Class 5A Division I area round game at Wildcat-Ram Stadium.
The Raiders (10-1) are ranked ninth in the Associated Press Class 5A state poll, with the only loss being a two-point setback to Arlington Bowie. Skyline has the ability to overwhelm opponents with its athleticism, but the Jaguars have good reason to believe they can match up.
Horn was nearly unstoppable in last week's 56-35 win over Garland, rolling up more than 550 yards of offense.
Quarterback Destri White had perhaps his best game of the season last week, throwing for 286 yards and three touchdowns while adding 110 yards and two scores on the ground.
Brian O'Bannon and Del'Michael High each had more than 100 yards receiving and a touchdown, while Justyn Oliphant had a huge scoring catch early in the second half.
Treyvon Marsh and Jay'lyn Lynch combined for three touchdowns and helped the Jaguars roll up 269 yards on the ground.
The Horn defense gave up its share of yards against a new-look Garland offense, but came up with big plays when it needed to.
Jordan Brasuell and Nathaniel Wagner came up with interceptions and Hunter Harwell and Colton King helped the front seven shut down the Owl running game in the second half.
Skyline presents a whole different set of problems on offense. Devante Kincade is one of the top all-around quarterbacks in the state, throwing for 2,235 yards and 34 touchdowns while rushing for 606 yards and 10 scores.
Jordan Stevenson is averaging better than nine yards per carry and Ra'Shaad Samples, one of the top wide receiver recruits in the nation, has 20 touchdowns among his 47 receptions.
The Skyline defense has been good, particularly of late, and is allowing 18 points per game. However, against tougher competition in non-district play, they yielded 30 points per contest.
"We know the challenge ahead. They are the real deal," Horn head coach Rodney Webb said. "Athletically, I think they are as gifted as any team I have ever seen, but we're excited about the challenge. We'll be there, we'll show up on time and be ready to go."
Who: Poteet vs. Lincoln
When: Friday, 1 p.m.
Where: Mesquite Memorial Stadium
Records: Poteet-9-2; Lincoln-10-1
Poteet bounced back nicely from a season-ending loss to West Mesquite with a 50-14 trouncing of Little Elm last week.
The Pirates (9-2) will look for a similar effort on Friday when they take on a red-hot Lincoln (10-1) team when they meet on Friday at 1 p.m. at the friendly confines of Mesquite Memorial Stadium.
Poteet gave up its share of yards against Little Elm's likely all-state running back Ke'uan Kinner, but they came up with big play after big play, forcing seven turnovers in all.
The Pirate offense made them pay, turning those short fields into points.
Quarterback Tanner Ramsey threw for 176 yards and three touchdowns and added two scores on the ground. The senior has now accounted for 39 touchdowns in 11 games.
Six different Poteet wide receivers caught passes last week, with Rodney Douglas catching a pair of touchdowns and Buck Rodges adding another.
They will try to continue to spread the wealth against a stingy Lincoln defense that has four shutouts, is giving up less than 10 points per game and has not surrendered more than 22 to any opponent this year.
The Tigers feature some offensive firepower of their own. Quarterback Erick Neal had been solid through the air (1,515 yards, 20 touchdowns) and on the ground (636 yards, 14 touchdowns).
Neal is one of three rushers that all average better than six yards per carry along with Monterric Surrell and Derrick Neal.
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