Valley View at Callisburg
Friday, 7:30 p.m.
RECORDS - Valley View is 4-2 overall (1-0 district); Callisburg is 5-1 overall (0-1 district).
LAST WEEK - Valley View defeated S&S; Consolidated 28-19; Callisburg lost to Aubrey 34-14.
VALLEY VIEW OUTLOOK - The Eagles opened district with a win last week and can improve their playoff chances with a road win at Callisburg. In their 28-19 win over S&S;, quarterback Scott Willis was 11 of 19 passing for 158 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 70 yards and a pair of scores. Dustin Tomlinson, who missed much of the season with an injury, carried the ball 18 times for 81 yards. Valley View had 309 yards of total offense, but turned the ball over three times.
CALLISBURG OUTLOOK - The Wildcats suffered their first loss of the season last week when they lost at Aubrey. The 14 points they scored were the first points Aubrey has allowed all season. The Wildcats had 330 yards of total offense at Aubrey, their lowest output of the season. Their previous low was 352 yards against Bonham in the first week of the season. Running back Langston Jones and quarterback Bobby Dorman are tied for the area’s top spot in touchdowns scored with 11. Callisburg is fairly healthy, although starting safety Cory Harmon is doubtful to play.
PLAYERS TO WATCH - Valley View: QB Scott Willis (5-11, 165), DE Josh Anding (6-5, 220), LB A.J. Kassen (6-1, 180); Callisburg: QB Bobby Dorman (6-2, 180), LB Chase McCage (5-10, 200), WR Kevin Bartley (5-9, 160).
COACHSPEAK - “I think the excitement level picks up when playing an intra-county school because usually the kids know each other a little better and of course bragging rights are also on the line.” -- Valley View coach Terry Felderhoff on his team facing another Cooke County team.
“They have to bounce back because a playoff berth is riding on every game from here on out.” -- Callisburg coach Jerry Bomar on how he expects his team to bounce back from their first loss.
Era at Lindsay
Friday, 7:30 p.m.
RECORDS - Era is 5-1 overall (0-0 district); Lindsay is 6-1 overall (1-0 district).
LAST WEEK - Era had a bye; Lindsay defeated Muenster 21-14.
ERA OUTLOOK - The Hornets had a week off to prepare for the Knights. Era went 5-1 in their non-district games with their lone loss coming in the last game they’ve played (26-20 at Millsap). Quarterback Trey Dunn is the area’s top rusher, averaging 109.8 yards a game. Dunn and receiver Nathan Metzler have both scored six touchdowns this season, while running back Justin Lance has five. Era leads the area in team rushing (255.2 ypg). The Hornets are still without Dillon Hughes, who will be out an indefinite period of time with an injury.
LINDSAY OUTLOOK - Lindsay opened District 13-A play with an exciting 21-14 win over arch-rival Muenster last Friday. The wet and muddy field conditions limited Lindsay’s passing attack. The Knights threw for just 41 yards, their lowest output of the season. Lindsay did their damage on the ground as they had 265 yards rushing. Ryan Haverkamp rushed for 125 yards and Frankie Cornett had 119 yards rushing. Will Taylor led the Knights with six tackles, while Haverkamp added five tackles and an interception.
PLAYERS TO WATCH - Era: QB Trey Dunn (5-10, 160), WR Nathan Metzler (5-8, 150), RB Justin Lance (6-3, 190); Lindsay: WR/K Ross Jones (6-4, 165), DL Will Taylor (6-2, 200), OL Colton Hermes (6-5, 200).
COACHSPEAK - “I do not think it is an advantage because you really can’t install a game plan until after you have seen a team on video. The last few years we have not really come out of our bye week and performed very well, so I think it may be a disadvantage. Hopefully this year will be different.” -- Era coach J.D. Henderson on having two weeks to prepare for Lindsay.
“The field was the big story of the game, which limited both teams on what they could do offensively. I was extremely proud of the boys for fighting and overcoming all night long. Hats off to my senior boys who finished their series with Muenster 4-0.” -- Lindsay coach Cody Bounds on his team’s win over Muenster in the mud last week.
Muenster at Blue Ridge
Friday, 7:30 p.m.
RECORDS - Muenster is 4-3 overall (0-1 district); Blue Ridge is 3-4 overall (0-1 district).
LAST WEEK - Muenster lost to Lindsay 21-14; Blue Ridge lost to Collinsville 19-12.
MUENSTER OUTLOOK - The Hornets will have to find a way to bounce back from a disappointing loss to rival Lindsay. Muenster gave up a touchdown with 1:08 remaining to fall 21-14. A week full of rain made the field muddy, which slowed down Muenster’s potent offense. The Hornets finished with just 153 yards of total offense including just 87 through the air. Their lowest output before last week had been 144 yards passing. Receiver Jason Luke continues to lead the area with 98.3 yards per game. Quarterback Levi Trubenbach regained the area’s top spot at 173.3 ypg. Injury-wise, Tanner Silmon is out for the season, Steven Valliere will miss this week and Garrett Walterscheid is listed as questionable.
BLUE RIDGE OUTLOOK - The Tigers were winless in District 13-A play last season, but they have already surpassed their win total from a season ago when they went 2-8. Quarterback Jace Koonce was a second team All-District pick a year ago. Blue Ridge lost to Collinsville 19-12 last week in the district opener for both teams.
PLAYERS TO WATCH - Muenster: QB Levi Trubenbach (6-2, 190), OL Jeremy Lutkenhaus (6-0, 270), WR Jason Luke (5-8, 130); Blue Ridge: QB Jace Koonce (5-11, 150), DB Trevor Agan (5-5, 150).
COACHSPEAK - “I am glad the Lindsay game is behind us. We can now concentrate on the next three games. Our goal is still to be a playoff team.” -- Muenster coach Allen Cross on his team bouncing back from a tough loss to Lindsay.
Sacred Heart at FW Calvary
Friday, 7:30 p.m.
at FW All-Saints
RECORDS - Sacred Heart is 4-3 overall (1-0 district).
LAST WEEK - Sacred Heart defeated Fort Worth Lake Country 20-13.
SACRED HEART OUTLOOK - The Tigers were originally scheduled to play a district game with Amarillo San Jacinto this week at home, but San Jacinto dropped their program so Sacred Heart found a replacement game. The Tigers and Fort Worth Calvary will play at Fort Worth All-Saints High School, a field that features turf, so a muddy field will not be a factor this week.
FW CALVARY OUTLOOK - Fort Worth Calvary is a TAPPS Division III school, one classification above Sacred Heart. Calvary is a triple-option team offensively and they run it to perfection, according to Sacred Heart coaches.
PLAYERS TO WATCH - Sacred Heart: WR John Krawietz (6-4, 170), QB Matt Hesse (5-8, 170), DL Gene Yosten (6-1, 200).
COACHSPEAK - “The No. 1 ranked team in TAPPS Division IV (Richardson Canyon Creek) runs the triple option and Calvary runs the same offense, so this will be a good tuneup for what we might see in the playoffs.” -- Sacred Heart coach Dale Schilling.
Argyle at Whitesboro
Friday, 8:00 p.m.
RECORDS - Argyle is 6-0 overall (1-0 district); Whitesboro is 2-4 overall (0-1 district).
LAST WEEK - Argyle defeated Prosper 17-14; Whitesboro lost to Gainesville 10-7.
ARGYLE OUTLOOK - The Eagles are undefeated and are coming off a 17-14 upset win over state-ranked Prosper, the defending Class 3A Division I state champion. That win may have been the biggest in Argyle school history. The Eagles return 12 starters from last year’s 8-4 team. Defensive lineman David Johnson has already committed to TCU. Quarterback Chad Hedlund threw for over 2,000 yards with 19 touchdowns last season.
WHITESBORO OUTLOOK - The Bearcats are coming off a disappointing 10-7 loss at Gainesville. It looked like the game would go to overtime after Gainesville missed a field goal with seven seconds remaining, but Whitesboro was flagged for being offsides, giving the Leopards another shot at the game-winning kick. The Bearcats outrushed Gainesville 128-81. Jerrid Caffey scored Whitesboro’s only touchdown on a 26-yard run.
PLAYERS TO WATCH - Argyle: DL David Johnson (6-2, 250), TE Tyler Sweatt (6-1, 225), OL Brandyn Hinnricks (6-4, 260); Whitesboro: LB Ethan Shadden (6-2, 212), OL Jonathan Jones (5-11, 267), CB Cameron Clark (5-10, 153).
Saint Jo at Fannindel
Friday, 7:00 p.m.
RECORDS - Saint Jo is 4-2 overall (0-0 district); Fannindel is 3-2 overall (0-0 district).
LAST WEEK - Saint Jo lost to Crowell 66-16; Fannindel lost to Leverett’s Chapel 68-67.
SAINT JO OUTLOOK - This game was postponed last week because of wet weather in East Texas. The Panthers played well for a half against No. 4 ranked Crowell two weeks ago. Saint Jo only trailed 18-16 at halftime, but were outscored 48-0 in the second half. Aaron Sapp has been a stalwart at defensive end, according to coaches, while Jake Ellingwood has been a workhorse at running back.
FANNINDEL OUTLOOK - The Falcons went undefeated in their Division II district last season and finished the year with a 7-3 record. Running back Corey Brown rushed for 3,178 yards and 31 touchdowns last season.
PLAYERS TO WATCH - Saint Jo: RB Jake Ellingwood (6-0, 180), DE Joey Lindenborn (5-9, 160), NG Richard James (5-10, 195); Fannindel: RB Corey Brown (5-10, 165), WR Justin Sims (5-11, 170), LB Brad Scott (5-11, 175).
COACHSPEAK - “Our first half effort was the best we have had since I have been coaching here. We were down 18-16 at the half. Our intensity level needs to be sustained into the second half for us to be able to compete with the better teams in six man.” -- Saint Jo coach Chad Tallon on his team’s play against No. 4 ranked Crowell two weeks ago.
