Callisburg at Pottsboro
Friday, 7:30 p.m.
RECORDS - Callisburg is 6-1 overall (1-1 district); Pottsboro is 0-7 overall (0-2 district).
LAST WEEK - Callisburg defeated Valley View 42-12; Pottsboro lost to Aubrey 54-7.
CALLISBURG OUTLOOK - The Wildcats rebounded from their only loss of the season with a 42-12 thumping of Valley View last week. In that game, running back Langston Jones rushed for 155 yards and scored four touchdowns. Quarterback Bobby Dorman threw three TD passes and had 181 yards passing. Callisburg is second in the area in scoring (42.9 ppg), which is tops among 11-man teams. Only Saint Jo, who plays six-man football, has scored more points.
POTTSBORO OUTLOOK - The Cardinals were 13-2 and advanced to the state semifinals last year, but they only return one starter from that team and have struggled this season. Defensive end Malcolm Blanco had 102 tackles and 10 sacks last year. Pottsboro lost to Aubrey 54-7 last week.
PLAYERS TO WATCH - Callisburg: QB Bobby Dorman (6-2, 180), LB Chase McCage (5-10, 200), WR Kevin Bartley (5-9, 160); Pottsboro: DE Malcolm Blanco (6-3, 225), QB Kevin Garcia (5-10, 165), K Cody Parton (5-8, 175).
COACHSPEAK - “Pottsboro has played a very difficult schedule which is why their record is what it is. They still run the same one-back offense and they want to run and throw enough to keep you off balance. This will be a very difficult game for us because of the sickness and injuries that we have at this time.” -- Callisburg coach Jerry Bomar on what kind of game he expects with the winless Cardinals.
Pilot Point at Valley View
Friday, 7:30 p.m.
RECORDS - Pilot Point is 7-0 overall (2-0 district); Valley View is 4-3 overall (1-1 district)
LAST WEEK - Pilot Point defeated S&S; 63-0; Valley View lost to Callisburg 42-12.
PILOT POINT OUTLOOK - Pilot Point is ranked No. 7 in the state with a 7-0 record. They were 11-2 last year and advanced to the state semifinals. Cam Feldt is a Division I prospect on the offensive line and running back Jarman Johnson rushed for 1,350 yards last year.
VALLEY VIEW OUTLOOK - The Eagles will go from the frying pan into the fire. After losing 42-12 at Callisburg this week, things don’t get any easier with Pilot Point coming to town. Valley View was held to just 35 yards rushing last week and only managed 146 yards of total offense, which is 152 yards below their average. The Eagles are outscoring opponents 28-17 on average this year. Quarterback Scott Willis is third in the area in passing at 157.9 yards per game. Receiver A.J. Kassen averages 66.7 yards per game. The Eagles were hit hard by injuries in their game with Callisburg. Nose guard Bo Davis is out for the year with a broken hand. Guard Austin Pruitt is in a boot and will miss this week with a high ankle sprain. Receiver Dylan Pembroke had a MCL sprain to his knee and is doubtful this week.
PLAYERS TO WATCH - Pilot Point: OT Cam Feldt (6-5, 290), RB Jarman Johnson (5-9, 170), QB Seth Tilley (5-10, 160); Valley View: QB Scott Willis (5-11, 165), DE Josh Anding (6-5, 220), LB A.J. Kassen (6-1, 180).
COACHSPEAK - “The kids have taken this as a challenge. Not too often will you get to play someone ranked in the top ten. It is a chance to pull off a huge upset.” -- Valley View coach Terry Felderhoff on his team facing the No. 7 ranked team in the state.
Blue Ridge at Era
Friday, 7:30 p.m.
RECORDS - Blue Ridge is 3-5 overall (0-2 district); Era is 5-2 overall (0-1 district)
LAST WEEK - Blue Ridge lost to Muenster 41-6; Era lost to Lindsay 45-0.
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. Blue Ridge lost to Muenster 41-6 last week. In that game, the Tigers were held to minus-2 yards rushing and finished with just 95 yards of total offense.
ERA OUTLOOK - Hornets coach J.D. Henderson said a week ago that in the past his team had not played well the week after having a bye, and the same was true this year as they lost to Lindsay 45-0 last week. Era managed just 169 yards of total offense in that game and were shut out for the first time all season. They had scored at least 20 points in all their games this season before last week. Dillon Hughes is still out indefinitely with an injury. Friday will be Homecoming at Era High School.
PLAYERS TO WATCH - Blue Ridge: DB Trevor Agan (5-5, 150); Era: QB Trey Dunn (5-10, 160), WR Nathan Metzler (5-8, 150), RB Justin Lance (6-3, 190).
COACHSPEAK - “Only time will tell if we will be able to put the loss to Lindsay behind us and move on.” -- Era Coach J.D. Henderson on how his team will bounce back after the 45-0 loss to Lindsay.
Collinsville at Muenster
Friday, 7:30 p.m.
RECORDS - Collinsville is 4-3 overall (1-0 district); Muenster is 5-3 overall (1-1 district)
LAST WEEK - Collinsville had a bye; Muenster defeated Blue Ridge 41-6.
COLLINSVILLE OUTLOOK - The Pirates were off this past week, so they used their bye week to focus on blocking and tackling. Coach Danny David also wants his team to be more aggressive. Collinsville’s last game was a 19-12 win over Blue Ridge on Oct. 9, a team that Muenster dismantled 41-6 this past Friday. The Pirates are averaging 24.7 points per game on offense, while allowing 20.6 ppg.
MUENSTER OUTLOOK - The Hornets had a monster first half against Blue Ridge last week, scoring 41 points. Quarterback Levi Trubenbach threw five touchdown passes and ran for another in the first half. Muenster backed off in the second half and got some younger players some playing time. Trubenbach threw for 245 yards. He leads the area in passing with a 182.2 yards per game average. Receiver Jason Luke is still tops in the area at 100.1 ypg. He has also scored 11 touchdowns. Muenster’s defense is second in the area in points allowed at 14.2 per game. Receiver Garrett Walterscheid continues to battle injuries and is day-to-day, so his status for Friday will be a game-time decision.
PLAYERS TO WATCH - Collinsville: OL Turner Coulson (5-10, 225), LB Scott Ragsdale (5-11, 180), LB Chase Medler (5-10, 170); Muenster: QB Levi Trubenbach (6-2, 190), OL Jeremy Lutkenhaus (6-0, 270), WR Jason Luke (5-8, 130).
COACHSPEAK - “I think that anytime you have two weeks to prepare it is an advantage. They got to see us play last week also. Hopefully the advantage is ours because of playing and staying in rhythm.” -- Muenster coach Allen Cross on Collinsville having an off week before facing his team.
“I hope it helps us. We had a lot of sickness last week.” -- Collinsville coach Danny David on the benefits of having a bye week before facing Muenster.
Ponder at Sacred Heart
Friday, 7:30 p.m.
RECORDS - Sacred Heart is 5-3 overall (1-0 district).
LAST WEEK - Sacred Heart defeated Fort Worth Calvary 35-16.
PONDER OUTLOOK - The Lions are in their first year playing a varsity schedule, although they are not playing in District 10-2A this year. Last year they played a subvarsity schedule only. They share two common opponents with Sacred Heart. Both teams lost to Collinsville, but both defeated McKinney Christian. Ponder is a run-oriented team that features big, physical running backs.
SACRED HEART OUTLOOK - The Tigers will play a non-district opponent for the second straight week. After defeating Fort Worth Lake Country on Oct. 9, Sacred Heart faced Fort Worth Calvary last week and takes on Ponder this week. Next week, the Tigers will travel to Amarillo Arbor with the district championship on the line. Sacred Heart averages 23.1 points per game on offense and allows 21.9.
PLAYERS TO WATCH - Sacred Heart: WR John Krawietz (6-4, 170), QB Matt Hesse (5-8, 170), DL Gene Yosten (6-1, 200).
COACHSPEAK - “It’s very difficult because next week we go to Amarillo to place for the district championship, so Arbor Christian is in the back of our minds. We have played well the past two weeks and I want to keep that momentum going.” -- Sacred Heart coach Dale Schilling on the difficulty of facing a non-district opponent this late in the season.
Whitesboro at Prosper
Friday, 8:00 p.m.
RECORDS - Whitesboro is 2-5 overall (0-2 district); Prosper is 6-1 overall (1-1 district).
LAST WEEK - Whitesboro lost to Argyle 35-6; Prosper defeated Celina 38-14.
WHITESBORO OUTLOOK - Things don’t get any easier for the Bearcats. After losing to state-ranked Argyle last week, they get the Prosper Eagles this week on the road. Prosper’s only loss came to Argyle.
PROSPER OUTLOOK - The Eagles are the defending Class 3A Division I state champions. They are 6-1 and are arguably done with the toughest part of their schedule. They have already played Argyle and Celina, with games remaining against Whitesboro, Sanger and Gainesville.
PLAYERS TO WATCH - Whitesboro: LB Ethan Shadden (6-2, 212), OL Jonathan Jones (5-11, 267), CB Cameron Clark (5-10, 153); Prosper: LB Drew Miller (6-2, 224), LB Colin Padilla (5-10, 174), WR Brett Thompson (5-8, 152).
Irving Universal at Saint Jo
Friday, 7:00 p.m.
RECORDS - Irving Universal is 5-2 overall (1-0 district); Saint Jo is 4-3 overall (0-0 district).
LAST WEEK - Irving Universal lost to Waco Live Oak Christian 44-39; Saint Jo lost to Fannindel 34-22.
IRVING UNIVERSAL OUTLOOK - The Eagles were 2-8 last year and winless in district play. With only three teams in District 11, Universal has already clinched a playoff berth by defeating Greenville Phoenix back on Oct. 9.
SAINT JO OUTLOOK - The Panthers finally get to play a district game after seven-weeks of non-district action. Six Man District 11 in Division I only includes three teams with two making the playoffs, so a win this week would clinch a playoff berth for Saint Jo. The Panthers had 106 yards rushing and 180 passing in their 34-22 loss to Fannindel last week.
PLAYERS TO WATCH - Irving Universal: WR Quient Johnson (6-2, 175), RB Ausadi Lee (5-9, 170); Saint Jo: RB Jake Ellingwood (6-0, 180), DE Joey Lindenborn (5-9, 160), NG Richard James (5-10, 195).
COACHSPEAK - “Our team is ready to get to the games that matter. It is difficult to stay focused for such a long stretch with nothing really on the line, but I feel we have improved each week. Our defense is playing great right now and our offense has cleaned up some mistakes. We should be ready to defend our district championship starting this week. -- Saint Jo coach Chad Tallon on his team finally getting to start district play.
