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Center Roughriders (1-0)
vs.
Pine Tree Pirates (0-1)

7:30 p.m. Friday
Pine Tree Stadium, Longview

Coaches
Center: Kevin Goodwin
Pine Tree: Derek Fitzhenry

Last week
Center: def. Buna, 33-30
Pine Tree: lost at Van, 41-28

Next week
Center: vs. Atlanta
Pine Tree: at Kilgore

Playmakers
Center

  • RB K.J. Garrett, Sr., 5-9, 178 (13 carries, 139 yards, 1 TD; 5 catches, 76 yards, 1 TD)
  • QB Dalton Horton, Soph., 6-3,190 (10 of 19, 113 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT)
  • ATH Shaquille Ingram, Jr., 5-8, 159 (1 rushing TD)
  • LB Derrick Thomas, Sr., 6-0, 222
  • LB Kiounis Williams, Jr., 5-10, 215 (1 sack)
  • WR Tony McCollister, Sr., 5-10, 150 (3 catches, 25 yards)
  • ATH Jerenzic Evans (1 rushing TD)

Pine Tree

  • QB Jake Oden, Sr., 6-1, 185 (8 of 11, 140 yards, 2 TDs; 5 carries, 51 yards)
  • RB Victor Hawkins, Sr., 6-1, 190 (3 carries, 108 yards, 1 TD; 2 catches, 17 yards, 1 TD)
  • DB Evan Estes, Sr., 5-11, 175 (13 tackles)
  • LB Jarvis Wall, Jr. (9 tackles)
  • LB Chris Chadwick, Jr., 5-7, 185 (4 tackles, 1 INT)
  • WR Mason Hayes, Jr.,  6-1, 175 (51-yard TD catch)
  • FB/DT Eddie Calico, Sr., 6-0, 240 (9 carries, 40 yards; 2 tackles)

Just the facts

  • Pine Tree gained 411 yards of offense last week against Van, 271 of which came on the ground
  • Center gained 348 yards of offense last week against Buna, 235 of which came on the ground
  • Pine Tree's 140 passing yards were almost as many as the Pirates had in 10 games in 2011 (143)
  • Center running back K.J. Garrett averaged 11.9 yards per touch against Buna
  • Pine Tree plays three of its next four and four of its next six games at home, including Friday's contest vs. Center
  • Center plays three of its next four and four of its next six games on the road

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Key matchup: Center's backs and receivers vs. Pine Tree's back seven. Center has big-play capability with K.J. Garrett, Tony McCollister, and its other skill players. Garrett averaged almost 12 yards per touch on 18 touches during Center's win against Buna, and he hurt Buna on the ground and through the air. Pine Tree often has trouble going toe-to-toe with opponents on the perimeter when position matchups become an athleticism battle, and Friday's game could have the same outcome.

Don't be surprised if: Friday's game becomes a battle of styles. Pine Tree showed the ability to throw the ball in last week's loss at Van, something the Pirates could not do at all in 2011. But the Pirates' bread and butter is the flexbone triple-option running game, which PT could use to its advantage to keep Center's offensive athletes off the field. If Pine Tree can't do that, Center will have a definite advantage with Garrett, McCollister, Jerenzic Evans, and others as they get the ball in space. Friday's game should be a good one.

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