Daingerfield Tigers (3-2, 1-0)
vs.
No. 6 New Boston Lions (5-0, 1-0)

7:30 p.m. Friday
Lion Stadium, New Boston

Coaches
Daingerfield: Aric Sardinea
New Boston: Rick Barker

Last week
Daingerfield: def. Redwater, 35-18
New Boston: def. Queen City, 51-6

Next week
Daingerfield: vs. Hooks
New Boston: at Redwater

Playmakers

Daingerfield

  • ATH Edwin Mims, Sr., 5-9, 180
  • QB Keris Alexander, Jr., 5-11, 175
  • RB Ray Wallace, Jr., 5-10, 165
  • LB Calvin Bryant, Jr., 5-9, 160
  • WR Shawn Hooks, Sr.
  • WR/DB Jonathan Barber, Sr.
  • OL/NG Jacolby Simpson, Sr., 6-0, 280

New Boston

  • RB Damien Haskins, Sr., 5-9, 210 (75 carries, 1,220 yards, 19 TDs; committed to Memphis)
  • TE Justin Johnson, Sr., 6-2, 220
  • OL Wesley Holmes, Jr., 6-1, 285
  • ATH Jeff Gladney (59-yard punt return TD vs. Queen City)
  • RB/WR Jimmie Johnson (1 rush TD vs. Queen City)
  • WR Tyjae Clark
  • OL/DL Jerical Hardeman

Just the facts

  • New Boston running back Damien Haskins averages 16.1 yards per carry.
  • Haskins carried five times and scored every time in last week's 51-6 rout of Queen City, amassing 234 yards on those five totes for 46.8 yards per carry.
  • New Boston averages 44.8 points per game and allows 8.6.
  • Daingerfield averages 20.2 points per game and allows 22.2.
  • New Boston's first five opponents are a combined 8-15, including three Class 3A schools that are a combined 4-10.
  • Daingerfield's first five opponents are a combined 11-14, including three Class 3A schools that are a combined 8-7.
  • Daingerfield is 10-2 vs. New Boston since 1982.
  • Daingerfield won last year's meeting 54-48.

 

New Boston RB Damien Haskins. (Courtesy Demarcus Haskins)
New Boston RB Damien Haskins. (Courtesy Demarcus Haskins)
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Key matchup: Daingerfield's defense vs. Damien Haskins. Yeah, that sounds broad and generalized. But if you think about it, it's not going to be only Daingerfield's defensive line, or Daingerfield's linebackers, or Daingerfield's secondary that must deal with the human highlight reel that is New Boston running back Damien Haskins. The Tigers have to find a way to slow him down, and chances are that's only going to happen if all three units of the defense play together and fit whatever scheme coach Aric Sardinea and staff concoct to combat the game-breaking back. Haskins has crushed the opposition so far this season, averaging more than 16 yards per carry, 244.0 rushing yards per game, and 3.8 rushing touchdowns per game. Haskins has outscored Daingerfield's team 114-101. Can the Division I-bound tailback continue the blistering pace, one that could potentially threaten the less-than-1-year-old single-season school rushing record set by former teammate Shakeem Jefferson? Daingerfield hopes not, at least not that he continues that pace against the Tigers.

Don't be surprised if: This game is just about as good as last year's high-scoring thriller of a game. The District 8-2A Division I crown could ultimately be decided in this contest, and the Lions have home-field advantage, unlike last season, when Daingerfield edge New Boston 54-48. Each team has played three Class 3A schools during its non-district schedule, but Daingerfield's slate appears tougher than New Boston's. Then again, New Boston has crushed its opposition, which is what you're supposed to do if your opponents are in fact inferior. The bottom line is, this is a hard game to read. The one surefire aspect is Damien Haskins will have a huge impact, whether it's him having another giant game, or Daingerfield and veteran linebacker Calvin Bryant finding a way to slow him down to give Edwin Mims and company a chance to build a lead. Every way you look at it, this game appears to be a good one.

 

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