Final Two District 9-2A D-II Unbeatens Clash When Hughes Springs Travels to Elysian Fields

Hughes Springs Mustangs (7-0, 4-0)
vs.
Elysian Fields Yellow Jackets (5-2, 4-0)

7:30 p.m. Friday
Jacket Stadium, Elysian Fields

Coaches
Hughes Springs: Chris Edwards
Elysian Fields: Eric King

Last week
Hughes Springs:
Elysian Fields: def. Waskom, 41-33

Next week
Hughes Springs: vs. DeKalb
Elysian Fields: at New Diana

Playmakers

Hughes Springs

• RB Michael Martinez, Jr., 5-11, 190 (137 carries, 1,113 yards, 17 TDs)
• QB Trenton Shelton, Sr., 5-11, 160 (22 of 38, 445 yards, 0 INTs; 23 carries, 142 yards; 8 total TDs)
• OL/DT Kadarrian Chism, Sr., 5-10, 220 (48 tackles, 7 for loss, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 recovery, 11 QB pressures)
• MLB Eric Berryhill, Sr., 5-9, 175 (57 tackles, 6 for loss, 1 sack, 3 forced fumbles, 4 recoveries)
• DE Cameron Brewer, Sr., 6-2, 255 (42 tackles, 7 for loss, 4 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries)
• RB/DB Chad McKinney, Jr., 5-11, 170 (36 carries, 283 yards, 5 TDs; 23 tackles, 3 INTs, 1 fumble recovery)
• LB Shane Finney, Sr., 5-10, 175 (56 tackles)
• RB/DB Dustin Garamillo, Sr., 5-9, 150 (18 carries, 279 yards, 3 TDs; 19 tackles, 2 INTs)

Elysian Fields

• QB Trevor Spear, Sr., 5-11, 185 (41 of 70, 849 yards, 12 TDs, 3 INTs; 60 carries, 558 yards, 9 TDs)
• LB Bruce Woods, Sr., 5-11, 180 (66 tackles, 8 sacks, 1 INT, 1 forced fumble, 2 recoveries)
• RB Tanner Davis, Jr., 5-11, 185 (87 carries, 604 yards, 4 TDs)
• WR/FS Christian Smith, Sr., 6-2, 185 (11 catches, 272 yards, 4 TDs; 3 carries, 113 yards, 2 TDs; 49 tackles, 1 INT, 1 forced fumble, 1 recovery)
• LB Tanner Norman, Jr., 6-0, 190 (72 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 recovery)
• WR Nathan Hall, Sr., 5-10, 175 (10 catches, 196 yards, 2 TDs; 6 carries, 82 yards, 1 TD)
• WR/DB Zane Barge, Sr., 5-10, 175 (6 catches, 180 yards, 1 TD; 11 tackles, 3 INTs)
• OL/DE Clay Vance, Sr., 6-1, 215 (55 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 3 recoveries)

Just the facts

• Hughes Springs averages 43.9 points per game and allows 7.7.
• Elysian Fields averages 38.1 points per game and allows 19.0.
• Hughes Springs has recorded four consecutive shutouts and has outscored its last five opponents 224-6.
• Elysian Fields has held four of its last five opponents to 14 or fewer points.
• Elysian Fields is 7-6 vs. Hughes Springs since 1990.
• Hughes Springs has won the last two meetings, beating EF 28-0 in 2011 and 21-20 in 2010.
• Elysian Fields last beat Hughes Springs in 2007, when the Jackets notched a 40-20 win in a second-round playoff matchup.

Key matchup: Elysian Fields' defensive front vs. Hughes Springs' rushing attack. Hughes Springs has scored a ton of points lately, averaging 49.0 points per game during District 9-2A Division II play. But it may surprise a few people that the Mustangs are doing all that with an almost run-exclusive offensive scheme. Hughes Springs averages 5.6 pass attempts per game and 42.7 rushing attempts, which leads to a 361.6 rushing yards per contest. In other words, Clay Vance, Bruce Woods, and the rest of Elysian Fields' front seven must be prepared to stick to their assignments to try to slow down the Mustangs' powerful ground attack. Not only does Hughes Springs score a lot of points with their running game, they dictate the pace of the game and kill the opponent's will. Paired with a defense pitching a district-long shutout behind Kadarrian Chism and Eric Berryhill, and Hughes Springs is rolling right now.

Don't be surprised if: The turnover battle plays a big role in this contest. Elysian Fields' offense is much more balanced than Hughes Springs, but the Yellow Jackets must hold on to the ball and limit their mistakes to keep the Mustangs' momentum-sapping rushing attack off the field. Both offenses are capable of putting plenty of points on the board, but each team has a defense that has been playing well lately. This is the de facto District 9-2A Division II championship game. Hughes Springs and Elysian Fields are the only teams remaining in the district that are undefeated in league play. DeKalb is 3-1, but EF pounded the Bears 61-0. This game should be a treat for fans, and the loser shouldn't hang its head. Chances are both of these teams will have good chances of making a lot of noise come the playoffs.