Games of the Year, No. 20: Daingerfield, New Boston headed for District 8-2A D-I showdown
Daingerfield and New Boston played a high-scoring barnburner a year ago and this season's Oct. 5 meeting could bring more of the same. Not only that, but the 2012 matchup could again have huge District 8-2A Division I implications as the Tigers and Lions are expected to finish at the top of the league.
Daingerfield edged New Boston and Lions career rushing leader Shakeem Jefferson 54-48 in 2011, when each team won 10 games. New Boston won't have Jefferson in its backfield this time, but Division I-bound tailback Damien Haskins, a bruiser of a runner at 5-9, 210, will try to upend Daingerfield and lead the Lions to a district title before heading to Memphis for college ball. Haskins eclipsed the 1,000-yard plateau as a junior sharing time with Jefferson. Jacolby Simpson, a 6-foot, 285-pound defensive tackle, heads a Daingerfield defensive front that will be charged to stop Haskins.
While New Boston rides its new feature back, Daingerfield will lean on a new quarterback since someone must replace 3,000-yard passer Alex Allen, who threw for 244 yards and four touchdowns in the Tigers' six-point victory against New Boston in 2011. Returning tailback Ray Wallace should help Daingerfield in its quest for another win. He rushed for 105 yards in last year's matchup.