Gladewater Bears (3-2, 0-1)
vs.
Spring Hill Panthers (2-3, 0-1)

7:30 p.m. Friday
Panther Stadium, Longview

Coaches
Gladewater: Jerrod Baugh
Spring Hill: Bobby Chadwick

Last week
Gladewater: lost to Gilmer, 21-13
Spring Hill: lost to Kilgore, 41-0

Next week
Gladewater: vs. Bullard
Spring Hill: at Chapel Hill

Playmakers

Gladewater

  • QB Derrick Daniels, Sr., 6-1, 182 (20 of 51, 317 yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs; 85 carries, 688 yards, 7 TDs)
  • FB/DT Daylon Mack, Soph., 6-2, 297 (24 tackles, 8 for loss, 5 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries)
  • RB Tyler Price, Sr., 5-8, 162 (106 carries, 521 yards, 4 TDs; 4 catches, 35 yards)
  • WR Nick Johnson, Sr. 6-3, 176 (10 carries, 97 yards, 1 TD; 11 catches, 208 yards, 4 TDs)
  • DB Daedrian Gordon, Sr., 5-10, 171 (46 tackles, 1 INT)
  • LB Hagen Cooper (41 tackles, 3 for loss, 2 sacks, 1 INT)
  • DT L.D. Anthony, Sr., 5-10, 302 (32 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble)
  • LB Seth Jarman (38 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 INT)

Spring Hill

  • QB Ben Hollas, Sr., 6-0, 185 (8 of 23, 142, 1 TD, 4 INTs; 91 carries, 740 yards, 6 TDs)
  • FB Trenton Craig, Jr. (67 carries, 321 yards, 3 TDs)
  • FB/LB Spencer Hendricks, Sr. (30 carries, 147 yards; 29 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT, 1 forced fumble)
  • DL Dallas Green, Sr., 6-0, 190 (41 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries)
  • DB Jake Ferrill, Jr., 5-10, 165 (17 tackles, 4 INTs, 5 PBUs)
  • LB Lane Nesbett, Sr. (29 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT, 1 punt block)
  • OL/DL Morgan Knight, Jr., 6-2, 230 (30 tackles, 2 sacks)

Just the facts

  • Derrick Daniels is responsible for 56.5 percent of Gladewater's total offensive output (1,005 of 1,778 yards)
  • Ben Hollas is responsible for 55.8 percent of Spring Hill's total offensive output (882 of 1,580 yards)
  • Gladewater averages 24.8 points per game and allows 22.8
  • Spring Hill averages 17.0 points per game and allows 24.4
  • Gladewater leads the all-time series vs. Spring Hill 14-12
  • Spring Hill has won 12 of the last 18 matchups after Gladewater won the first eight

Key matchup: Spring Hill's offensive front vs. Gladewater's defensive front. Spring Hill's offense is built around the running game, and the Panthers must succeed in their ground attack to have a chance at a win. That starts up front with players such as Morgan Knight and others. They'll have a tough task facing the interior defensive duo of senior L.D. Anthony and super sophomore Daylon Mack, who has five sacks five games into his first year of varsity action. That duo makes life tough on opposing interior offensive linemen. If Anthony and Mack control the point of attack, the Bears will win the battle against Spring Hill's run-heavy offensive scheme, which accounts for 89.5 of the Panthers' offensive plays (231 runs, 27 passes).

Don't be surprised if: Gladewater rebounds from last week's tough district-opening loss to rival Gilmer. The Bears led Gilmer 13-0 at halftime before the Buckeyes stormed back for an eight-point win. Gladewater has proven it can play solid defense, and when Derrick Daniels and Tyler Price get going, the Bears are trouble on offense. Receiver Nick Johnson had a big game last week with three catches for 103 yards and two touchdowns, so Gladewater has shown it can get big plays in the passing game with its rangy go-to pass-catcher. Dictating the pace and limiting turnovers will be the key for Spring Hill, but if Gladewater's performances to date are any indication, the Bears should get their first District 16-3A win against the Panthers.

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