High-Flying Malakoff Hosts Perennial Power Daingerfield

Daingerfield Tigers (0-1)

Vs.

Malakoff Tigers (1-0)

7:30 p.m. Friday

Tiger Stadium, Malakoff

Coaches

Daingerfield: Aric Sardinea
Malakoff: Jamie Driskell

Last week

Daingerfield: lost to Gladewater, 34-13
Malakoff: defeated Corsicana Mildred, 50-6

Next week

Daingerfield: at Atlanta, Sept. 12
Malakoff: at Kerens, Sept. 12

Just the facts

Malakoff enters the game with a dynamic offense. Running back Marcus Dowell recorded more than 1,000 rushing yards in 13 games while quarterback Stephan Wolfe threw for 1,172 yards and 14 touchdowns to two interceptions in just six games.
Malakoff averaged 48.8 points per game last season.
Daingerfield reached the regional championship game in the Class 2A Division I bracket, but has a relatively inexperienced team inheriting a tradition of three consecutive deep runs in the playoffs.
Daingerfield stayed close with a favored and larger Gladewater team last week through the first half.
Malakoff has not lost at home since Sept. 21, 2012 (Palestine Westwood 34-30).
Malakoff gave up no more than 15 points in home games last season.

Playmakers

Daingerfield

WR/CB Jessie Biles, Sr., 5-10, 175
DL Dominik Allen, Sr.
WR/DB Denzel Mims, Jr., 6-4, 175
QB/DB Malik Higgins, Sr., 6-1, 185
C/DT Logan Lile, Sr., 5-10, 210
DT Darrian Terry, Jr., 6-3, 260

Malakoff

RB/LB Marcus Dowell, Sr., 6-1, 205
QB Stephan Wolfe, Sr., 5-10, 185
TE Braylon Cable, Sr., 5-10, 180
OL/DL Colton Barker, Jr., 5-10, 260
DB Jared Givens, Sr., 5-8, 175
OL Emanuel Gonzalez, Sr.
RB/LB Dylan Grim, Jr.
LB Omar Gonzalez, Sr.

Daingerfield cornerback Jessie Biles recorded 77 tackles and three interceptions last season. (Christopher R. Vinn, ETSN.fm)

Key matchup: Malakoff's offense versus Daingerfield's defense. Malakoff's offensive unit is very potent with quarterback Stephan Wolfe in the mix. He was lost in the sixth game last season, but finished his junior campaign with 1,172 passing yards and 14 touchdowns to just two interceptions. Running back Marcus Dowell eclipsed 1,000 yards in 13 games to give Malakoff a respectable running presence. Daingerfield will have to respect both aspects of Malakoff's game while on defense.

Fortunately for Daingerfield, Jessie Biles gives the team a proven cornerback. He recorded 77 tackles last season and recorded three interceptions. Denzel Mims also is a threat in the secondary at 6-4 and 175 pounds. Darrian Terry should have a major say in the run defense as a 6-3, 260-pound defensive tackle. Dominik Allen made 83 tackles -- 25 tackles for loss and seven sacks as a defensive end.

Malakoff running back Damontes Dowell's success forces Daingerfield to respect the run. (Christopher Vinn, ETSN.fm)

Daingerfield's strength is on the offensive side of the ball. Five players have significant experience outside of last week's season opener. The offense will run through quarterback Malik Higgins, a backup last season who saw plenty of time in late game situations. Mims obviously is a nice target running along the sidelines and Biles does double duty as the wideout, generally on the opposite side of the field from Mims.

Malakoff has strength in its linebacking corps with Omar Gonzalez, Dylan Grim and Dowell back in the mix from last year's successful campaign and a convincing win against Corsicana Mildred to open the year. Defensive back Jared Givens will be tasked with defending Daingerfield's passing game. He had three interceptions last season.

Don't be surprised if: Friday's game turns into a shootout. Daingerfield should have better success against a team in its own classification, Class 3A Division I. Malakoff certainly will bring the fire power with Wolfe and Dowell leading the way.

It will be up to Daingerfield's Higgins, Mims, Biles and the supporting cast to match the scoring.

Daingerfield quarterback Malik Higgins will guide the Tigers' offense Friday at Malakoff. (Christopher R. Vinn, ETSN.fm)