Lindale Hopes to Slow Greg Ward + John Tyler Offense in Schools’ First-Ever Meeting

No. 3 John Tyler Lions (5-1, 1-0)
vs.
Lindale Eagles (1-5, 0-1)

7:30 p.m. Friday
Eagle Stadium, Lindale

Coaches
John Tyler: Ricklan Holmes
Lindale: Mike Meador

Last week
John Tyler: def. Corsicana, 63-14
Lindale: lost to Whitehouse, 56-24

Next week
John Tyler: vs. Jacksonville
Lindale: at Corsicana

Playmakers
John Tyler

• QB Greg Ward, Sr., 5-10, 160 (88 for 130, 1,382 yards, 17 TDs, 0 INTs; 73 carries, 223 yards, 3 TDs)
• WR Fred Ross, Sr., 6-1, 185 (25 catches, 511 yards, 8 TDs; 14 carries 95 yards, 1 TD)
• WR Darion Flowers, Sr., 6-0, 180 (24 carries, 396 yards, 3 TDs)
• WR Justice Liggins, Sr., 6-1, 190 (17 catches, 197 yards, 3 TDs)
• ATH DeQuante Woods, Sr., 5-11, 185 (34 carries, 151 yards, 3 TDs; 28 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT)

Lindale

• RB Delenis Garrett (20 carries, 127 yards, 1 TD last week vs. Whitehouse)
• QB Cody Slice (8 of 15, 38 yards, 3 INTs; 5 carries 11 yards, 2 TDs last week vs. Whitehouse)
• WR Dakota Meurer (6 catches, 31 yards last week vs. Whitehouse)
• K Luc Swimberghe, Sr., 5-11, 190
• OT D.J. Williams, Jr., 6-3, 265

Just the facts

• Friday's matchup will be the first ever meeting between John Tyler and Lindale.
• The Lions exploded offensively last week, going for a season-high 63 points and 622 total yards against Corsicana.
• For the season, John Tyler is averaging 32.5 points per game. The Lions defense surrenders an average of 16.8.
• After going silent for a few weeks, JT star receiver Fred Ross re-emerged last week with seven catches for 157 yards and two TDs.
• Lindale is just 1-5 on the season, the Eagles' worst start to a season since 1998. Lindale recovered to win its final four games of the regular season that year to reach the playoffs.
• On the season, Lindale's offense averages 23 points a game. Meanwhile, the Eagles give up 32.3 points on average per game.

Key matchup: John Tyler passing game vs. Lindale secondary. The Lions have one the most efficient aerial attacks in the area. Quarterback Greg Ward has completed 67 percent of his passes and has yet to throw an interception in 130 attempts. JT also gets its fair share of big plays in the passing game. Lions receivers are averaging more than 15 yards per catch. Lindale cannot afford to let Ward sit back in the pocket and pick its defense apart. Getting a solid pass rush may be moot because of Ward's elusiveness in the pocket, so the onus will most definitely be on the Lindale DBs to stick

with JT's big-play weapons down the field long enough to make Ward uncomfortable. The Eagles need big-time performances from their cornerbacks to stay in this one.