DISTRICT 11-6A

Rockwall Yellowjackets (1-4, 1-1)

vs.

Longview Lobos (4-1, 2-0)

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

 

Coaches

  • Rockwall: Rodney Webb
  • Longview: John King

 

Last week

 

Next week

  • Rockwall: idle
  • Longview: idle

 

Playmakers

Rockwall

  • WR Sam Crawford, Sr., 6-1, 190 (28 catches, 568 yards, 7 TDs; 15 carries, 129 yards, 2 TDs)
  • QB Matthew Jones, Sr., 5-11, 170 (48 of 88, 835 yards, 9 TDs, 1 INT; 40 carries, 205 yards, 2 TDs)
  • RB A.J. Blacknall, Sr., 5-7, 195 (98 carries, 507 yards, 5 TDs; 4 catches, 73 yards)
  • LB Blake Barron, Jr., 6-1, 220 (41 tackles)
  • DT Korrey Barron, Jr., 5-10, 230 (18 tackles, 3 for loss)
  • DB Triston Anderson, Jr., 6-0, 177 (13 tackles, 4 PBUs)
  • DB Blake Garrett, Sr., 5-10, 175 (36 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 INT, 1 forced fumble)
  • DB Abbas Bell, Jr., 5-9, 170 (36 tackles, 1 INT, 1 PBU)

 

Longview

  • RB Kendrevian White, Sr., 5-9, 215 (92 carries, 619 yards, 8 TDs)
  • QB Gaylon Wiley, Sr., 6-4, 185 (29 of 58, 629 yards, 9 TDs, 2 INTs; 22 carries, 107 yards, 1 TD)
  • WR Eric Timberlake, Jr., 5-10, 165 (9 catches, 215 yards, 4 TDs)
  • RB D'Crayvan Polk, Sr., 5-9, 180 (57 carries, 382 yards, 5 TDs; 1 catch, 36 yards, 1 TD)
  • OL Kendall Starling, Sr., 6-3, 310
  • LB Ja'Quavion Faggans, Sr., 5-9, 185 (43 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 sack)
  • DB Traveion Webster, Sr., 6-0, 202 (23 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 recovery, 1 INT, 4 PBUs, 1 blocked kick)
  • DL Jadarrion Blakemore, Jr., 6-0, 220 (32 tackles, 9 for loss, 1 sack)

 

Just the facts

  • Rockwall is averaging 32.4 points and 369 yards per game -- 191 rushing and 178 passing.
  • The Yellowjackets' four losses have come by a combined 38 points.
  • The cumulative record of Rockwall's five previous opponents -- Highland Park, Rowlett, Southlake Carroll, John Tyler, and Rockwall-Heath -- is 20-4.
  • Rockwall receiver Sam Crawford is responsible for 38 percent of his team's offensive yardage and nine of 21 touchdowns.
  • Longview is averaging 49 points and 459.6 yards per game -- 331.4 rushing and 128.2 passing.
  • The Lobos have outscored their last four opponents by an average of 32 points.
  • The cumulative record of Longivew's five previous opponents -- Lufkin, Marshall, Dallas South Oak Cliff, Mesquite Horn, and Tyler Lee -- is 12-13.
  • Seven different Longview players have rushed for touchdowns in 2016.

 

Longview RB Kendrevian White. (Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)
Longview RB Kendrevian White. (Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)
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Key matchup: Longview rushing attack vs. Rockwall defensive front. The Lobos have pounded opposing defenses into submission all season long, evidenced by its rushing average of more than 330 yards per game. By the time the game reaches the second half, defenses are almost completely worn down, and unable to halt Longview's powerful offensive attack. As a result, Longview comes into Friday's game averaging right at 49 points per game. And in their last four games -- all Longview victories -- the Lobos are putting up more than 55 points per game. Senior Kendrevian White leads the assault with 619 yards and eight touchdowns on 92 carries -- an average of 6.7 yards per carry. But he is not alone. Fellow senior back D'Crayvan Polk adds an element of explosiveness to the ground game, and he comes into this week with almost 400 yards and five touchdowns.

Longview OL Kendall Starling. (Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)
Longview OL Kendall Starling. (Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)
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It will be up to Rockwall's defense, which has struggled mightily against the run in the early going, to prevent Longview from running away with the game. After beginning with a solid efforts against the run in games against Highland Park and Rowlett, things have gotten progressively worse for the 'Jackets' run "D." Southlake Carroll churned up 200 rushing yards in Week 3, and in its last two games against John Tyler and Rockwall-Heath, Rockwall's defense has allowed a whopping 763 rushing yards. For the season, Rockwall allows an average of more than 240 rushing yards per game. Simply put, Rockwall must revert back to its form in Weeks 1 and 2 if it hopes to have a chance of knocking off Longview on the road.

Don't be surprised if: Rockwall is aggressive early with its play-calling. With Longview's run-first approach on offense, the Yellowjackets are hoping they can jump out to a big enough lead that would require Longview to divert somewhat from its game plan. Rockwall possess one of the district's premier playmakers in receiver Sam Crawford, who is averaging more than 20 yards per catch through five weeks. If Crawford can get behind the Longview secondary for some early big plays in the passing game, the Lobos might be forced out of their comfort zone to a degree.

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