PREVIEW: Lindale + Jacksonville Close Out Regular Season

DISTRICT 9-5A Division II

Jacksonville Indians (3-6, 2-4)

vs.

Lindale Eagles (5-4, 4-2)

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

Coaches

Jacksonville: Wayne Coleman
Lindale: Chris Cochran

Last week

Jacksonville: def. Mount Pleasant, 43-27
Lindale: lost to Pine Tree, 56-28

Next week

Jacksonville: vs. TBD, bi-district playoffs
Lindale: vs. TBD, bi-district playoffs

Players to watch

Jacksonville

ATH Deshawn McCuin, Sr., 6-0, 170 (40 carries, 400 yards, 4 TDs; 10 catches, 164 yards; 1 INT, 3 PBUs; committed to TCU)
QB Tristen Shewmake, Jr., 6-0, 185 (73-of-178, 1,211 yards, 11 TDs, 9 INTs; 61 carries, 136 yards, 4 TDs)
LB Shiloh Canady, Jr., 6-1, 190 (96 tackles, 6 for loss, 4 sacks, 3 INTs, 3 PBUs, 5 forced fumbles, 3 recoveries)
WR/DB Chris Carpenter, Jr., 6-0, 170 (24 catches, 400 yards, 2 TDs; 21 carries, 251 yards, 3 TDs; 1 INT)
WR/DB Braelyn Riden, Sr., 6-1, 170 (9 catches, 272 yards, 5 TDs; committed to Texas Southern)
RB TJ Ratliffe, Sr., 5-10, 175 (102 carries, 350 yards, 2 TDs; 11 catches, 91 yards)
WR Joydaysion Thompson, Jr., 6-0, 165 (11 catches, 181 yards, 2 TDs)
DL/LB Taqualan Thompson, Sr., 5-9, 200 (89 tackles, 1 sack, 2 QB hurries, 2 forced fumbles)

Lindale

RB Jordan Jenkins, Soph., 6-2, 195 (207 carries, 1,181 yards, 14 TDs)
QB Dillon Heinaman, Sr., 6-1, 230 (181-of-266, 2,313 yards, 23 TDs, 9 INTs)
WR Conner Boyette, Jr., 5-9, 150 (62 catches, 626 yards, 5 TDs)
WR Colton Brown, Sr., 6-1, 180 (32 catches, 443 yards, 6 TDs)
WR Brennan Moore, Sr., 6-0, 150 (32 catches, 479 yards, 5 TDs)
DB Airik Williams, Soph., 5-9, 140 (52 tackles, 4 for loss, 3 INTs, 2 forced fumbles, 1 recovery, 1 defensive TD)
LB Kolton Primeaux, Jr., 6-0, 180 (55 tackles, 5.5 for loss, 2.5 sacks, 2 PBUs)
WR/DE Jaymond Jackson, Soph., 6-2, 196 (8 catches, 85 yards, 2 TDs; 36 tackles, 7 for loss, 6 sacks, 1 PBU)
LB Jaron Covey, Sr., 6-0, 165 (51 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack, 1 INT)

Just the facts

The series between Lindale and Jacksonville is tied 5-5 since 1980. Jacksonville won the most recent contest in 2017, 25-15.
Jacksonville is averaging 284.8 yards per game (135.1 passing and 149.7 rushing).
Indians receiver Braelyn Riden is averaging 30.2 yards per catch. He has only nine catches, but 272 yards.
Jacksonville linebacker Shiloh Canady is the unequivocal leader of the defense, leading in tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, forced fumbles and interceptions.
Lindale receiver Brennan Moore is averaging 15 yards per reception.
If Lindale wins, it is in the playoffs. If it loses, there is potential for a four-way tie depending on the rest of the district's results.
Eagle running back Jordan Jenkins is averaging 5.7 yards per carry.

Key matchup: Lindale passing attack against the Jacksonville secondary. Eagles quarterback Dillon Heinaman has been among the top passers in East Texas all season. He already has more than 2,000 yards to go with 23 touchdowns and a plethora of targets. There are four different Eagles with at least 200 yards receiving.

Jacksonville boasts one of the better secondaries in the area. Deshawn McCuin, Braelyn Riden and Chris Carpenter form a talented trio to defend even the better receiving corps in this district. Whichever group gets the better of this matchup stands the best chance to come out on top.

Don't be surprised if: Jordan Jenkins has a big game. The Lindale running back has the size and speed of a potential college prospect as a sophomore. He has already rushed for more than 1,000 yards and will continue to build on his season as the Eagles most likely head to the playoffs. He could be called upon many times Friday evening, especially if Lindale builds an early lead.