Preview: No. 6 San Augustine, Grace Kick Off the Tyler Football Classic

No. 6 San Augustine Wolves
vs.
Tyler Grace Community Cougars

7 p.m. Thursday
Clyde-Perkins Stadium, Tyler

San Augustine

• ATH Ty'Aundra Taylor, Sr., 5-10, 178
• QB Bobby Tanner, Sr., 5-11, 165
• RB Tony Hubbard, Sr., 5-10, 180
• WR/DB Jarvis Smith, Jr., 6-2, 175
• OL Jake Davis, Sr., 6-3, 285
• LB Mikey Harrison, Sr., 6-0, 210
• LB Rodrick Davis, Sr., 5-11, 190

Grace

• QB Blake White, Sr., 5-10, 160
• WR Garrett Newman, Sr.
• RB/WR Kade Clayton, Sr.
• WR Statler Lewis
• DT Andrew McCarty

Just the facts

• San Augustine went 8-3 and reached the playoffs as a Class 2A school in 2011.
• Grace went 9-4 and finished as a TAPPS Division II semifinalist in 2011.
• San Augustine averaged 36.0 points per game last season, while Grace averaged 39.6. The Wolves allowed 31.3 points per game, and Grace yielded 28.1.
• San Augustine has 17 returning starters, including nine on defense.
• Grace has nine returning starters, only three on defense.
• San Augustine participated in a national 7-on-7 tournament sponsored by the NFL in July. The Wolves represented the Dallas Cowboys.

Key matchup: Grace's defense vs. San Augustine's skill positions. Grace returns only three defensive starters and the Cougars will need them against a San Augustine offense that could be as powerful as any in Class A this season. Bobby Tanner threw for 1,351 yards, 13 touchdowns, and eight interceptions while running for five more score in 2011. The versatile Ty'Aundra Taylor gained 860 total yards and scored 12 touchdowns. That duo could spell trouble for an inexperienced Grace defense.

Don't be surprised if: San Augustine's offensive firepower is too much for Grace to handle. The Wolves are expected to be among the top teams in Class A in the entire state after an eight-win season as a 2A school a year ago. Tanner, Taylor, Tony Hubbard, and Jarvis Smith will be hard for anyone to stop, much less a team returning only three defensive starters that could have trouble matching up with the Wolves on the perimeter.