PREVIEW: San Augustine Meets Centerville in Regional Final

CLASS 2A DIVISION I
REGION III CHAMPIONSHIP

San Augustine Wolves (13-0)

vs.

Centerville Tigers (10-3)

7 p.m. Friday

Wildcat Stadium, Palestine

Coaches

• San Augustine: Marty Murr
• Centerville: Kyle Hardee

Last week

• San Augustine: def. Carlisle, 58-27
• Centerville: def. River crest, 62-36

Next week

• Winner faces either Mason or Refugio, state semifinals

Playmakers

San Augustine

• WR/DB QuenTyvian Borders, Sr., 6-2, 180 (35 catches, 646 yards, 13 TDs; 70 tackles, 2 for loss, 2 INT, 9 PBUs; committed to Stephen F. Austin)
• QB/DB Gavin Murr, Sr., 5-11, 180 (143-of-219, 2,203 yards, 26 TDs, 3 INTs; 52 carries, 387 yards, 5 TDs; 7 tackles, 1 for loss)
• RB/DB K.J. Davis, Sr., 5-8, 175 (220 carries, 2,123 yards, 29 TDs; 18 catches, 296 yards, 3 TDs; 1 forced fumble)
• WR/LB Quay Johnson, Sr., 5-6, 170 (18 catches, 331 yards, 1 TD; 9 carries, 99 yards, 2 TDs; 109 tackles, 8 for loss, 1 sack, 8 QB hurries, 6 PBUs, 3 forced fumbles, 1 recovery)
• WR/DB Ced Thomas, Sr., 6-1, 168 (32 catches, 373 yards, 2 TDs; 98 tackles, 7 for loss, 2 QB hurries, 5 INTs, 12 PBUs, 4 fumble recoveries, 3 forced fumbles)
• OL Quen Holman, Jr., 5-5, 250

Centerville

• RB Brandon Madison, Sr., 5-10, 200
• RB/DB Roland Davis, Jr., 5-9, 160
• OL/DL Jose Hernandez, Sr., 6-0, 200
• OL/DL Daniel Byrd, Sr., 6-2, 225
• OL/DL Connor Cox, Sr., 6-0, 240
• DB Cade Pate, Sr., 5-11, 160

Just the facts

• San Augustine is averaging 416.3 yards per game -- 248.4 rushing and 167.9 passing.
• San Augustine running back K.J. Davis is averaging 9.7 yards per carry and has rushed for more than 200 yards five times this season.
• The last time Wolves' quarterback Gavin Murr threw an interception was Oct. 20.
• San Augustine has five players with more than 200 yards receiving this season.
• Centerville is averaging 35.1 points per game and giving up 24.5.
• These teams met last in 2014, when Centerville scored 83 points to earn the victory.

Key matchup: KJ Davis against the Centerville defense. Davis has been the Wolves' best player on offense this season. That is no small feat, considering San Augustine has so many weapons.

After a 323-yard effort in Week 14 against Carlisle, Davis became the East Texas rushing leader. He is averaging 9.7 yards per carry and busted off four runs of 50-plus yards against Carlisle. If Centerville looks to contain San Augustine's offense, it must start with Davis.

Taking Davis down is easier said than done. He possesses such speed that if he gets a glimmer of space, he is essentially gone. It's why in addition to his more than 2,000 yards, he has 29 touchdowns this season.

Centerville will key on him and if it can slow him, might have a chance to pull off an upset.

Don't be surprised if: Gavin Murr has a big game. The offense is not simply Davis. Murr has been impressive throwing the ball this season. He has more than 2,000 yards and has not thrown an interception since Oct. 20.

It should be noted that Murr is playing with an injured achilles, which limited his mobility against Carlisle. He did not attempt a single rush in that game. However, his ability to run is not what makes him a good player. His composure in the pocket is.

Muir still threw for more than 200 yards this past week. He has weapons with QuenTyvian Borders, Ced Thomas and Quay Johnson all with more than 300 receiving yards. This entire San Augustine offense is loaded.

Look for the Wolves to put up plenty of points on Friday.