Texas High Tigers (0-2)

vs.

Liberty-Eylau Leopards (0-2)

7:30 p.m. Friday
Tiger Stadium, Texarkana

Coaches

  • Texas High: Gerry Stanford
  • Liberty-Eylau: Steve Wells

Last week

Next week

  • Texas High: at Kilgore, Sept. 22
  • Liberty-Eylau: at Atlanta, Sept. 22

Playmakers

Texas High

  • WR Tevailance Hunt, Sr., 6-2, 180 (committed to TCU)
  • QB Coltin Clack, Jr., 6-2, 220
  • WR/DB Jaqualen Brown, Sr., 6-1, 170
  • LB Davon Williams, Sr., 5-11, 216
  • RB Chris Sutton, Jr., 5-8, 170
  • DB Darrel Webster, Sr., 5-10, 165
  • LB Chris Arnold, Sr., 5-11, 210

Liberty-Eylau

  • OL Kylar Cooks, Sr., 6-5, 250 (committed to Texas State)
  • QB Decorian Phillips, Sr., 6-1, 180
  • ATH Isaiah Cross, Jr., 6-1, 165
  • LB Cedric Dickerson, Jr., 5-10, 178
  • WR Dazawion Cooper, Jr., 6-3, 148
  • ATH DeAndre Hoof, Sr., 5-10, 185
  • DL Orion Williams, Sr., 6-4, 215
  • WR El-Amin Greer, Jr., 6-1, 170
  • OL Trey Parker, Sr., 6-0, 221

Just the facts

  • Texas High has won the past two matches between the teams, in 2013 and 2016.
  • The Tigers won 48-37 in an offensive bout last season.
  • Liberty-Eylau has lost by a total of 11 points to the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in 4A.
  • Texas High is in desperate need of offense, averaging 3.5 points through its first two games.
  • Meanwhile, Liberty-Eylau is putting up 47.5 points through the first two weeks.
  • Decorian Phillips threw for 230 yards in a loss to Carthage this past week, 115 of which went to Isaiah Cross.
  • Phillips favored Cooper the week before, the two connecting six times for 244 yards.
  • Liberty-Eylau forced three turnovers in Week 2.

Key matchup: Texas high secondary against Liberty-Eylau passing attack. For two straight weeks, Liberty-Eylau has proven it can move the ball through its aerial attack. In its Week 1 loss to Dallas Bishop Lynch, Texas High gave up three passing touchdowns.

Liberty-Eylau's Decorian Phillips will look to continue his high level of play and bring the Leopards their first win. (© ETSN.fm)
Liberty-Eylau's Decorian Phillips will look to continue his high level of play and bring the Leopards their first win. (© ETSN.fm)
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Phillips has good protecting with an offensive line led by Texas State commit Kylar Cooks. He has Isaiah Cross and Dazawion Cooper, both of whom have proven they are capable of big games. El-Amin Greer is also due for a big game.

It will be on the shoulders of the secondary headed by Jaqualen Brown and Darrel Webster to keep those guys in check. Meanwhile, putting pressure on Phillips would't hurt, but the Tigers also have to be cautious. Phillips is a dual-threat quarterback and will burn defenses if the opportunity presents itself.

Whichever side wins this battle will have a much easier time winning the game.

 

Don't be surprised if: The Texas High offense breaks through. Liberty-Eylau is a good 0-2 team, perhaps the best in the state. However, the Leopard defense has already given up 106 points in only two games. That probably has something to do with the level of competition it has faced, but nevertheless it bodes well for a Texas High offense looking to get back on track.

Texas High receiver Tevailance Hunt is due for a big game. (© Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)
Texas High receiver Tevailance Hunt is due for a big game. (© Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)
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This offense isn't devoid of playmakers either. Tevailance Hunt has struggled in his first two games, but the TCU commit isn't going to stay quiet for long. Coltin Clack leads the team at quarterback and flashed some of his potential in Week 1.

Texas High isn't going to average 3.5 points all season. It has been a slow start for the Tigers, but when one considers what the team has been through, it's hard to blame them. Texas High star defensive lineman Leonard Parks passed away on Sept. 2. The team has had more than football on its mind.

That said, expect this squad to regroup, starting this week.

 

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