PREVIEW: Tyler Lee Hosts Mesquite in Pivotal 11-6A Clash

DISTRICT 11-6A

Mesquite Skeeters (4-2, 2-1)

vs.

Tyler Lee Red Raiders (2-4, 1-1)

7:30 p.m. Friday
Christus TMF Rose Stadium, Tyler

Coaches

• Mesquite: Jeff Fleener
• Lee: Kurt Traylor

Last week

• Mesquite: def. North Mesquite, 42-22
• Lee: idle

Next week

• Mesquite: idle
• Lee: at Rockwall, Oct. 26

Players to watch

Mesquite

• RB LaDarius Turner, Jr., 6-0, 180 (105 carries, 753 yards, 7 TDs)
• QB Dylan McGill, Jr., 6-2, 167 (27 of 55, 647 yards, 8 TDs, 3 INTs; 57 carries, 406 yards, 3 TDs)
• WR Devin Davis, Sr., 6-4, 190 (15 catches, 322 yards, 4 TDs)
• WR Ja'Darion Smith, Jr., 5-8, 150 (14 catches, 245 yards, 2 TDs; 2 carries, 31 yards)
• QB Arturo Flores, Sr., 5-10, 145 (19 of 31, 153 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs; 9 carries, 38 yards)
• DL O'Tay Baker, Sr., 6-3, 268
• DL Osaretin Obadeyi, Sr., 6-3, 231

Lee

• OL Beaux Limmer, Sr., 6-5, 270 (committed to Arkansas)
• HB/DE Jamal Ligon, Jr., 6-2, 240 (7 catches, 92 yards; 26 tackles, 8 for loss, 6 sacks, 15 QB pressures)
• RB/LB Jordan Printers, Sr., 5-10, 193 (107 carries, 633 yards, 7 TDs; 18 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 QB pressure)
• RB Jamarion Miller, Fr., 5-10, 170 (93 carries, 597 yards, 5 TDs; 5 catches, 51 yards)
• RB Jamar Arceneaux, Jr., 5-7, 155 (80 carries, 576 yards, 10 TDs; 3 catches, 10 yards)
• WR Zaylon Walker, Sr., 6-1, 160 (15 catches, 359 yards, 1 TD)
• QB Mark Patton, Jr., 6-5, 213 (50 of 102, 898 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs; 19 carries, 34 yards)
• LB Devon't Bolton, Jr., 6-3, 185 (27 tackles, 6 for loss, 5 sacks, 3 QB pressures)

Just the facts

• The cumulative record of Mesquite's 2018 opponents is 8-30 (.211).
• Mesquite is averaging 28 points and 349.8 yards per game -- 216.5 rushing and 133.3 passing.
• Skeeters senior receiver Devin Davis is averaging 21.5 yards per catch.
• Mesquite is allowing 20.5 points and 339.3 yards per game -- 208 rushing and 131.3 passing.
• The cumulative record of Lee's 2018 opponents is 20-16 (.556).
• Lee is averaging 32,7 points and 468.5 yards per game -- 318.8 rushing and 149.7 passing.
• The Red Raiders' running back trio of Jordan Printers, Jamarion Miller, and Jamar Arceneaux has combined for 1,806 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns.
• Lee is allowing 44 points per game, has 15 sacks, but has forced just two turnovers.

Key matchup: Lee rushing attack vs. Mesquite defensive front. Through six games, no defense has been able to stop the Red Raiders' running game. The three-headed monster out of the backfield -- senior Jordan Printers, junior Jamar Arceneaux, and freshman Jamarion Miller -- has led the way for a Lee offense that comes into Friday's game averaging almost 33 points per game. Lee averages almost 320 rushing yards per game, as Printers, Arceneaux, and Miller have each rushed for at least 576 yards and five touchdowns. As a group, the trio is averaging an incredible 8.7 yards per attempt. A strong offensive line, led by seniors Beaux Limmer (Arkansas commit) and Nathan Kuehn, and the lead-blocking of H-back Jamal Ligon, has paved the way for one of East Texas' most powerful running games. Don't expect Lee to change things up this week.

Mesquite, which is trying to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2013, has been solid on the defensive side of the ball this season. But the Skeeters have had issues containing opposing running games through their first six games of 2018. Teams are averaging more than 200 yards on the ground against Mesquite, which could be bad news for the Skeeters this week.

Don't be surprised if: Friday's game is high scoring and isn't decided until the fourth quarter. Both Mesquite and Lee have been involved in some close calls the first half of the season. The Skeeters have had four games decided by 10 points or less, and are 2-2 in those contests. Lee's first two district games against Rockwall-Heath and North Mesquite weren't decided until the fourth quarter and the outcome was determined by a total of 18 points. Mesquite doesn't have as high-powered an offense as Lee, but the Red Raiders have struggled mightily on the defensive side all season, allowing opponents an average of 44 points per game. The winner could come down to turnovers or which team has the ball last. Lee's defense has just two takeaways for the year, an area the Red Raiders need to improve upon if they are to break a three-year playoff drought.