PREVIEW: Waskom Eyes District Championship as Daingerfield Looms

DISTRICT 11-3A DIVISION II

Daingerfield Tigers (4-2, 3-1)

vs.

Waskom Wildcats (6-1, 4-0)

7:30 p.m. Friday
Mickey Mayne Tiger Stadium, Daingerfield

Coaches

Daingerfield: Davin Nelson
Waskom: Whitney Keeling

Last week

Daingerfield: def. Queen City, 48-0
Waskom: def. Elysian Fields, 28-26

Next week

Daingerfield: vs. Paul Pewitt, Nov. 2
Waskom: at Queen City, Nov. 2

Players to watch

Daingerfield

WR/DB Tyrese Grant, Jr., 6-0, 170 (18 catches, 436 yards, 6 TDs)
ATH Zaylon Jeter, So. (21 catches, 391 yards, 5 TDs; 35 carries, 228 yards, 3 TDs)
ATH Jakauri Woods, Sr., 6-1, 175 (80-of-126, 1,214 yards, 14 TDs, 4 INTs; 59 carries, 461 yards, 5 TDs)
ATH Trevante Royal, Sr. (25 carries, 242 yards, 5 TDs; 12 catches, 142 yards; 22 tackles, 2 INTs, 1 PBU; 2 punts returned for TD)
LB Sidney Royal, Sr., 5-11, 187 (61 tackles 10 for loss, 1 forced fumble, 2 QB hurries, 1 PBU)
LB Zay Parker, Jr. (29 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 fumble recovery, 1 PBU)
DL Tacodi Williams, Sr., 5-11, 210 (75 tackles, 9 for loss, 1 sack, 2 QB hurries, 4 fumble recoveries)

Waskom

RB/DB T.K. Hamilton, Sr., 6-0, 172 (65 carries, 709 yards, 14 TDs; 6 catches, 127 yards, 3 TDs; 9 tackles, 1 QB hurry, 2 INTs, 4 PBUs)
RB Jacob Reeves, Sr., 6-0, 224 (61 carries, 348 yards, 4 TDs)
RB/LB Chris "Dinky" Stafford, Sr., 5-8, 175 (16 carries, 179 yards; 60 tackles, 7 for loss, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 2 QB hurries)
OL/DE Ike Irving, Sr., 6-1, 194 (36 tackles, 2 for loss, 4.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, fumble recoveries, 2 QB hurries)
QB/DB Raymond Ramirez, Sr., 5-10, 186 (11-of-27, 198 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT; 49 carries, 337 yards, 2 TDs)
LB Lamontre Stephens, Sr., 6-3, 184 (41 tackles, 7 for loss, 1 sack, 2 QB hurries, 1 INT)
RB/LB Tristan McDonald, Sr., 6-0, 215 (10 carries, 58 yards, 1 TD; 89 tackles, 6 for loss, 1 fumble recovery, 2 forced fumbles, 1 sack, 1 INT, 2 QB hurries)
DL Chris Pacheo, Sr., 5-10, 170 (60 tackles, 9 for loss, 2 sacks, 7 QB hurries, 2 fumble recoveries)
DL Detrich Byrd, So., 5-9, 185 (51 tackles, 5 for loss, 2.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries)

Just the facts

There is no record of Waskom and Daingerfield playing each other since at least 1965.
Daingerfield is averaging 439 yards per game (215 passing and 224 rushing).
Tiger receiver Tyrese Grant is averaging 24.2 yards per reception.
The Daingerfield defense is allowing 18.2 points per game.
Waskom has attempted only 40 passes this season for an average of 5.7 per game.
Wildcat athlete T.K. Hamilton is averaging 10.9 yards per carry.
Waskom's defense has forced 15 turnovers thus far (eight fumbles and seven interceptions).

Key matchup: Waskom rushing attack agains the Daingerfield front. Waskom runs the ball far more than it passes, running only 40 pass plays this season. T.K. Hamilton is the lead back for the Wildcats, with 709 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns. Jacob Reeves and Chris "Dinky" Stafford have put up solid numbers as the other two backs in Waskom's rotation. Even quarterback Raymond Ramirez has rushed for 337 yards, nearly double what he has passed for.

Daingerfield is led up front by defensive lineman Tacodi Williams, who leads the team in tackles with 75, including nine for loss. Linebacker Sidney Royal provides a solid buffer behind him and is another leader on defense. Daingerfield has been a solid defensive team all season, but the Waskom rushing attack will be a tough task. The Tigers still have a chance to win the district title, but for it to do that its defense must step up.

Don't be surprised if: Trevante Royal has a couple of big punt returns. He has already returned two for touchdowns this season. If Royal can find a way to break lose for another big return Friday, it could be a huge difference maker. A couple of Daingerfield drives that start in Waskom territory could lead to easy scoring opportunities.

When Royal is back to receive the punt, Waskom might be wise to kick it out of bounds.