CLASS 3A DIVISION II
Region II Area Playoff

Waskom Wildcats (10-1)

vs.

Troup Tigers (9-2)

5 p.m. Friday
Eagle Stadium, Tatum

Coaches

  • Waskom: Whitney Keeling
  • Troup: John Eastman

Last week

Next week

  • Winner vs. Newton or Grand Saline, 3A Division II regional semifinal

Players to watch

Waskom

  • RB/DB T.K. Hamilton, Sr., 6-0, 172 (99 carries, 1,158 yards, 21 TDs; 7 catches, 150 yards, 3 TDs; 13 tackles, 1 QB hurry, 1 fumble recovery, 2 INTs, 4 PBUs)
  • RB Jacob Reeves, Sr., 6-0, 224 (85 carries, 472 yards, 5 TDs)
  • RB/LB Chris "Dinky" Stafford, Sr., 5-8, 175 (28 carries, 253 yards, 2 TDs; 86 tackles, 13 for loss, 3.5 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 recovery, 6 QB hurries)
  • OL/DE Ike Irving, Sr., 6-1, 194 (38 tackles, 8.5 for loss, 6.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 3 QB hurries)
  • QB/DB Raymond Ramirez, Sr., 5-10, 186 (16-of-33, 259 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT; 72 carries, 555 yards, 4 TDs)
  • LB Lamontre Stephens, Sr., 6-3, 184 (55 tackles, 11 for loss, 2.5 sacks, 3 QB hurries, 1 INT)
  • RB/LB Tristan McDonald, Sr., 6-0, 215 (20 carries, 127 yards, 1 TD; 106 tackles, 8 for loss, 1 fumble recovery, 2 forced fumbles, 1 sack, 1 INT, 2 QB hurries)
  • DL Chris Pacheo, Sr., 5-10, 170 (76 tackles, 13 for loss, 4.5 sacks, 10 QB hurries, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 INT)
  • DL Detrich Byrd, So., 5-9, 185 (51 tackles, 5 for loss, 2.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries)

Troup

  • QB Weslee Ross, Sr., 6-0, 145 (101-of-169, 1,890 yards, 25 TDs, 4 INTs; 66 carries, 300 yards, 9 TDs)
  • RB/LB Calob Smith, Jr., 5-9, 155 (5-9, 155 (79 carries, 648 yards, 4 TDs; 3 catches, 27 yards; 66 tackles, 3 for loss, 3 PBUs, 1 INT, 3 forced fumbles, 1 recovery)
  • RB/DL Trent Allen, Sr., 5-10, 145 (108 carries, 1,170 yards, 21 TDs; 82 tackles, 15 for loss, 1 forced fumble, 1 sack, 2 INTs, 1 defensive TDs)
  • WR Jaden Lewis, Jr. (27 catches, 742 yards, 10 TDs)
  • WR Desmon Deason, Jr., 5-10, 170 (30 catches, 439 yards, 5 TDs)
  • WR/LB Bryce Attaway, Sr., 5-9, 160 (15 catches, 234 yards, 4 TDs; 103 tackles, 25 for loss, 5 sacks, 5 PBUs, 3 forced fumbles)
  • LB Max Hale, Sr., 5-9, 170 (128 tackles, 10 for loss, 2 forced fumbles, 1 sack, 1 INT)
  • DB Matt Adams, Sr., 6-0, 170 (82 tackles, 20 for loss, 3 INTs, 1 PBU, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles)

Just the facts

  • Since 2004, Waskom holds a 4-2 lead in the series. The Wildcats won the most recent contest in 2017, 42-6.
  • Waskom's only loss this season came by one point to West Rusk, 18-17.
  • Wildcats running back T.K. Hamilton is averaging 11.7 yards per carry.
  • Waskom is attempting just less than five passes per game.
  • Troup is averaging 44.2 points per game.
  • Tigers receiver Jaden Lewis is averaging 27.5 yards per reception.

Key matchup: Troup offense against the Waskom defense. Troup has been playing lights out offense of late, scoring at least 40 points in each of its past six games. Coincidentally, the Tigers are on a six-game winning streak. Weslee Ross has done plenty of damage through the air with almost 2,000 yards this season. But the Tigers offense is balanced. Calob Smith and Trent Allen have combined for more than 1,500 yards rushing with the latter at more than 1,000.

Troup QB Weslee Ross. (© Clint Buckley, ETSN.fm)
Troup QB Weslee Ross. (© Clint Buckley, ETSN.fm)
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Waskom's defense has been solid. Tristan McDonald has held the unit down with more than 100 tackles. Isaac Irving and Chris Pacheo have gotten to the backfield from the defensive line. They will all get a challenge on Friday and if they can slow the Tigers offense down, Waskom will be in a good position to win this game.

Don't be surprised if: T.K. Hamilton leads the Waskom offense. The senior running back has been the go-to player all season. He should see a full workload on Friday as the game figures to be close throughout. He hasn't received a ton of carries this season thanks to Waskom wrapping up its games fairly quickly, but as the carried increase during the playoffs, his numbers should only continue to grow larger.

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