Tyler Lee Still Searching For Win No. 1 in Red Raiders’ Final Non-District Contest

TEXAS HIGH TIGERS (1-1)
AT
TYLER LEE RED RAIDERS (0-3)

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

Coaches
Texas High: Barry Norton
Tyler Lee: Darrell Piske

Last week
Texas High: Idle
Tyler Lee: lost to John Tyler, 21-0

Next week
Texas High: vs. Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Tyler Lee: at Tyler Lee

Playmakers
Texas High

RB Treveon Walker (39 carries, 253 yards, 1 TD)
QB Clete Norton (14 of 34, 125 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT)
DB/PR Marquan Daniels, Sr., 5-9, 170
DT Jonathan Hunt, Sr., 6-2, 285
LB Anthony Rhone, Sr., 6-0, 205

Tyler Lee

RB LaQuintas Wallace, Sr., 5-10, 185 (54 carries, 313 yards, 5 TDs)
QB Raleigh Poster, Jr. (24 of 51, 350 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT)
QB Jordan Richardson, Jr. (10 carries, 25 yards)
OT Zacchaeus Page, Sr., 6-4, 305
DE/LB Del'kei Derrett, Sr., 6-1, 240

Just the facts

Barry Norton has transformed Texas High into one of the most consistent 4A programs in the state. Since the Tigers' 2002 state championship season, Texas High is 94-28-1 and has made the playoffs 11 consecutive years.
Texas High fallen back a tad of late. From 2002-06, the Tigers were 58-8 with four double-digit win seasons but are just 36-20-1 since.
The Tigers opened the season with a 13-7 win over rival Arkansas High, but were pummeled 54-7 two weeks ago by Shreveport Evangel. Tyler Lee will be the first in-state opponent of the year for Texas High.
After putting up 65 points in its for two games, Tyler Lee was held off the scoreboard last week against John Tyler. The Red Raiders mustered just 139 yards and seven first downs.
Jordan Richardson, the projected starting quarterback last spring, saw his first action of the season last week after recovering from leg surgery over the summer. He did complete a pass in four attempts, but ran 10 times for 25 yards.
Lee and Texas High, two former district mates, have not met since 1999, a 28-21 Red Raiders win in overtime. This is the 37th meeting between the two with Texas High holding a 20-12-4 all-time advantage. The Red Raiders have won nine of the last 10 matchups, however.

Key matchup: Tyler Lee offensive line vs. Texas High defensive front. The Red Raiders were manhandled by JT up front last week, limited to just 87 rushing yards on 33 attempts. Star running back LaQuintas Wallace, who had gone over 100 yards in his first two games, was held to 32 yards on 13 carries last week. Lee's inability to establishing the running game caused problems in the passing game as well. Raleigh Poster and Jordan Richardson combined to complete just two of 16 attempts for 52 yards. The Red Raiders have another challenge ahead with Texas High's defensive line. Jonathan Hunt is a large body in the middle that's difficult to move, and defensive end Joseph Meredith can cause havoc with his speed off the edge.

Don't be surprised if: The Red Raiders fare much better on the ground this week. Head coach Darrell Piske thought his backs ran to the edge too much, trying to make big plays happen in space rather than settling for the more conservative 4 yards per carry. If Lee is able to keep Texas High's defense honest by consistently picking up chunks here and there, the passing game may develop. Having Richardson back in the fold should help Lee's running game, and keep the defensive focus off Wallace.