Brook Hill Might Have The Answer For Prolific Bishop Gorman Passing Game

TAPPS DIVISION II, DISTRICT II

Bullard Brook Hill Guard (5-1, 1-1)

vs.

Tyler Bishop Gorman Crusaders (2-3, 1-0)

7:30 p.m. Friday

McCallum Stadium, Tyler

Coaches

• Brook Hill: Scott Ryle
• Bishop Gorman: Coby Gipson

Last week

• Brook Hill: lost to Carrollton Prince of Peace, 14-7
• Bishop Gorman: Idle

Next week

• Brook Hill: Idle
• Bishop Gorman: at Dallas Christian, Oct. 14

Playmakers

Brook Hill

• RB Jeremiah McGowen, Jr., 5-11, 180 (80 carries, 626 yards, 9 TDs)
• LB Jordon McGowen, Sr., 6-0, 210 (38 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 INT)
• LB/RB Brooks Parham, Sr., 6-0, 200 (51 tackles, 7 for loss, 2 sacks, 51 carries, 361 yards, 1 TD)
• WR/DB Parker Galbraith, Sr., 6-1, 182 (25 catches, 399 yards, 2 TDs, 13 tackles, 4 INTs)
• WR/DB Alec Kitt, Sr., 6-2, 160 (14 catches, 253 yards, 3 TDs, 22 tackles, 3 INTs)
• OL/DL Joseph Ardi, Sr., 6-0, 220 (25 tackles, 5 for loss, 1 sack)
• QB Hood Taylor, Jr., 5-11, 175 (54-of-81 passing, 819 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT, 36 carries, 199 yards, 1 TD)

Bishop Gorman

• WR/DB Judah Bell, Sr., 6-3, 180 (44 catches, 991 yards, 8 TDs; committed to Navy)
• QB Jake Smith, Soph., 6-3, 195 (4 games played, 88-of-140 passing, 1,906 yards, 18 TDs, 5 INTs)
• LB/WR Reed Navara, Sr., 6-0, 190 (76 tackles)
• WR/DB Tyler Hobbs, Soph., 6-0, 185 (24 catches, 563 yards, 7 TDs)
• RB/DB Ehtan Milton, Sr., 5-10, 168 (110 carries, 609 yards, 6 TDs)

Just the facts

• Bishop Gorman receiver Judah Bell, a senior Navy commitment, leads the East Texas area in receiving yardage with 991 yards on 44 catches.
• Crusaders sophomore quarterback Jake Smith is the region's second-leading passer despite only playing in four of Gorman's first five games.
• Brook Hill has not started a season with a 5-1 record since 2012.
• Just before the season, ETSN.fm predicted the Guard would finish third in TAPPS Division II, District II behind Dallas Christian and Tyler Grace Community. It picked the Crusaders to finish fifth in the seven-team district.
• Bishop Gorman and Brook Hill share one common opponent in Carrollton Prince of Peace.
• The Crusaders defeated Prince of Peace 28-22 two weeks ago at home. The Guard lost to Prince of Peace, 14-7, last week on the road.
• Bishop Gorman has a 2-2 record with Brook Hill through its seniors' previous three years on campus, including a head-to-head playoff game in 2014. The Crusaders have won the past two meetings.

Key matchup: Bishop Gorman's aerial assault versus Brook Hill's defense.

The Crusaders got a small writeup in USA Today earlier this season after a 91-71 non-district win against Ore City. They generated more than 1,000 yards of offense in that game, and that has helped senior receiver Judah Bell and sophomore quarterback Jake Smith to the top of the ETSN.fm leader boards.

But, even without that game, the numbers are almost unbelievable.

Bell, a Navy commitment, has 991 receiving yards through five games. Smith has more than 1,900 passing yards and 18 touchdowns to five interceptions despite only playing in four games this season.

Bishop Gorman will throw the ball Friday and will lean on its offense at large. The school has given up 213 points to the 213 points it has scored -- a point differential of zero -- toward its 2-3 overall record.

Brook Hill has a positive point differential any team would be satisfied with, 196-90, through its six games played. Ten interceptions and seven fumble recoveries has a lot to do with it.

The Guard's success in pass defense is the most troubling thing for Bishop Gorman. Parker Galbraith, a safety, is in a big tie for second across the region in interceptions with four and cornerback Alec Kitt is just behind him with three picks.

Both of those guys will get chances against a Crusaders offense that is very reliant and proud of its passing prowess.

Bishop Gorman turnovers, or there lack of, will likely determine the winner of the game.

Don't be surprised if: Brook Hill leans on a stable of good running backs to slow the Bishop Gorman offense down in addition to banking on winning the turnover battle.

First-year head coach Scott Ryle has emphasized the running game, and the Guard are breaking away from the TAPPS Division II, District II standard of putting up big numbers mostly through the air. That is perhaps the biggest reason the team owns the second-best overall record within the district behind perennial state contender Dallas Christian.

Junior back Jeremiah McGowen averages about 100 yards per game, a few change-of-pace backs combine to offer another 100 yards on the ground. Passing has only accounted for 44 percent of Brook Hill's total offensive output.