Tyler Lee Red Raiders (1-2)

vs.

Sachse Mustangs (3-0)

7 p.m. Thursday

Williams Stadium, Garland

Coaches
  • Tyler Lee: Darrell Piske
  • Sachse: Mark Behrens

 

Last week

 

Next week
  • Tyler Lee: vs. Rowlett, Sept. 24
  • Sachse: at Garland, Sept. 24

 

Playmakers

Tyler Lee

  • RB Tavon Wesley, Sr., 5-11, 190 (33 carries, 337 yards, 5 TDs)
  • WR/S Isjuwan Barker, Jr., 6-3, 185 (8 receptions, 120 yards, 4 TDs)
  • WR Tyrec Grayson, Sr., 5-8, 145 (12 carries, 201 yards, 3 TDs; 11 receptions, 329 yards, 2 TDs)
  • LB Campbell Miller, Jr., 6-2, 245
  • DL John Samples III, Sr., 6-3, 250
  • WR/CB Mason Parker, Sr., 5-10, 165 (11 carries, 75 yards)
  • QB Chance Amie, Soph., 6-4, 187 (13 carries, 101 yards, 1 TD, 4-6 passing for 72 yards and 1 TD)

Sachse

  • WR Devin Duvernay, Sr., 5-11, 185 (17 receptions, 356 yards, 3 TDs)
  • QB Jalen Mayden, Soph., 6-2, 190 (30-44, 490 yards, 6 TDs, 3 INTs)
  • DB Jared Mayden, Sr., 6-0, 180
  • RB Kelon Wilson, Jr., 5-11, 180 (42 carries, 272 yards, 6 TDs)

 

Just the facts
  • The game marks the District 11-6A district opener for both Tyler Lee and Sachse.
  • Thursday probably marks the beginning of a three-year run for the Red Raiders with quarterback Chance Amie. Senior starter Zach Hall was lost for the season last week in a win against John Tyler.
  • After the John Tyler game, Hall said he had tweaked his knee and thought an MRI would confirm a torn meniscus. Instead, the MRI revealed a more serious knee injury and Hall announced he was done for the year.
  • Hall finished his senior year with more than 900 total yards in just three games.
  • Don't worry about not seeing Hall again. He holds college football offers from Baylor, Missouri and Texas Tech, so his playing career is far from over.
  • Amie, a sophomore, impressed late in the John Tyler game. He ran for 75 yards, scored on the ground and threw a touchdown pass as part of another 43 yards through the air.
  • Amie is a dual-threat quarterback prototype. Just like Hall. Don't expect much change on offense.
  • Mark Russell, a defensive back, will be Amie's backup. He saw significant playing time in Tyler Lee's scrimmage against Marshall four weeks ago.
  • This will be the Red Raiders' first of three Thursday games this season. No other East Texas team besides Tyler Lee has any more regular season Thursday games this year.
  • The big question around the Red Raiders is their defense. But the unit's best overall performance came Friday against John Tyler -- 401 yards and 38 points allowed in a run-and-gun game.
  • Tyler Lee receiver Tyrec Grayson is the fastest East Texas player in ETSN.fm's history. He posted a 4.31, laser-timed 40-yard dash at the ETSN.fm + APEC Football Recruiting Combine in May. He had long touchdown runs of 88 yards and 58 yards on sweep plays last week.
  • Receiver Isjuwan Barker has been drawing double coverage all season, but he broke open in the John Tyler game with five catches, 97 yards and two touchdowns.
  • Tyler Lee defeated Sachse, 62-49, last season at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium.
Red Raiders running back Tavon Wesley has team-best 337 yards on 33 carries, but he's just one of three available players with more than 200 rushing yards through three games. That should take a load off of Chance Amie, who is a running threat himself. (Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)
Red Raiders running back Tavon Wesley has team-best 337 yards on 33 carries, but he's just one of three available players with more than 200 rushing yards through three games. That should take a load off of Chance Amie, who is a running threat himself. (Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)
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Key matchup: The Red Raiders offense against Sachse's defense.

Obviously, word has gotten to the Mustangs that Tyler Lee senior quarterback Zach Hall -- the most productive offense player for the team a year ago and through three games this season -- will bot be available after sustaining a season-ending knee injury last week against John Tyler.

You might think Sachse would send pressure against Amie and scare him into running or heaving desperate passes, but that could completely backfire considering the Red Raiders' surrounding offensive weapons. The best thing the Mustangs can do is work to contain an offense that enjoyed three players breaking the 100-yard mark on the ground as part of a 500-yard running night last week.

If Sachse can do that, its defense can sit back later in the game and force Amie to make throws.

The toughest opponent Amie will face is himself. It's just different getting thrown into a game compared to a week of game prep as the No. 1 quarterback.

If Amie clicks with the offense early, win or lose, it's going to be another good offensive night for the Red Raiders. Sachse would have to back off in its quest to slow the running game down and open up more offensive options down the stretch.

Defensively, Tyler Lee needs to limit receiver Devin Duvernay.  Alabama, LSU, Ohio State and virtually every in-state school are just the start of his scholarship list.

Don't be surprised if: The Red Raiders get off to a 1-0 district start. Amie looked great against a solid John Tyler defense and took control of the passing and running game just as Hall did. With so many skilled players around him, there's not a good way for Sachse to get to the new quarterback without opening things up for running back Tavon Wesley and perhaps the best receiving unit within East Texas. This game will probably end up being another Tyler Lee shootout, but the team still has the wherewithal to take the W with just a few defensive breaks.

Tyler Lee senior receiver Tyrec Grayson. (Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)
Tyler Lee senior receiver Tyrec Grayson. (Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)
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