District Title Implications At Work When Tyler Bishop Gorman Faces Dallas Christian

TAPPS DIVISION II, DISTRICT 2

Tyler Bishop Gorman Crusaders (7-0, 4-0)

vs.

Dallas Christian Chargers (6-1, 4-0)

7 p.m. Friday

Charger Stadium, Mesquite

Coaches

• Bishop Gorman: Coby Gipson
• Dallas Christian: Mike Wheeler

Last week

• Bishop Gorman: def. Bullard Brook Hill, 21-19
• Dallas Christian: def. Dallas Shelton, 49-7

Next week

• Bishop Gorman: vs. Frisco Legacy Christian, Oct. 30
• Dallas Christian: at Tyler All Saints, Oct. 30

Playmakers

Bishop Gorman

• WR Judah Bell, Jr., 6-4, 180 (43 catches, 925, 10 TDs)
• QB Michael Goodwin, Sr., 5-10, 185 (99 of 146, 1,712 yards, 14 TDs, 1 INT; 71 caries, 628 yards, 6 TDs)
• DL Jordan Morales, Sr., 6-3, 280
• RB Josh Johnson, Sr., 5-9, 180 (89 carries, 698 yards, 6 TDs; 5 catches, 37 yards)
• WR Payton Fanning, Sr. (20 catches, 318 yards, 3 TDs)
• RB Ethan Milton, Jr., 5-10, 170 (43 carries, 314 yards, 3 TDs)
• LB Tyler Bate, Sr., 6-2, 215

Dallas Christian

• QB Garrett Cody, Soph., 5-10, 165 (51 of 85, 880 yards, 11 TDs, 2 INTs; 43 carries, 281 yards, 3 TDs)
• RB Jaire Moore, Jr., 5-11, 180 (53 carries, 579 yards, 7 TDs; 5 catches, 92 yards, 2 TDs)
• WR Christian Jordan, Sr., 6-2, 190 (19 catches, 374 yards, 6 TDs)
• RB Reggie Peck, Soph, 5-10, 180 (49 carries, 381 yards, 3 TDs; 4 catches, 66 yards, 1 TD)
• WR Jacob Yarbrough, Sr., 5-10, 170 (10 catches, 107 yards, 3 TDs; 8 carries, 79 yards, 1 TD)
• WR/LB Palmer Nix, Soph., 6-0, 200 (5 catches, 109 yards, 1 TD)
• OL/DE Sawyer Stephens, Sr., 6-2, 240

Just the facts

• Dallas Christian and Gorman are the only unbeatens remaining in TAPPS Division II, District 2. Each are one game in front of Tyler Grace in the league standings.
• The Crusaders, TAPPS Division II semifinalists from a season ago, are 20 years removed from their last state championship.
• Bishop Gorman is averaging 40 points and 555.1 yards per game -- 265.3 passing and 289.8 rushing.
• The Crusaders are allowing 14.3 points per game.
• Gorman won 11 of its last 13 games, both losses coming to Dallas Christian in 2014 -- 24-21 in OT during the regular season, and 21-14 in the state semifinals.
• Dallas Christian is averaging 39.4 points and 369.6 yards per game -- 147.5 passing and 222.1 rushing.
• The Chargers are giving up 13.3 points per game on the season.
• Dallas Christian is currently riding a 10-game district winning streak.

Key matchup: Bishop Gorman passing attack vs. Dallas Christian secondary. While the Crusaders are plenty capable of running the football, it's been a nightmare for opposing defenses to contain Gorman's aerial assault, and in particular the combination of senior quarterback Michael Goodwin and junior receiver Judah Bell. Goodwin is following up last season's breakout campaign with a monster senior year. He enters Friday's action with more than 1,700 passing yards, good enough for fifth-most in the ETSN.fm coverage area, among schools reporting statistics. Goodwin also has a 14-1 TD-to-INT ratio, and is completing almost 68 percent of his attempts. Bell, on the other hand, has been a near-impossible matchup for opposing defensive backs. The 6-4 target has made 43 receptions for 925 yards and 10 touchdowns, and figures to command the attention of multiple defenders this week.

If there's been one team that's been able to hold down the Gorman offense the last two seasons, it's been Dallas Christian. And despite losing several seniors from 2014's state finalist, the Chargers defense is picking up right where it left off a season ago. Coming into Friday's game, Dallas Christian is holding opponents to less than 13 points per game, which includes the Chargers' performance against high-powered Tyler Grace, which mustered just a couple of touchdowns in their meeting back on Oct. 2.

Don't be surprised if: The first few series of the game dictate how the game will be played for the full 48 minutes. Gorman and Dallas Christian average roughly the same number of points per game, but do it much differently. Gorman averages significantly more offensive snaps and total yards, which suggests the Crusaders would prefer to play at a brisk pace. So if Gorman is able to get a couple of quick scores and put Dallas Christian in an early hole, the Crusaders could be in for a big night. The Chargers are hoping it can methodically wear down Gorman's defense, which is also allowing roughly two touchdowns per game on average, by possessing the ball for as long as it can. For that to work, the Chargers may need to get creative with how it calls plays, in an effort to keep Gorman's defense off balance.