DISTRICT 15-5A

Texas High Tigers (3-1, 1-0)

vs.

Hallsville Bobcats (2-2, 0-1)

7:30 p.m. Friday

Bobcat Stadium, Hallsville

 

Coaches
  • Texas High: Barry Norton
  • Hallsville: David Plunk

 

Last week

 

Next week
  • Texas High: vs. Pine Tree, Oct. 9
  • Hallsville: at Mount Pleasant, Oct. 9

 

Playmakers

Texas High

  • QB Cade Pearson, Jr., 6-2, 195 (39 of 75, 662 yards, 6 TDs, 3 INTs)
  • RB J'Kardi Witcher, Sr., 5-7, 170 (71 carries, 534 yards, 5 TDs)
  • WR Quan Hampton, Jr., 5-8, 150 (15 catches, 266 yards, 2 TDs)
  • DB Chaz Davis, Sr., 5-11, 160
  • OL Matthew Davis, Sr., 6-0, 265
  • DB Jacorien Walker, Sr., 5-9, 165
  • TE/DL Jacoryon Larry, Sr., 6-3, 240
  • DB Dee Jones, Sr., 5-10, 170

 

Hallsville

  • QB Roger McCuller, Sr., 6-0, 185 (32 of 70, 409 yards, 3 TDs, 3 INTs; 59 carries, 347 yards, 6 TDs)
  • RB/DB Lance Hardman, Sr., 6-0, 190 (42 carries, 307 yards, 3 TDs)
  • WR Andrew Southard, Sr., 6-2, 180 (15 catches, 218 yards, 2 TDs)
  • OL Parker Braun, Sr., 6-3, 275
  • TE Coleton Lasseter, Sr., 6-7, 255
  • DL Jonathan Mitchell, Sr., 6-3, 220
  • RB Josh Taylor, Soph., 5-9, 175
  • LB Blair Fernandez, Jr., 5-9, 185

 

Just the facts
  • This is the 15th meeting between Texas High and Hallsville. Texas High leads the all-time series, 9-5.
  • Texas High has won five of the previous six meetings.
  • Texas High is averaging 37 points and 387.8 yards per game -- 209.3 rushing and 178.5 passing.
  • The Tigers are allowing 19 points and 295.8 yards per game -- 138.5 rushing and 157.3 passing.
  • Texas High is aiming for its third consecutive 2-0 start in district play.
  • Hallsville is averaging 24 points and 327.5 yards per game -- 200.5 rushing and 127 passing.
  • The Bobcats are allowing 36.5 points and 438.3 yards per game -- 306 rushing and 132.3 passing.
  • Hallsville's last 0-2 start in district occurred in 2011.

 

Texas High RB J'Kardi Witcher. (Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)
Texas High RB J'Kardi Witcher. (Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)
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Key matchup: Texas High rushing attack vs. Hallsville defensive front. Despite quarterback Cade Pearson's four-touchdown performance in Texas High's rout of Sulphur Springs last week, the Tigers' primary M.O. on offense is running the football. For the season. Texas High averages more than 200 rushing yards per game, and the Tigers have done it by leaning on senior running back J'Kardi Witcher. The small, but elusive, featured back is averaging more than 130 yards per game, and carries a healthy 7.5 yards-per-carry figure into Friday night's matchup. While Texas High is more than capable of attacking opposing defenses through the air, look for Witcher and the Tigers' ball carriers to get established early.

Hallsville's defense struggled last week against the run in a 56-21 loss at Marshall. The Bobcats allowed the Mavericks 314 yards on the ground and five rushing touchdowns, yielding more than eight yards per carry. For the season, Hallsville has allowed an average of 306 rushing yards per game. If the Bobcats wish to avoid an 0-2 start to the district campaign, they must do all they can to slow down Texas High's rushing attack, and force the Tigers into obvious passing situations. If Hallsville can do that, it should play into the Bobcats' defensive strength, which is its secondary.

Hallsville QB Roger McCuller. (Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)
Hallsville QB Roger McCuller. (Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)
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Don't be surprised if: Both teams fail score 30 points. Even though Texas High averages right at 37 points per game, most of the scoring occurred in two games -- a 48-20 win over Whitehouse in the season opener, and last week's 55-21 defeat of Sulphur Springs. Points were much harder to come by in the Tigers' other two games this season against better defenses from Arkansas High and Kilgore. Hallsville comes in averaging just 24 points per game, and the Bobcats' offense has seen a steady decline in production since their 39-38 overtime win over Carthage in the season opener. Since Week 1, Hallsville is putting up just 19 points per game in contests against Nacogdoches, Athens, and Marshall.

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