Hughes Springs, Elysian Fields Meet Again in 2A D-II Region III Final

Class 2A Division II Region III
Final

Hughes Springs Mustangs (12-0)
vs.
Elysian Fields Yellow Jackets (10-3)

7:30 p.m. Saturday
Lobo Stadium, Longview

Coaches
Hughes Springs: Chris Edwards
Elysian Fields: Eric King

Road To Regional Final

Hughes Springs

• Bi-district: bye
• Area: def. Hearne, 70-20
• Regional semifinal: def. Centerville, 28-27 (OT)

Elysian Fields

• Bi-district: def. Winona, 67-54
• Area: def. Deweyville, 24-22
• Regional semifinal: def. Arp, 30-20

Next week: Winner plays Refugio (12-0) or East Bernard (12-0) in a 2A Division II state semifinal.

Playmakers

Hughes Springs

• FB Michael Martinez (248 carries, 1,844 yards, 29 TDs)
• RB Dustin Garamillo (44 caries, 702 yards, 9 TDs)
• RB Fred Hopkins (49 carries, 582 yards, 7 TDs)
• RB Kane Sampson (55 carries, 480 yards, 5 TDs)
• RB Chad McKinney (51 carries, 409 yards, 9 TDs)
• QB Trenton Shelton (34 of 65, 738 yards; 46 carries, 243 yards; 14 total TDs)
• C/DT Kaddarian Chism (78 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 4 recoveries)
• LB Shane Finney (111 tackles, 1 sack)
• LB Eric Berryhill (97 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 6 recoveries)
• WR Zach Bassham (15 catches, 385 yards, 3 TDs)

Elysian Fields

• QB/DB Trevor Spear (99 of 159, 1,918 yards, 24 TDs, 6 INTs; 142 carries, 1,077 yards, 19 TDs; 19 tackles, 1 INT, 2 forced fumbles, 2 recoveries)
• RB Tanner Davis (154 carries, 1,000 yards, 6 TDs; 1 TD catch)
• LB Tanner Norman (193 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 recovery)
• WR Nathan Hall (24 catches, 547 yards, 9 TDs; 1 rush TD)
• WR Christian Smith (11 carries, 153 yards, 2 TDs; 21 catches, 527 yards, 6 TDs; 132 tackles, 1 INT, 2 forced fumbles, 1 recovery)
• LB Bruce Woods (143 tackles, 9 sacks, 1 INT, 1 forced fumble, 2 recoveries)
• WR/DB Zane Barge (12 catches, 300 yards, 2 TDs; 26 tackles, 9 INTs)
• RB/LB Lonzo Macon (40 carries, 162 yards, 3 TDs; 22 catches, 231 yards, 1 TD; 88 tackles, 4 sacks, 1 INT, 1 fumble recovery)
• OL/DE Clay Vance (112 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 4 recoveries)
• DT Randall Wall (105 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 3 recoveries)

Just the facts

• Hughes Springs averages 47.5 points per game and allows 11.8.
• Elysian Fields averages 35.2 points per game and allows 23.2.
• Before last week's one-point overtime victory over Centerville, Hughes Springs had won 10 consecutive games by at least 22 points.
• Hughes Springs' Chad McKinney blocked a Centerville PAT in overtime to secure the Mustang victory.
• Hughes Springs' Michael Martinez left last week's game in the second half with a knee bruise and his status is unknown for Saturday's game.
• Elysian Fields has won five consecutive games.
• Hughes Springs won 55-14 at Elysian Fields on Oct. 26.
• Hughes Springs won the District 9-2A Division II championship, while Elysian Fields finished second.
• Elysian Fields quarterback Trevor Spear has thrown for 650 yards, 7 TDs, and 2 INTs and run for 370 yards and 7 TDs in the playoffs.
• Three of Spear's five 100-yard rushing games have come in the playoffs.
• If the winner of Saturday's game plays Refugio in next week's state semifinal, the game will be Friday in Bryan. If the winner faces East Bernard, the game will be at Baylor's Floyd Casey Stadium in Waco.

Key matchup: Elysian Fields' defensive front vs. Hughes Springs' running game. Hughes Springs pummeled Elysian Fields in the teams' first meeting Oct. 26 in Elysian Fields. Michael Martinez ran for 220 yards and two touchdowns, but he may not be available for Saturday's regional final after leaving last week's game late with an injury. Hughes Springs fans shouldn't fret, though. Fred Hopkins, Chad McKinney, Kane Sampson, Dustin Garamillo, and Trenton Shelton are all viable rushing options. In fact, that quintet has combined for 2,416 rushing yards, while Hopkins, McKinney, Sampson, and Garamillo average a combined 10.9 yards per carry. In other words, Hughes Springs has plenty of options if Martinez doesn't play. That means EF must be prepared to defend the run much better than it did when the teams played in late October. Elysian Fields has the in-the-box personnel with players such as Tanner Norman -- East Texas' leading tackler -- Bruce Woods, Clay Vance, Randall Wall, Braden Jett, and others to at least slow down the Mustangs' seemingly unstoppable rushing attack. Can they do it?

Don't be surprised if: Elysian Fields plays much better than it did in the previous meeting with Hughes Springs, but the Mustangs find a way to beat the Jackets again and reach the state semifinals. With a 41-point victory against EF already under its belt, Hughes Springs is the clear favorite in this matchup, even if its best offensive weapon may miss the game. But Elysian Fields is playing better now than it has all season, as evidenced by the 10-point win against Arp last week that avenged a 43-13 loss to the Tigers that occurred in September. Elysian Fields is going for its second consecutive redemption win, and that provides a ton of motivation for a talented team clicking at the right time. This should be a fun game for East Texas football fans anxious to catch a Saturday night game at a great venue.