Much-Improved Jacksonville Hosts Corsicana in League Opener

DISTRICT 17-5A

Corsicana Tigers (2-3)

vs.

Jacksonville Indians (3-2)

7:30 p.m. Friday

Tomato Bowl, Jacksonville

Coaches

• Corsicana: Steve Hoffman
• Jacksonville: Wayne Coleman

Last week

• Corsicana: idle
• Jacksonville: idle

Next week

• Corsicana: vs. Nacogdoches, Oct. 14
• Jacksonville: at Whitehouse, Oct. 14

Playmakers

Corsicana

• QB Kishawn Kelley, Sr., 6-2, 202
• RB John Woods, Sr., 5-10, 160
• RB Ja'Micha Polk, Sr., 5-6, 160
• WR/DB Trevor Denbow, Sr., 6-0, 190
• WR Ike Hargrave, Jr.
• WR Jevontae Anderson, Soph.
• LB Caleb Johnson, Sr., 5-11, 220
• LB Desmond Hawkins, Sr., 5-10, 215

Jacksonville

• QB Cameron High, Sr., 5-9, 165 (28 of 50, 432 yards, 5 TDs, 3 INTs; 133 carries, 932 yards, 10 TDs)
• RB/LB Vadall Johnson, Sr., 5-9, 210 (43 carries, 256 yards; 3 catches, 50 yards; 9 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 sack)
• RB Dee Spencer, Jr., 5-10, 175 (20 carries, 214 yards, 3 TDs)
• WR Camryn Franklin, Jr., 6-3, 170 (6 catches, 144 yards, 1 TD)
• LB Braden Horn, Sr., 5-11, 180 (17 tackles, 6 for loss, 3 sacks, 3 PBUs)
• DT Taqualen Thompson, Soph. (23 tackles, 3 for loss)
• WR William Garland, Sr., 5-9, 165 (3 catches, 115 yards, 1 TD)
• WR Ashton Melton, Sr., 5-11, 170 (7 catches, 48 yards, 1 TD)

Just the facts

• Corsicana is averaging 14.6 points and allowing 28.8 points per game.
• The Tigers are 5-9 in district games since 2014.
• Corsicana has not reached the playoffs since 2012.
• The cumulative record of the Tigers' five non-district opponents is 11-16.
• Jacksonville is averaging 30.8 points and 419.6 yards per game -- 323.2 rushing and 96.4 passing.
• The Indians are 4-20 in district games since 2012.
• Jacksonville has not reached the playoffs since 2012.
• The cumulative record of the Indians' five non-district opponents is 10-19.

Key matchup: Jacksonville rushing attack vs. Corsicana defensive front. The Indians are a much-improved offense in 2016, and the running game has been a big reason for the increased production. The catalyst is senior quarterback Cameron High, who is closing on 1,000 rushing yards on the season already. High averages almost 27 carries per game, and no other player on the Jacksonville roster has more than 43 rushing attempts or 256 yards. The fewest yards High has run for this season in a game is 121, and he's had three games in which he's eclipsed the 200-yard mark and scored three touchdowns. Vadall Johnson is the featured running back, and he'll get a handful of carries, but the primary objective for the Corsicana defense should be stopping High.

Corsicana rebounded from a three-game losing streak by earning a double-overtime victory over Manor two weeks ago in its non-district finale. And so far this season, the Tigers have been up and down on the defensive side of the ball. In its two wins, Corsicana has allowed a total of 24 points, but in the three losses, the Tigers have surrendered an average of 40 points per game. If Corsicana can limit the amount of damage High and the Jacksonville running game has, the Tigers stand an excellent chance of gaining an advantage. High has only attempted 50 passes on the season, and is averaging less than 100 passing yards per game. Corsicana must try to get the Indians to put the ball in the air more often Friday night.

Don't be surprised if: Friday's game is a low-scoring affair. Despite Jacksonville's offensive success this season, it's mainly been one-dimensional and against lesser competition. The three teams the Indians have defeated this season -- Pine Tree, Hallsville, and Mount Pleasant -- are a combined 3-14 in 2016. With a tougher schedule ahead, it will be interesting to see what, if any, effect that has on the Jacksonville offense. Corsicana, meanwhile, has struggled all season long putting points on the board. The Tigers come into this week averaging a little more than 14 points per game.