PREVIEW: Carlisle Faces Joaquin Eyeing Move up in District
DISTRICT 11-2A Division I
Carlisle Indians (6-1, 1-1)
vs.
Joaquin Rams (6-1, 2-0)
7:30 p.m. Friday
Cam'Ron Matthews Field, Alto
Coaches
- Carlisle: Rocky Baker
- Joaquin: Wade Lawson
Last week
- Carlisle: lost to Alto, 31-28
- Joaquin: def. Shelbyville, 31-0
Next week
- Carlisle: at Shelbyville, Nov. 3
- Joaquin: at San Augustine, Nov. 3
Playmakers
Carlisle
- QB Tristan Craig, Sr., 6-2, 175 (75-of-115, 1,206 yards, 11 TDs, 5 INTs; 49 carries, 238 rushing yards, 6 TDs)
- WR/DB Jay Price, Jr., 6-1, 170 (35 catches, 522 receiving yards, 7 TDs)
- WR/LB Max Jackson, Sr., 5-7, 150 (64 tackles, 17 for loss, 2 sacks, 3 INTs, 2 forced fumbles)
- RB/LB Mason Pendleton, Sr., 5-8, 185 (58 carries, 473 yards, 6 TDs)
- WR/DB Gerald Turner, Jr., 5-11, 150 (22 catches, 373 yards, 3 TDs; 23 carries, 256 yards, 10 TDs)
- RB/LB Luis Adame, Jr., 5-10, 170 (44 tackles, 9 for loss, 3 sacks, 1 INT, 1 PBU, 3 fumble recoveries)
- OL/LB Walker Adams, Jr., 5-10, 170 (66 tackles, 22 for loss, 1 sack, 3 forced fumbles)
- OL/DL Madison Taliaferro, Jr., 6-0, 215
- LB Bryan Mendoza, Sr., 5-7, 170 (31 tackles, 16 for loss, 9 sacks, 7 QB hurries, 4 fumble recoveries)
Joaquin
- RB/LB Kase Yates, Sr., 5-10, 180 (85 carries, 880 yards, 13 TDs; 21 tackles, 2 INTs, 1 forced fumble)
- QB/DB Tray Wilkerson, Sr., 6-0, 150 (10-of-13, 229 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT; 47 carries, 266 yards, 6 TDs)
- RB/DB Connor Bragg, Soph., 5-10, 150 (41 carries, 464 yards, 7 TDs; 24 tackles, 1 INT)
- RB/DB Hunter Gates, Jr., 5-8, 140 (47 carries, 513 yards, 4 TDs; 1 INT)
- OL/DL Brock Hughes, Sr.
- OL/DL Matt Silvey, Sr., 6-4, 215
- DL Keith Johnson, Sr., 6-2, 175
- FB/LB Joseph Tarver, Jr., 5-4, 132 (31 carries, 216 yards, 1 TD)
- OL/DL Zach Bell, Sr., 5-8, 280 (31 tackles, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles, 1 recovery)
Just the facts
- Behind its five-headed attack, Joaquin is averaging 408.2 rushing yards per game.
- The Rams' defense has pitched three shutouts this season and lost its only game of the season to undefeated Tenaha by one point.
- Joaquin's opponents are 19-33 this season (.365).
- Carlisle's opponents are 19-31 this season (.380).
- Carlisle is giving up just 11 points per game.
- The Indians are putting up 173 yards per game through the air.
- Joaquin owns a 5-3 record against Carlisle since 2004.
- The Indians won last season's matchup, 27-14.
Key matchup: Carlisle's defense against the Joaquin rushing attack. It's clear the Rams like to run. That they have five players who can hurt defenses doing so makes them all the more dangerous.
Kase Yates headlines the backfield, posting 880 yards and 13 touchdowns so far this season. Hunter Gates adds another 500 and Connor Bragg 400.
All in all, the Rams are averaging more than 400 yards per game on the ground. They have seen no one capable of stopping them completely thus far.
Carlisle, however, might be that team.
Walker Adams, Bryan Mendoza and Max Jackson have had proclivity for getting to the backfield this season. They have combined for 55 tackles for loss. They're a big reason why Carlisle has pitched three shutouts.
If they can do what they normally do and limit Joaquin's ground game, they have a good shot to pull ahead in what is a crowded district at the top.
Don't be surprised if: The Tristan Craig to Jay Price connection is strong. Price has accounted for nearly half of Craig's passing yards this season and more than half of his touchdowns.
Don't be surprised if you see another touchdown pass from Craig to Price this week and at least a 75-yard performance from the receiver.
If they can get going and the Carlisle defense can get in the backfield, the Indians are looking at 7-1.