PREVIEW: Gorman Seeks First District Win Against Brook Hill
TAPPS DIVISION II, DISTRICT 2
Bullard Brook Hill Guard (6-2, 2-1)
vs.
Tyler Bishop Gorman Crusaders (4-4, 0-3)
7:30 p.m. Friday
McCallum Stadium, Tyler
Coaches
- Brook Hill: Scott Ryle
- Gorman: Randy McFarlin
Last week
- Brook Hill: def. McKinney Christian Academy, 39-20
- Gorman: lost to Tyler Grace, 30-28
Next week
- Brook Hill: vs. Trinity Christian, Nov. 9
- Gorman: at McKinney Christian Academy, Nov. 9
Players to watch
Brook Hill
- QB/ATH Khalan Griffin, Jr., 5-10, 180 (60-of-99, 717 yards, 5 TDs, 2 INTs; 128 carries, 1,017 yards, 17 TDs)
- OL/DL Tobias Braun, Sr., 6-7, 290
- LB Konstantin Krasser, Jr., 6-1, 215 (53 tackles, 7 for loss, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble)
- DB Seth Moss, Jr., 6-0, 155 (22 tackles, 6 INTs, 8 PBUs)
- WR Garrett Davis, Sr., 6-0, 177 (12 catches, 208 yards, 2 TDs)
- LB/TE Jake Shaffer, Jr., 6-0, 175 (42 tackles, 6 for loss, 3 INTs, 7 PBUs)
- LB Nico Flores, Jr., 5-8, 185 (67 tackles, 7 for loss, 2 sacks)
- WR/DB Kirk Jean-Baptiste, Sr. (114 carries, 739 yards, 8 TDs; 5 catches, 45 yards)
- OL/DL Peyton Adams, Sr., 6-1, 265
Gorman
- QB Jake Smith, Sr., 6-2, 205 (151-of-252, 2,400 yards, 25 TDs, 4 INTs;
- WR Tyler Hobbs, Sr., 6-0, 192 (37 catches, 469 yards, 4 TDs)
- WR/DB Chase Crumpton, Sr., 6-0, 179 (14 catches, 337 yards, 4 TDs; 2 INTs)
- OL/DL Matthew Navarro, Sr., 5-10, 158
- WR Zack Bradford, Sr., 6-2, 195 (20 catches, 420 yards, 3 TDs)
- LB/OL Casen Salitre, Sr., 5-8, 145
- OL/DL Charles Lauffer, Sr.
- OL/LB Lucas Vega, Sr., 5-10, 190
- OL/DL Peyton Harris, Sr.
- RB Jeremiah Milton, Jr., 6-1, 180 (71 carries, 378 yards, 9 TDs)
- DB Emmanuel Milton, Jr., 5-10 180
Just the facts
- Since 2005, Brook Hill holds a 6-5 lead against Gorman.
- Gorman is averaging 368.5 yards per game (299.4 passing and 69.1 rushing).
- Crusader quarterback Jake Smith leads East Texas with 2,400 yards passing.
- Gorman receiver Chase Crumpton is averaging 24.1 yards per reception.
- Brook Hill athlete Khalan Griffin is the first player on the team to surpass 1,000 yards rushing. He has 1,017 to go with 17 touchdowns.
- The Guard are averaging 32.6 points per game and giving up 21.
- Brook Hill defensive back Seth Moss' six interceptions are good for the most in East Texas.
Key matchup: Gorman passing attack against the Brook Hill secondary. Gorman has a video game-esque passing attack with Jake Smith at quarterback. He leads East Texas in passing and has plenty of targets to throw to. Gorman has five receivers with at least 300 yards. Smith's numbers were even skewed when he threw for only 65 yards against a tough Trinity Christian defense a couple of weeks ago. In Week 9 against Tyler Grace, he threw for a season-high 522 yards and three touchdowns.
Brook Hill has the secondary to challenge Gorman's passing attack, though. Seth Moss leads East Texas with six interceptions. Lane Barter, Jake Shaffer and Connor Carson each add three apiece, making 15 interceptions between four players. This could be the toughest passing challenge Brook Hill has faced to date, but if it passes the test it should come out with a victory in this game.
Don't be surprised if: Khalan Griffin goes off. Griffin has led the Brook Hill offense all season. He can make plays both on the ground and through the air. He has a combined 1,734 yards and 22 touchdowns this season. He isn't the only weapon the Guard boasts. Kirk Jean-Baptiste is speedy and has made plays from the backfield all year long. However, Griffin is Brook Hill's best and most frequently used player. Expect his volume to be high on Friday and for that to lead to big numbers once again.