PREVIEW: John Tyler Looks for 2-1 in District Play as it Travels to Face Mesquite

DISTRICT 11-6A 

John Tyler Lions (3-2, 1-1)

vs.

Mesquite Skeeters (1-4, 0-2)

7:30 p.m. Friday

Mesquite Memorial Stadium, Kilgore

Coaches

• Johny Tyler: Ricklan Holmes
• Mesquite: Jeff Fleener

Last week

• John Tyler: def. North Mesquite, 44-7
• Mesquite: lost to Mesquite Horn, 42-17

Next week

• John Tyler: BYE
• Mesquite: BYE

Playmakers

John Tyler

• DL/LB DeKalen Goodson, Sr., 6-3, 215 (22 tackles, 4 for loss, 4 sacks, 2 QB pressures; committed to Houston)
• LB Tre Allison, Sr., 6-2, 220 (45 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 2 PBUs; committed to SMU)
• OL Chance Billington, Jr., 6-3, 280 (committed to SMU)
• QB Devlen Woods, Jr., 5-8, 165 (53 of 99, 746 yards, 10 TDs, 2 INT; 40 carries, 116 yards, 0 TDs)
• RB Cameron Grant, Jr., 5-9, 175 (41 carries, 341 yards, 2 TDs; 2 catches, 25 yards, 1 TD)
• WR Ke'Andre Street, Jr., 6-4, 195 (15 catches, 368 yards, 5 TDs)
• RB Roderick Hawkins, Jr., 5-8, 190 (43 carries, 425 yards, 5 TDs; 6 catches, 69 yards, 1 TD)
• WR Michael Givens-Washington, Sr., 5-8, 165 (13 catches, 155 yards, 1 TD)

Mesquite

• QB Jonathan Garza, Sr., 5-8, 170
• WR Carlos Aguilar, Sr., 5-9, 170
• OL Brendan Cherry, Sr., 6-2, 260
• DB Kadarryus Hartfield, Sr., 6-0, 190
• OL Colby Maddox, Sr., 6-1, 280
• LB Jacob Pich, Sr., 5-9, 192
• LB De'veyon Smith, Sr., 5-11, 215
• DB Caleb Boger, Jr.

Just the facts

• John Tyler is 5-2 against Mesquite since 2004.
• The Lions haven't lost to the Skeeters since 2007.
• When these teams met last year, John Tyler came away with a 20-14 victory.
• The Lions are putting up an average just shy of 400 yards per game.
• Cameron Grant has missed the past two games and will not play this week either.
• After falling to Rockwall in its district opener, John Tyler bounced back with a 44-7 win against North Mesquite last week.

Key matchup: John Tyler defense against Jonathan Garza and the pass attack. In the Lions' two losses this year, they've given up a combined 92 points. If Garza can get the Mesquite offense humming, it could spell doom for John Tyler.

Thankfully, there are plenty of playmakers to ensure that doesn't happen. Tre Allison and DeKalen Goodson do a pretty good job stifling opposing offenses. It's no doubt they could haunt Garza all game.

The Lions held North Mesquite to only seven points last week. If they can get a repeat performance this week, it could improve to 2-1 in district play.

Don't be surprised if: Roderick Hawkins has a big game. In the two games since Cameron Grant has been out, Hawkins has rushed for 222 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries. He's also been featured in the passing attack.

John Tyler doesn't shy from running and the way Hawkins has played, he might see more opportunities come his way. If the Mesquite defense isn't prepared, he will he a big game.