PREVIEW: Marshall Riding Six-Game Win Streak into Playoffs

CLASS 5A DIVISION I
Region II Bi-District Playoff

Marshall Mavericks (6-4)

vs.

Mesquite Poteet Pirates (5-5)

7:30 p.m. Friday

Royse City ISD Stadium

Coaches

Marshall: Claude Mathis
Poteet: Kody Groves

Last week

Marshall: idle
Poteet: def. West Mesquite, 38-31

Next week

Winner faces either Prosper or Frisco Wakeland, area playoffs

Playmakers

Marshall

QB J.J. Green, Soph., 6-3, 172 (90 of 195, 1,612 yards, 17 TDs, 8 INTs; 84 carries, 449 yards, 4 TDs)
RB Rodarius Smith, Sr., 5-10, 170 (128 carries, 949 yards, 10 TDs; 9 catches, 66 yards, 0 TDs)
OL Chasen Hines, Sr., 6-3, 330 (committed to LSU)
DL Marje Smith, Sr., 6-6, 201 (41 tackles, 17 for loss, 3 sacks, 9 QB pressures, 10 PBUs, 1 fumble recovery; committed to Baylor)
OL Kameron King, Sr., 6-3, 270
WR Dekendrick Bender, Jr., 6-2, 185 (26 catches, 480 yards, 7 TDs; 12 carries, 139 yards, 3 TDs)
DL Eddie Silas, Sr., 6-0, 200 (34 tackles, 16 for loss, 9 sacks, 6 QB pressures, 3 forced fumbles)
LB/DB Corteze Hurd, Sr., 6-1, 175 (73 tackles, 23 for loss, 7 sacks, 4 QB pressures, 2 INTs, 2 PBUs, 1 fumble recovery)

Poteet

QB Dalton Dale, Jr., 5-11, 170 (89 of 164, 1,383 yards, 7 TDs, 8 INTs; 89 carries, 604 yards, 6 TDs)
DB Mekhi Garner, Sr., 6-2, 193 (59 tackles, 2 for loss, 2 INTs, 2 PBUs, 2 forced fumbles, 2 recoveries; committed to Texas Tech)
LB Jimmy Phillips, Sr., 6-3, 200 (65 tackles, 4 for loss, 3 sacks, 1 INT, 2 PBUs, 2 fumble recoveries; committed to SMU)
RB Seth McGowen, Soph., 6-0, 205 (116 carries, 801 yards, 8 TDs; 6 catches, 70 yards, 1 TD)
WR Cam Lampkin, Jr., 5-10, 150 (25 catches, 483 yards, 5 TDs; 44 carries, 184 yards, 2 TDs; 18 of 41, 214 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT)
LB Jeremiah Record, Jr., 5-9, 207 (77 tackles, 5 for loss, 2 PBUs, 2 forced fumbles)
LB Jonathan Kath, Soph., 5-10, 185 (76 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 fumble recovery)
DL Jaron Gray, Sr., 6-3, 230 (54 tackles, 5 for loss, 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles)

Just the facts

The cumulative record of Marshall's 2017 opponents is 49-49 (.500).
The cumulative record of Poteet's 2017 opponents is 57-43 (.570).
Marshall is averaging 34.1 points and 396.5 yards per game -- 214.9 rushing and 181.6 passing.
The Mavericks defense has racked up 34 sacks as a team, and 117 tackles for loss.
Marshall is allowing 21.8 points per game, and has forced 13 turnovers -- eight interceptions and five fumbles.
Poteet is averaging 31.8 points and 376 yards per game -- 206.3 rushing and 169.7 passing.
The Pirates had to defeat West Mesquite in the final week of the regular season to qualify for the playoffs.
Poteet is allowing 33.2 points per game, and has forced 16 turnovers -- six interceptions and 10 fumbles.

Key matchup: Marshall rushing attack vs. Poteet defensive front. The Mavericks are among the most balanced teams in East Texas, but Marshall has been especially strong on the ground this season. During the regular season, the Mavs averaged almost 215 rushing yards per game, and they have two players that have carried the load - running back Rodarius Smith and quarterback J.J. Green. Smith is nearing 1,000 yards on the season, while Green is a true dual-threat behind center with nearly 450 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.

The strength of Poteet's defense is its linebacking corps. Jimmy Phillips (SMU commit), Jeremiah Record, and Jonathan Kath have made a habit of stopping opposing running backs in their tracks this season. They should have their hands full against a Marshall front that features three Division I recruits -- seniors Chasen Hines (LSU commit) and Kameron King, and junior Christian Hood. Green has been intercepted eight times in 195 passing attempts, so if Poteet can put Marshall into obvious passing situations, the Pirates might create an edge.

Don't be surprised if: The game comes down to the fourth quarter. Marshall has had very few close calls during its six-game winning streak, averaging more than 28 points in margin of victory. Poteet, on the other hand, is coming a playoff game of sorts last week. Needing a win over West Mesquite in the regular season finale, the Pirates pulled out a narrow 38-31 victory. These two teams appear to be very evenly matched, and a big play here or there could end up being the difference.