PREVIEW: Tyler Lee Faces Tall Task Against Mesquite Poteet
Mesquite Poteet Pirates (2-1)
vs.
Tyler Lee Red Raiders (1-2)
7:30 p.m. Friday
CHRISTUS TMF Rose Stadium, Tyler
Coaches
- Poteet: Kody Groves
- Lee: Kurt Traylor
Last week
- Poteet: def. Mansfield Summit, 24-21
- Lee: def. Nacogdoches, 49-39
Next week
- Poteet: idle
- Lee: vs. Rockwall-Heath, Sept. 28
Players to watch
Poteet
- RB Seth McGowan, Jr., 5-11, 200 (54 carries, 320 yards, 4 TDs)
- CB Dorian Morris, Sr., 5-10, 162 (8 tackles, 1 INT, 3 PBUs; committed to North Texas)
- WR Cam Lampkin, Sr., 5-10, 165 (4 catches, 62 yards; 4 carries, 44 yards)
- LB Bershard Glaspie, Sr., 6-0, 195 (21 tackles, 1 sack, 2 PBUs; committed to Tulsa)
- WR Tristan Golightly, Jr., 6-5, 205 (4 catches, 76 yards)
- TE Kameron Allen, Soph., 6-4, 190 (3 catches, 23 yards)
- WR/CB Louis Moore, Sr., 5-11, 165 (4 catches, 159 yards, TD; 7 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 INT, 2 PBUs)
- LB Jalen Updite, Jr., 6-2, 180 (19 tackles, 5 for loss, 1 PBU)
Lee
- FB/DE Jamal Ligon, Jr., 6-2, 240 (2 catches, 26 yards; 21 tackles, 6 for loss, 5 sacks, 8 QB pressures)
- OL Beaux Limmer, Sr., 6-5, 270 (committed to Arkansas)
- RB Jamarion Miller, Fr., 5-9, 170 (42 carries, 353 yards, 4 TDs; 2 catches, 33 yards)
- WR Zaylon Walker, Sr., 6-1, 170 (11 catches, 306 yards, 1 TD)
- LB Devon't Bolton, Jr., 6-3, 185 (20 tackles, 5 for los, 4 sacks, 3 QB pressures)
- RB/LB Jordan Printers, Sr., 5-10, 193 (37 carries, 233 yards, 2 TDs; 15 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 QB pressure)
- RB Jamar Arceneaux, Jr. (29 carries, 217 yards, 3 TDs)
- QB Mark Patton, Jr., 6-5, 215 (29 of 66, 636 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs)
Just the facts
- This is the first-ever meeting between Mesquite Poteet and Tyler Lee.
- Mesquite Poteet will face East Texas schools Texas High and John Tyler in District 7-5A Division I this season.
- Mesquite Poteet is averaging 28.7 points and 319.3 yards per game -- 176.3 rushing and 143 passing.
- Poteet junior running back Seth McGowan has 21 FBS offers, including Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, LSU, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Stanford, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and Wisconsin.
- Poteet is allowing 18.7 points per game and has forced five turnovers -- three interceptions and two fumbles.
- Tyler Lee is averaging 33 points and 497 yards per game -- 285 rushing and 212 passing.
- Lee freshman running back Jamarion Miller is averaging 8.4 yards per carry.
- Lee is allowing 48.7 points per game and has yet to force a turnover this season.
Key matchup: Poteet rushing attack vs. Lee defensive front. The Pirates come into to Friday night's non-district finale for both teams with one of the best running backs in the nation in junior Seth McGowan. The Poteet standout currently has Division I offers from more than 20 college football programs, including from some of the best programs in the country -- Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Stanford, and Wisconsin. And he's been the driving force behind Poteet's offense so far in 2018 with back-to-back 100-yard performances in wins over Waxahachie and Mansfield Summit. He was kept out of the end zone in last week's 24-21 victory, but he enjoyed his most productive performance of the season with 153 yards on just 18 carries. The running game is important to Poteet's passing game as well, as Pirates receivers come in averaging almost 19 yards per catch.
Lee has struggled mightily on the defensive side of the ball through the first three games of the season. The Red Raiders allowed 42 points and five passing touchdowns to Marshall in the season opener, and gave up 65 points and almost 500 rushing yards the following week against John Tyler. Even in Lee's win last week over Nacogdoches, the Raiders surrendered 39 points and 428 yards. Lee was much better against the run vs. Nacogdoches as the Dragons managed just 115 yards on 27 rushing attempts. But the pass defense suffered, allowing more than 300 yards and four touchdowns. This week, the focus will be on Lee's run defense against one of the top running backs the Raiders will face in 2018.
Don't be surprised if: Lee tries to get even more touches for freshman Jamarion Miller on offense. Through three games, the ninth-grade running back has been a revelation for the Red Raiders. Miller, the younger brother of former John Tyler standout receiver and University of Texas signee Damion Miller, has exploded onto the scene, especially in the last two games. He comes into Friday's game with a team-best 353 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. However, Miller has just two receptions in three games, which is surprising given his ability to burn defenses in the open field with exceptional speed. Expect more chances for Miller to make an impact in the passing game, especially on screen plays, which were a staple for Gilmer when Lee head coach Kurt Traylor was an assistant for the Buckeyes.