DISTRICT 11-3A DIVISION II

Waskom Wildcats (5-1, 3-0)

vs.

Elysian Fields Yellowjackets (4-2, 3-0)

7:30 p.m. Friday
Jacket Stadium, Elysian Fields

Coaches

  • Waskom: Whitney Keeling
  • Elysian Fields: Scott Ford

Last week

  • Waskom: def. De Kalb, 41-7
  • Elysian Fields: def. Queen City, 37-0

Next week

  • Waskom: vs. Daingerfield, Oct. 26
  • Elysian Fields: at Paul Pewitt, Oct. 26

Players to watch

Waskom

  • RB/DB T.K. Hamilton, Sr., 6-0, 172 (52 carries, 513 yards, 11 TDs; 6 tackles, 1 QB hurry, 1 INT, 4 PBUs)
  • RB Jacob Reeves, Sr., 6-0, 224 (54 carries, 297 yards, 3 TDs)
  • RB/LB Chris "Dinky" Stafford, Sr., 5-8, 175 (16 carries, 179 yards; 51 tackles, 7 for loss, 1 forced fumble, 2 QB hurries)
  • OL/DE Ike Irving, Sr., 6-1, 194 (28 tackles, 1 for loss, 4.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 QB hurries)
  • QB/DB Raymond Ramirez, Sr., 5-10, 186 (39 carries, 301 yards, 1 TD)
  • LB Lamontre Stephens, Sr., 6-3, 184 (30 tackles, 7 for loss, 1 sack, 1 INT)
  • RB/LB Tristan McDonald, Sr., 6-0, 215 (10 carries, 58 yards, 1 TD; 78 tackles, 6 for loss, 1 sack, 1 INT, 2 QB hurries)
  • DL Chris Pacheo, Sr., 5-10, 170 (53 tackles, 8 for loss, 2 sacks, 7 QB hurries, 1 fumble recovery)
  • DL Detrich Byrd, So., 5-9, 185 (51 tackles, 5 for loss, 2.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries)

Elysian Fields

  • OL/DL Jade Ashalintubbi, Sr., 6-6, 315 (16 tackles)
  • QB Ryan Wilkerson, So., 5-10, 175 (55-of-87, 928 yards, 6 TDs, 5 INTs; 43 carries, 360 yards, 4 TDs)
  • LB Cole Ellis, Sr., 5-9, 190 (60 tackles, 8 for loss, 4 sacks, 1 forced fumble)
  • WR/DB Kelvin Stevenson, Sr., 5-9, 175 (15 catches, 257 yards, 2 TDs)
  • LB/RB Michael Ramirez, Sr., 6-2, 200 (128 carries, 1,061 yards, 12 TDs; 35 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery)
  • OL/DL Carson Holland, Jr., 5-10, 190 (45 tackles, 5 for loss, 6 sacks)
  • RB/DB Tony Mason, Jr., 5-8, 150 (39 carries, 382 yards, 7 TDs; 25 tackles, 1 fumble recovery)
  • WR/DB Tyrese Hardeman, Jr., 6-3, 170 (11 catches, 249 yards, 2 TDs)

Just the facts

  • This is the 29th meeting since 1990 between Elysian Fields and Waskom. The Yellowjackets hold a 20-8 lead in the series, but Waskom has won four of the past five games.
  • Elysian Fields is averaging 464.7 yards per game (159.7 passing and 305 rushing).
  • Yellowjackets running back Michael Ramirez is averaging 8.3 yards per carry and seventh among East Texas players in yards rushing.
  • Elysian Fields has four receivers with at least 100 yards this season.
  • Waskom is averaging 355.7 yards per game (302.5 rushing and 53.2 passing).
  • Waskom athlete T.K. Hamilton is averaging 9.9 yards per carry. Despite being second on the team in carries, his 513 yards are 216 more than the teams second-leading rusher, Jacob Reeves.
  • Waskom has only attempted 37 passes all season, or 6.2 per game.

Key matchup: Elysian Fields offense against the Waskom defense. Elysian Fields enters the game averaging more than 450 yards and 35 points per game. The Yellowjackets have proven there an offensive with many weapons, too, making it even more difficult to stop. Michael Ramirez is one of the top rushers in East Texas, already surpassing 1,000 yards on the ground. Ryan Wilkerson is nearing 1,000 yards passing and has done so using a plethora of targets.

Elysian Fields LB/TE Michael Ramirez. (© Clint Buckley, ETSN.fm)
Elysian Fields LB/TE Michael Ramirez. (© Clint Buckley, ETSN.fm)
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Waskom's defense is no slouch, though. The Wildcats have plenty of playmakers on the defensive line, with Ike Irving leading the way with 4.5 sacks. Linebacker Tristan McDonald holds things down in the middle, leading the team with 78 tackles. If the Wildcats can keep Ramirez in check, they should be in a good position to win this game.

Don't be surprised if: T.K. Hamilton has a big game. The Waskom running back has been slightly held back by the Wildcats' ease of schedule thus far, but should see plenty of carries in this game. Averaging 9.9 yards per carry, that should lead to a 100-plus kind of game for him. The speedy back already has several Division I offers, and will be one to watch in this crucial district matchup.

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