San Augustine, Tenaha Clash in Intriguing Non-District Finale

San Augustine Wolves (2-2)
vs.
Tenaha Tigers (2-3)

7:30 p.m. Friday
Tiger Stadium, Tenaha

Coaches
San Augustine: Donald Hubbard
Tenaha: Terry Ward

Last week
San Augustine: def. Hemphill, 46-6
Tenaha: def. Sabine, 20-7

Next week
San Augustine: vs. Grapeland
Tenaha: vs. Burkeville

Playmakers

San Augustine

• RB Tony Hubbard, Sr.
• QB Bobby Tanner, Sr.
• ATH Ty'Aundra Taylor, Sr.
• WR Al Horton, Sr.
• LB Jeremy Jenkins, Soph.
• LB Jarvis Giles, Sr.
• OL/DL Alex Moreno, Sr.

Tenaha

• QB J.R. Hill, Jr. (45 of 98, 663 yards, 7 TDs, 10 INTs; 21 carries, 57 yards)
• RB/LB Chavis Gregory, Jr. (74 carries, 402 yards, 4 TDs; 4 catches, 61 yards, 1 TD; 20 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 FG block)
• WR/DB Keontas Davis, Jr. (25 catches, 481 yards, 4 TDs; 24 tackles, 2 INTs)
• LB De'Aaron Roland, Sr. (57 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries)
• RB/SS Cobe Carraway, Soph. (35 carries, 179 yards; 27 tackles, 1 forced fumble)
• WR/DB D'Andre Thomas, Soph. (6 catches, 60 yards, 1 TD; 22 tackles, 5 sacks, 1 INT, 1 forced fumble, 2 recoveries)
• OL/DL Denzel Williams, Jr. (31 tackles, 5 sacks, 1 forced fumble)

Just the facts

• San Augustine averages 28.8 points per game and allows 21.8
• Tenaha averages 17.2 points per game and allows 20.8.
• Tenaha has 22 sacks as a team, led by five apiece from D'andre Thomas and Denzel Williams.
• San Augustine went 8-3 in 2011 playing as a Class 2A school.
• Tenaha is the defending Class A Division II state champion.
• Tenaha has forced 11 turnovers, but has lost 19 of its own.

Key matchup: San Augustine ground game vs. Tenaha linebackers. Tenaha must be prepared to defend the Wolves' running game, which is paced by tailback Tony Hubbard and quarterback Bobby Tanner. Both of them have the ability to break any run to the house, so veteran defensive stalwart De'Aaron Roland, who leads Tenaha in tackles, and fellow linebacker Chavis Gregory -- the Tigers' go-to ball carrier -- must be prepared to meet San Augustine's playmakers in the gaps and on the edges all night long. San Augustine exploded for 46 points in last week's 40-point victory against Hemphill, so the Wolves appear to be hitting their offensive stride at the right time entering this final non-district tuneup.

Don't be surprised if: San Augustine's advantage in the experience category guides the Wolves to a win. It's true that this will be the sixth game of the season for the young Tigers, but they still don't have as many seniors in as many key positions as the Wolves, who also have the advantage of a larger enrollment from which to pull that experience. All three of Tenaha's losses to date -- Garrison, Alto, Pineland West Sabine -- are against quality opponents, and a loss to San Augustine would be no different. Not that that's any solace to the Tigers, but they'll be primed for a strong district run regardless of the result of Friday's game. The same goes for San Augustine, which, like Tenaha, is better than its record entering this contest.