Tenaha Faces Off Against Two-Time Defending Champ Bremond

CLASS 2A DIVISION II
Region III Championship

No. 5 Tenaha Tigers (13-0)

vs.

No. 1 Bremond Tigers (13-0)

7 p.m. Friday
Cougar Field, College Station

Coaches

• Tenaha: Craig Horn
• Bremond: Jeff Kasowski

Last week

• Tenaha: def. Iola, 44-0
• Bremond: def. Maud, 48-20

Next week

• Winner faces Burton or Flatonia, Class 2A Division II semifinal

Playmakers

Tenaha

• QB C.J. Horn, Jr., 6-0, 195 (203 of 277, 3,386 yards, 43 TDs, 4 INTs; 35 carries, 225 yards, 7 TDs)
• WR/CB Trai Gardner, Jr., 5-11, 175 (74 catches, 1,410 yards, 21 TDs; 9 carries, 260 yards, 5 TDs; 35 tackles, 6 for loss, 1 sack, 5 INTs, 8 PBUs, 2 forced fumbles, 3 recoveries)
• WR/S Jay Lloyd, Soph., 5-11, 165 (52 catches, 929 yards, 9 TDs; 15 carries, 286 yards, 7 TDs; 50 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 INT, 9 PBUs)
• RB Onterio Thompson, Jr., 5-9, 172 (101 carries, 898 yards, 17 TDs; 17 catches, 218 yards, 5 TDs)
• WR/CB Cody Foshee, Jr., 6-1, 150 (20 catches, 396 yards, 3 TDs; 19 tackles, 7 INTs, 15 PBUs)
• LB Hunter Wagstaff, Sr., 5-9, 155 (103 tackles, 18 for loss, 4 sacks, 26 QB pressures, 1 forced fumble, 1 recovery, 1 PBU, 1 blocked punt)
• OL/DL Thomas Gardner, Sr., 6-1, 315 (103 tackles, 38 for loss, 3 sacks, 1 QB pressure, 2 forced fumbles, 2 recoveries, 1 PBU)
• LB T. Giles, Jr., 5-10, 175 (150 tackles, 18 for loss, 2 sacks, 5 QB pressures, 2 forced fumbles, 2 recoveries, 1 INT)

Bremond

• QB/DB Roshauud Paul, Sr., 6-0, 170 (106 of 162, 2,011 yards, 22 TDs, 3 INTs; 142 carries, 1,993 yards, 41 TDs; 42 tackles, 4 for loss, 4 INTs, 6 PBUs, 1 forced fumble; committed to Texas A&M)
• RB/DB Kaidyn Peralez, Jr. (86 carries, 1,007 yards, 15 TDs; 20 catches, 344 yards, 6 TDs; 57 tackles, 3 INTs, 6 PBUs)
• DT J.R. Rocha, Sr., 6-1, 285 (129 tackles, 13 for loss, 5 sacks, 2 QB pressures)
• LB Eric Wilganowski, Jr., 5-8, 185 (139 tackles, 5 for loss, 1 sack, 1 QB pressure, 1 forced fumble, 1 INT, 1 PBU)
• WR/LB Michael Pruitt, Jr., 5-8, 170 (20 catches, 287 yards, 2 TDs; 58 carries, 482 yards, 7 TDs; 116 tackles, 7 for loss, 1 sack, 2 INTs, 1 PBU, 2 fumble recoveries)
• WR/DB Josh White, Sr., 5-10, 180 (30 catches, 525 yards, 3 TDs; 95 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 INT, 3 PBUs)
• DL Cayl Wagner, Jr., 6-3, 200 (90 tackles, 12 for loss, 3 sacks)
• DE Tanner Redus, Sr., 5-10, 175 (98 tackles, 11 for loss, 3 sacks, 3 QB pressures, 1 forced fumble, 1 recovery, 1 PBU)

Just the facts

• Tenaha has compiled an 87-21 record since 2009 with one state championship, while Bremond is 64-5 since 2012 with state titles in 2014 and 2015.
• Bremond has won 43 consecutive games, the longest streak in the state. The last team to beat the Tigers was Tenaha in the 2013 regional finals, 24-7.
• Tenaha is averaging 52.1 points and 475 yards per game -- 200.8 rushing and 274.2 passing.
• On the season, Tenaha has posted eight shutouts (three in the playoffs), and has allowed just 56 points all year.
• Tenaha receiver Trai Gardner has 1,670 all-purpose yards and 26 offensive touchdowns.
• Bremond is averaging 48.6 points and 456.3 yards per game -- 300.5 rushing and 155.8 passing.
• The closest game Bremond has had this season was decided by 19 points.
• Bremond quarterback and Texas A&M commit Roshauud Paul has accounted for 4,004 yards of offense and 63 touchdowns.

Key matchup: Bremond rushing attack vs. Tenaha defensive front. There hasn't been a more accomplished player at the Class 2A level in the last three years than Bremond senior quarterback Roshauud Paul. The Texas A&M commit has never lost as a starter, and has led the state's longest winning streak, which enters Friday's regional championship game at 43 games. Paul's career numbers are extraordinary: 11,211 total yards (5,740 passing, 5,471 rushing, 166 touchdowns (98 rushing), with 10 interceptions and four forced fumbles on defense. The superstar signal-caller needs just 15 more rushing yards to eclipse last season's total of 2,008, and he has already accounted for more touchdowns in 2016 (63) than he did all of last year. While Paul does most of the heavy lifting for Bremond, he is certainly not the only capable ball carrier. Junior running back Kaidyn Peralez has also surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark with 15 touchdowns, all while averaging almost 12 yards per carry. Bremond is dangerous in the passing game as well, but stopping the run should be Tenaha's first order of business on the defensive side of the ball.

Defense has been the name of the game for Tenaha this season. The Tigers come into Friday's contest having allowing just 56 points all season, and have yet to surrender a point through three playoff games. Tenaha's eight shutouts are the most in the state among the teams still remaining in the 11-man football playoffs. The defensive playmakers for Tenaha are many, but it all begins up front with senior tackle Thomas Gardner, a monster in the middle at 6-1, 315. Gardner is virtually unblockable at the 2A level, as evidenced by his staggering 38 tackles for loss. As team, the Tenaha defense has racked up an impressive 172 stops behind the line of scrimmage, which has created difficult second- and third-and-long situations for opposing offenses all season long. Stopping the run has helped Tenaha become a turnover machine, having forced 34 takeaways (20 interceptions) in 13 games. Tenaha has a tall task this week with the explosive Bremond offense, led by one of the most electrifying and productive players in the state.

Don't be surprised if: Both teams experience a rare closely contested game. Neither Bremond or Tenaha have been involved in any tight games in 2016, as both sets of Tigers are outscoring their opposition by an average of more than 40 points per game. Tenaha and Bremond's most narrow victories occurred way back in Week 1 -- a 14-0 Tenaha win over Joaquin, and a 29-10 defeat of Whitewright for Bremond. It's been a while since either team has been challenged, and it will be interesting to see how the two react to competition. Bremond has the edge in experience, having won the last two state championships, while Tenaha is eager to return to its championship form from earlier in the decade.