The first few weeks of the regular season are all about preparing for district play. Once that commences, each team fights for one of four playoff spots while trying to maximize their postseason seeding.
It’s all in preparation for making it to the postseason tournament. And now, all of that hard work has finally payed off; as here we are on the verge of the bi-district round.
It is not dissimilar to starting a new season all together—except necessity dictates a win or go home mentality, as that is the reality.
Here’s a look at each of Frisco ISD’s playoff teams and their first round opposition.
4A-DI Region 2 bi-district
Frisco Centennial (8-2) Vs. Carrollton Creekview (6-4)—Thursday 11/14/13, 7:00 PM @ Allen’s Eagle Stadium
District 9-4A’s number-one seeded Titans face District 10-4A’s fourth and final seed, the Carrollton Creekview Mustangs. The Titans have plenty of respect for lower-seeded teams as their lone loss in district this season came from via the Wakeland Wolverines—9-4A’s fourth seed.
Creekview’s offense is predicated by their QB, David Blough’s accurate arm and multiple weapons. Blough has thrown for 1,478 yards, 13 TDs and just 2 INTs. His favorite weapons include WRs. Markus Hardy (565 yds, 7 TDs), Ranjit Mason (352 yds 2 TDs) and surefire favorite name finalist Griffin—The Razor—Lazor (301 yds, 3 TDs). The Mustangs’ ground game is quite good too as they have two excellent runners in Raul Bustillos (729 yds, 7 TDs) and Justice Ogueri (593 yds, 6 TDs).
Led by QB Kelly Cordova, the Titans bring the superior aerial attack to the foray, but the Mustangs do outrun Centennial (186.3 per game versus 157.3), and their defense gets a very slight edge (312.6 total yards per game versus 315.8). I feel that Centennial has too many weapons for Creekview. Look for the Titans to pull off the victory and live on to play at least one more week.
4A-DII Region 2 bi-district
Frisco High (7-3) Vs. West Mesquite (5-5)—Friday 11/15/13, 7:00 PM @ Eagle-Mustangs Stadium
The third seed from District 10-4A, the West Mesquite Wranglers present a favorable matchup for the Frisco Raccoons. Whereas the ‘Coons average 366.7 total yards of offense per game, the Wranglers manage 323.8, with nearly 100 fewer yards per game rushing.
Almost identical defensively, the Wranglers (309.2 yards of offense allowed per) and the Raccoons (312.4 ypg) should both put up an ample amount of points.
West Mesquite is led by QB Chason Virgil (1,255 yds, 10 TDs, 3 INT) and two very strong RBs in Le’Billie Hunter (646 yds, 7 TDs) and Darrius Payne-Edwards (580 yds, 2 TDs). Virgil’s favorite aerial targets are Akilian Butler (440 yds, 2 TDs) and William Stanley (382 yds, 3 TDs).
Predicting high school playoff football is the riskiest of businesses, but I just don’t see how the Wranglers can stop Jake Battaglia and company. And if Frisco’s defense can step it up, look for the ‘Coons to make it to the next round of the playoffs.
Frisco Wakeland (6-4) Vs. Mesquite Poteet (9-1)—Fri. 11/15/13, 7:00 PM @ Standridge Stadium
Round one of the playoffs will be quite tough for the Wolverines of Wakeland. The Mesquite Poteet Pirates are the fifth-highest scoring offense in the area and excel at every facet of the game.
The Pirates enter bi-district as the second seeded team from 10-4A. Their district, like 9-4A is easily one of the strongest in the area, if not the state. Poteet’s offense is spear-headed by the number one QB in the area, Lane Novy (152/261, 2,506 yds, 25 TDs, 8 INTs). Novy has many targets to choose from but wideouts Kody Edwards (935 yds, 9 TDs), Deandre McNeal (457 yds, 9 TDs) and Walter Dawn, Jr. (424 yds, TD) tend to see the most action.
RB Jaylon Smith (935 yds, 13 TDs) leads the ground game with an assist from the aforementioned Dawn, Jr. (482 yds, 8 TDs). You add up each of their playmakers and it is no surprise that the Pirates average a ridiculous 44.5 points per game. While their offense churns out 469 total yards per.
The Wakeland Wolverines actually have the edge in points per game by a wide margin, as they put up 30.5 per. Each team’s defenses are quite similar in that Poteet allows 309.2 yards per game (182.2 rushing, 127 passing) whereas Wakeland gives up 315.1 per game (183.9 rushing, 131.2 passsing).
3A-DI Region 2 bi-district
Frisco Lone Star (6-4) Vs. Sanger (6-4)—Fri. 11/15/13, 7:30 PM @ DHS Bronco Stadium
The Sanger Indians finished as the third seed in District 9-3A. With Celina, Argyle and Aubrey atop District 10-3A, I would find it hard to believe that Sanger’s district is any tougher than Lone Star’s.
Sanger, like Lone Star, have two outstanding QBs that they can rotate in to provide a different look. Brandon Mason (964 yds, 8 TDs, 4 INTs) does the majority of the play calling with Wyatt Broxson (464 yds, 6 TDs, 3 INTs) handling the rest of the duty. Broxson would get more chances to pass if he wasn’t so busy in multiple roles in the Indians’ offense. He’s picked up 295 yards rushing with 5 TDs, and has received 480 yards for an additional 5 TDs. Clearly, containing Broxson is a key to stopping the Indians’ offense.
Don’t focus too much attention on Broxson though or star running back Tre’Von Jackson, the area’s leading rusher, can beat you single handedly. Jackson (1,593 yds, 25 TDs) is a prodigious runner with game-changing speed.
Thanks to the contributions of Jackson, the Indians are averaging 287.1 yds rushing per game, while passing for 142.8 ypg passing. They put up an average of 36.9 ppg on the board. On defense, they are slightly more susceptible to the run (191.1) than the pass (186.4). The Rangers have the advantage in passing yards allowed (123.9) but risk having Jackson run wild, as they allow an average of 249.5 ypg on the ground.
TAPPS D-III bi-district
Frisco Legacy Christian (8-2) Vs. Fort Worth Calvary (7-3)—Fri. 11/15/13, 7:30 PM @ Comstock Field
It is difficult to get a picture of FW Calvary Christian since only total team stats are available. And those, I feel, need to be taken with a grain of salt.
According to statistics posted by The Dallas Morning News, the Conquerors are a relentless defense—picture eight-feet tall behemoths snarling and salivating as plumes of smoke blast from their nostrils…or something like that. But their statistics back up this fevered vision, as they have surrendered just 69.4 yards of total offense per game this season…Say what?!
And as ridiculously awesome as their defense looks on the computer screen, their offense appears on the complete opposite end of the spectrum.
It’s hard to imagine that the playmakers necessary to surrender just 15.2 points per game don’t lend their talents to an offense that averages 64 yards per game. Also, how on earth does such a paltry yards total result in 28.9 points per game? Are they David versus Goliath all wrapped up into one team?
Something seems fishy, and either their district is just awful, or they are the best, most critically unbalanced team I’ve ever seen. These mysteries and many more can be solved this Friday night.
Regardless, Calvary Christian will need near-mythical defense to show up full strength Friday, because Ryan Davis and company present one tough offense with which to contend.
Be sure to check back early next week for a review of all of the Frisco ISD Playoff action as well as a look ahead to the area round.