Above Photo Credit: KevinMyerPhotography.com
WEEKLY SCORES AND SCHEDULE
Week 2 is now in the books as three Frisco, Texas teams remain undefeated while another kicked off its 2017 campaign. Here’s a quick look at how it all went down…
District 13-5A
Lone Star (2-0) @ Mansfield Timberview (1-1)—45-21
The Lone Star Rangers exploded out of the gates against the Timberview Wolves during Week 2, putting up a 24-7 advantage at halftime that set the stage for an easy win. Leading the route was none other than MJ Rivers, who ran for four TDs, threw another, and piled up 236 total yards of offense all by his lonesome. Lone Star RB Kirby Bennett III (109 yds, TD) had another solid night, averaging just under eight yards per carry, while adding another rushing TD to his ledger.
Up Next: @ Lovejoy (0-2)
The Lovejoy Leopards have limped out of the gates this season, coming off back-to-back blowout losses against Argyle (Week 1) and Frisco’s own Wakeland last week. Averaging just 17.5 points per game thus far, Lovejoy is going to need to muster more offense against the Rangers to avoid an 0-3 start.
Reedy (2-0) VS Northwest Eaton (1-1)—31-24
This matchup was our official Week 2 Game of the Week, and it did not disappoint. Down 17-10 at halftime, it looked like the Lions would come back down to earth after a solid opening week win against the Independence Knights. But Reedy’s stout defense threw up a zero in the third quarter as the Lions, on the legs of RB Justin Gipson ((195 yds, 4 TDs) rumbled right back into the game thanks to two quick third quarter scores. The Lions’ defense—shaky in the first—made the proper second-half adjustments to quiet the Eaton Eagles solid offense.
Up Next: @ Denton Braswell (0-2)
Football in Texas is king, and the Friday Night variety can be quite cruel; especially to the new school. Denton Braswell, two weeks into their first varsity season, know this all too well, as their defense has surrendered an average of 47.5 points per game. That, coupled with an offense that has managed double-digit points just once, spells trouble for the Bengals in Week 3.
Wakeland (2-0) VS Lovejoy (0-2)—38-14
The Wakeland Wolverines pounced on a Lovejoy Leopards team that has had trouble on the defensive side of the ball. Up 28-7 at halftime, Wakeland put it on cruise control in the second half with yet another stellar performance. The Wolverines’ RB/ATH Cade Starnes’ (64 yds rushing) 97-yard kickoff return in the game’s first 15 seconds set the tone for another dominant Wakeland win.
Up Next: @ Richardson Pearce (1-1)
Richardson Pearce presents the biggest challenge thus far for Wakeland. The Mustangs offense has been stout, averaging close to 375 yards of total offense per game (363.5). The problem for the ponies though is in keeping their opponents from running rampant against their defense.
Centennial (1-1) VS Lake Dallas (1-1)—37-36
Sometimes, two teams are so similar in skill-set that their game plays out like an old-school Mortal Kombat mirror-match. This was certainly true for the Lake Dallas Falcons and Centennial Titans, last week, as their game was decided by special teams.
Lake Dallas kicker, Marcial Apaez, who had missed two field goals earlier, connected on a 27-yarder to seal the Falcons’ first win of the season. Centennial’s RB Hunter Williams, had a huge night, coming up one yard shy of the two-century mark, with 199 yards rushing and a TD.
Up Next: VS McKinney North (1-1)
The Titans will look to return to their winning ways as the McKinney North Bulldogs march into town towing an offense that has averaged over 460 yards per game along. The good news? The Bulldogs’ defense has allowed an astounding 623 yards per game.
Independence (1-1) VS Denton Braswell (0-2)—58-19
The Independence Knights let out any pent-up frustration stemming from Week 1’s loss to Reedy by beating up on Braswell for an easy Week 2 win. The rout was truly on when Knights’ WR Mukund Mahesh (107 yds, TD) hauled in a Kevin Dick pass late in the first half to put Independence up 38-6 at the midway point.
Up Next: @ NW Eaton (1-1)
Both the Knights and the NW Eaton Eagles have bullied Denton Braswell this season, as Independence held the honor last week—with Eaton taking the honors, 37-3 in Week 1. Take away a two-score second quarter in Week 2 by Reedy, however, and the Eaton Eagles might be 2-0. Likewise for the Knights, who lost a Week 1 showdown with those same Reedy Lions. This should be a fun matchup with two teams that are quite evenly matched.
Frisco (0-2) VS Denison (2-0)—10-21
In spite of losing the total yards war (304 to 316), the Denison Yellowjackets’ offense exploded for a two-score fourth quarter that was too much for Frisco to overcome. Hat tip to Denison’s defense that was at its stingiest when it mattered most, preventing the ‘Coons from capitalizing on multiple scoring opportunities.
Up Next: @ Woodrow Wilson (2-0)
The Raccoons head to Dallas to take on a powerful Woodrow Wilson team that has been averaging over 500 yards of total offense per game. Frisco’s job will be to find some running room against a Wildcats team that has allowed 269 yards of offense on average in their two blowout victories.
Heritage (0-2) @ Colleyville Heritage (1-1)—14-49
A battle for heritage was an easy theme for last week’s showdown between the Coyotes of Frisco and the Panthers of Colleyville.
With both teams’ names owing a nod to nostalgia, we figured this game would be reminiscent of one team’s proud pigskin past. Yours truly was hoping for a flashback to the Malik Walker-led Coyotes years, but unfortunately, heritage was paid more towards Christian Ponders’ old Colleyville Heritage years.
Tied 14-all after the first quarter, the Panthers produced 35 unanswered points pitching a shutout of the Coyotes offense in the final three quarters. Do-it-all QB Amare Jones paced the Coyotes offense, rushing for 101 yards while catching two passes for 20 yards, with one piercing the end zone for a first quarter score.
Up Next: VS Grapevine (1-1)
Frisco Heritage returns home to take on a Grapevine Mustangs team that came up just shy of pushing their record to 2-0 last week against Abilene Cooper.
Liberty (0-2) VS Sherman (1-1)—14-39
The box score from last week’s Redhawks and Bearcats battle reads much like the football equivalent of an overstuffed sandwich.
Stay with me, I’ll explain.
The bread of this unsavory snack was fortified by the RedHawks’ only two scores—one in the first quarter and one in the final frame. Sadly, all of the meat of in the middle was provided by a Bearcats’ team that put up all 39 points in the game’s second and third quarters. Both of the RedHawks’ scores came courtesy of Carson Morris (132 total yds, 2 TDs).
Up Next: VS Prosper (1-1)
Former fellow district mates, the Prosper Eagles return to Frisco to see about putting last week’s 33-16 drubbing by Mansfield Lake Ridge behind them.
TAPPS I-I
Legacy Christian (0-1) @ John Paul II (1-0)—24-28
A 10-7 halftime lead evaporated in the third quarter, as the JPII Cardinals found the end zone twice on two quick rushing plays. Down 21-17 entering the fourth quarter, Legacy Christian regained the lead on a Josh Brewer (59 yds, TD) ground gain, only to fall prey to a Cardinals 76-yard pass play that sealed JPII’s first win in 33 games.
Up Next: VS Conrad Chargers (0-2)
Everyone loves home cooking, and the Legacy Christian Eagles get to kick-off their home opener against a Conrad Chargers team averaging just 10 points per game of offense.
