For the first time this season, District 9-4A has one team atop the standings all by their lonesome. Unfortunately, no Frisco ISD team can hold that claim. However, the Game of the Week did see one team move into a second place tie, and another get right back into the thick of a postseason push.
L Frisco Centennial (3-1) @ Frisco Wakeland (3-1)—0-21
The Lifestyle Frisco Game of the Week came down to three yards and one deadly defense. Wolverines QB Jackson Lamb (3/3 134 yards) scored on a one-yard run in the first quarter, Tyler Carver did the same in the second, and RB Brent Altieri (79 yards) provided his three-foot shuffle in the third. Although Lamb threw just three passes, he picked his targets well as WRs Justice Williams (34 yards) and Tanner Eutling (2 catches, 100 yds) set up crucial scoring drives.
Wakeland’s defense slammed the door on a Centennial offense that had averaged 449.8 yards per game and had yet to score fewer than 31 points all season. Once the Wolverines were done, the Titans had mustered just 123 yards of total offense.
The Titans defense was outstanding too, allowing just one score per quarter until they dished out a zero in the fourth. But by then it was too late as Wakeland cruised to the 21-0 win.
Centennial’s Kelly Cordova was not his usual self as he completed just 48% of his passes and threw one pick. He was also held to just 25 yards rushing as the fleet-footed quarterback found things just as difficult outside of the pocket as in.
W Frisco Heritage (2-2) VS. Little Elm (0-4)—36-21
The Frisco Heritage Wolverines jumped right back into 9-4A playoff contention thanks to a 14 point third quarter that gave them the lead for good.
The Lobos defense just couldn’t stop the precision passing of QB Malik Walker (259 yards, 5 TDs) and his playmaking WRs, Bubba Ogebor (102 yards, 3 TDs) and Keaton White (84 yards, 2 TDs).
Little Elm RBs Caleb Chapman (211 yds, 2 TDs) and Quinlin Gaines (87 yds, TD) paced the Lobos offense.
W Frisco High (3-1) Vs. Liberty (1-3)—34-7
With Centennial’s loss, the Raccoons were on a mission as a win would move them into a tie for second place in District 9-4A…mission accomplished.
Frisco used a punishing ground game to roll to an easy win. Despite five fumbles (three of which were lost), the Raccoons offense kept on rolling thanks to the usual suspects—QB Jake Battaglia (100 yards of total offense, 2 TDs), RB Max Steitle (79 yds, TD) and WR T.J. Keys (TD). RB Matt Nollman nearly doubled his rushing yards on the season piling up 118 yards on 16 carries.
Liberty had their fair share of miscues, as QBs Connor Robison (9/18, 143 yds) and Udgam Goyal (5/8, 45 yds) combined for three interceptions. Robison scored the lone RedHawks TD on a 10-yard scamper in the third quarter.
Up 27-0 at halftime, there was never much doubt that the Raccoons would secure the win and slice off their own piece of second place.
W Legacy Christian (2-0) Vs. Gainesville State School (0-2)—22-49
Legacy Christian has just two DIII-2 TAPPS games remaining and they probably wish they had 20 more left to go. After all, optimism flows freely and confidence runs high when your offense is averaging 49.5 points per game.
The Eagles pounded the ground against a Tornados defense that had no answers for C.J. Encalade (189 yards, 2 TDs) or Ryan Davis (73 yards, 3 TDs).
RB Chase Eisenmann had only one carry, but used it to kick the flood gates open thanks to his 53-yard touchdown scamper in the first quarter.
Gainesville State School’s mysteriously named “JTP” rushed for 143 yards thanks in large part to a 69-yard TD in the first quarter and an 80-yard score in the fourth quarter.
L Frisco Lone Star (0-2) Vs. Celina (2-0)—10-45
Whereas the Legacy Christian Eagles are loving life in district play, the Lone Star Rangers are realizing just how difficult District 10-3A can be.
With two offenses that are quite similar in production—Lone Star is second in Area 3A with 460.1 yds total offense, with Celina in third at 427.1 (Lone Star holds a slight edge in both rushing and passing yards per game)—this game looked to be far from a one-sided affair.
As Celina is apt to do, they received contributions from multiple players—as 9 players had rushing gains of at least 12 yards and 9 more caught at least one pass. Lone Star was great on the ground, as Ramon Harris had a very Ramon Harris-like performance, averaging just under 10 yards per carry with 122 yards on the day. QB Jason Shelley ran rampant too, with 158 yards and one trip into the end zone.
This game was predicated by Celina’s ability to grind the Rangers passing game to a halt while their own aerial attack was coolly efficient as Bobcats QB Nathan Elliiott completed over 70% of his passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns.
Be sure to check back this Thursday, as Lifestyle Frisco brings you the Week 8 Preview including the Game of the Week—Frisco Wakeland (3-1) @ The Colony (4-0).
