ROYSE CITY, Texas-There's not a lot of talk about the fact unbeaten Texas High hasn't won in the first round of the 5A playoffs in a long time.
"Texas High is a really good football team and Coach (Barry) Norton is doing a great job with those guys," said Neil, who has led his team to a 6-4 season, including setbacks to the likes of Highland Park, Mesquite Poteet, Lakeview Centennial and Rockwall Heath. "They're a top ten team in the state and they probably have as good a chance as anybody of making a run.
The Tigers roared through District 16-5A, while West Mesquite posted a 5-2 record to tie for third place in 15-5A.
"They've got some special players, starting with the quarterback (Cade Pearson), running backs (Markese Martin and Devuntay Walker), and two good receivers (Quan Hampton and Tevailance Hunt). They're a really good football team. In the DFW area we don't face many offenses like Texas High's because they employ a tight end (Ladd Preston)."
It appears Pearson, Hampton and Hunt concern Neil the most, and for good reason. Pearson has completed 142 of 188 passes for 2,165 yards and 23 touchdowns. Hampton is now the Tigers' single-season record holder with 66 catches and is close to the single-season record of yardage with 1,139 yards. Hunt has 34 receptions for 607 yards and nine touchdowns.
"The quarterback is as good as anybody we've seen this year," Neil said. "Hampton and Hunt are very special players, as is Martin. There's so many weapons Pearson has an opportunity to get the ball to. It's kind of hard to keep up with everybody. It all starts with the quarterback and the offensive line."
On the other side Norton is serious when he says this game will be no cakewalk. The two teams have played no one in common, but if you want to compare scores, North Forney beat playoff team Mount Pleasant, 50-21, and the Wrangers beat North Forney, 23-15. Texas High beat Mount Pleasant, 27-7.
"There's probably nobody we can really compare West Mesquite to that we've played this year," Norton said. "Defensively, they're a 3-4 team, a high-pressure team that we have not seen a whole lot of this year. They do play some zone stuff, but I believe we'll see a lot of pressure. They've played teams that are mostly run teams.
"Offensively, they're a little similar to Marshall. They have a good running back (Curtis Williams). They'll use him as a wildcat quarterback. They're similar to Marshall in that respect. It's hard to compare because we don't know much about the teams that they've played. They are absolutely the best defensive team that we will have played so far this season. That's the strength of their football team."
You get no argument from Neil on that fact. Six of West Mesquite's opponents this season have scored two touchdowns or less. They shut out Wylie East, 7-0.
"We kind of do what we do defensively," Neil said. "I don't know if it's an advantage matchup wise or not. It's going to be tough limiting everybody. We do play a pressure defense, that's what fits our personnel. We've leaned on our defense in most of the games that we've won. Our games are mostly low-scoring. We've had to play sort of an old fashioned brand of football. It's the best way to give us a chance to win."
Williams is blessed with great vision and a burst according to Neil. He surpassed 1,000 yards last season as a sophomore, and has already passed that mark again this year.
Texas High's offensive line has been tested in recent weeks with pressure.
"When people pressure you, you're going to have big plays, and the other team is going to make big plays," Norton said. "We need to make sure our big plays are better. We've got to make sure we get bodies to bodies. When they do bring pressure it will create space to run and throw the football. I don't think they've seen wide receivers like ours. In we can get in some one-on-one battles and give the quarterback time to throw, then we've got to get the ball where it needs to go.
"Going in we want a balanced attack. We'll be in some different sets to create some runs, and get some play-action passes from it. I think it will give us some opportunities to creat some mismatches."
Neil notes it hasn't been enjoyable watching Texas High films.
"You go back and watch those films and see Hampton making plays," he said. "The next thing Hunt is making plays, and then you throw Martin in."
The winner of tonight's game advances to the area round against the winner of the Prosper (9-3) and Frisco Wakeland (6-4) game. Those same two teams played each other last week with Prosper prevailing, 55-14.
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TONIGHT'S LINEUPS
(Numbers in parentheses)
TEXAS HIGH OFFENSE: LT-Dylan Raley (75), 300; LG-Jey Shon Hawthorne (66), 250; C-James Tarantino (64), 265; RG-Elian Bustos (68), 270; RT-Kameron Arnold (79), 310; TE-Ladd Preston (43) 220; QB-Cade Pearson (10), 200; FB-Deshawn Harris (44), 225; TB-Devuntay Walker (5), 190, and Markese Martin (20), 215; WR-Tevailance Hunt (9), 175; WR-Quan Hampton (2), 165; PK-Isidro Hernandez (31), 190.
TEXAS HIGH DEFENSE: DE-Leonard Parks (19), 225; T-Jaylin Franklin (48), 255; NG-Jonathan Allen (39), 215; DE-Dejonta Harper (24), 220; LB-Timothy Noble (32), 170; MLB-Davon Williams (40), 210; LB-Xzavier Hopkins (41), 200; CB-Deteryon Hunter (15), 160; SS-Eric Sutton (3), 160; FS-Javel Jones (29), 180; CB-Jaqualen Brown (7), 175; PNT-Kyle Choate (34), 170.
WEST MESQUITE OFFENSE: WR-Alex Perkins (11), 170; WR-Jaylon Monroe (9), 165; WR-Eric Knight (1), 195; LT-Anthony Flores (58), 240; LG-Frankie Avalos (59), 240; C-Alan Salas (75), NA; RG-JoeAnthony Amaya (51), 220; RT-Muctar Jailoh (50), 280; QB-Connor Neill (16), 190; TB-Curtis Williams (6), 180; PK-Angel Chavarria (30), NA.
WEST MESQUITE DEFENSE: E-D.J. Jackson (22), 260; E-Malik Walker (90), NA; NG-Christian Spangler (99), 330; ILB-Derrian Forge (14), 185; ILB-Ja'Coty McCoy (5), 185; OLB-Dayven Coleman (2), 190; OLB-Damarcus Crockett (4), 188; CB-Jaylon Monroe (9), 165; CB-Isaiah Wheeler (3), 160; S-Drake Cheatum (7), 155; S-Kenneth Johnson (10), 165. P-Jeremy Seaton (12), NA.