HUGHES SPRINGS (9-2) vs. GRANDVIEW (10-1)
SITE, TIME: Memorial Stadium, Mesquite, 2:30 p.m.
AT STAKE: Class 3A, Division I area championship.
LAST WEEK: The Mustangs blanked Mineola, 27-0, and the Zebras eliminated Pilot Point, 54-7.
GAME FACTS: Grandview averages 48.5 points and allows 8.9 points per game, and the Mustangs have scored 36.6 and given up 28.7 points per game. Hughes Springs is riding a 4-game win streak and last week's bi-district win was its first shutout of the year. The Zebras are on a 3-game win streak with shutouts of 31-0 and 84-0. Grandview has four shutouts on the year. In the win over Mineola last week, the Mustangs rushed for 363 yards and four different players scored TDs on the ground. Tradarian Craver had 25 totes for 152 yards and a score.
COACH'S COMMENTS: Hughes Springs' Chris Edwards-"Last week we were clicking on all cylinders; our offensive was executing well and the defense was playing outstanding. That's what we've talked about: putting the entire game together in the playoffs. Everyboyd doing what they're supposed to do and playing hard, gives us a chance to win. We've got to continue to do that against Grandview, as well as we've gt to create some turnovers and get some things to go our way.
"They're a spread and like to throw the ball, and they're good at it. They've got a big running back who can hurt you. They look in the box and count how many (defenders) are in the box; if there's not enough they run it and if there is they throw it. They're a well-coached football team.
"The kids are fired up about playing after Thanksgiving. The last couple games (of the regular season) we played well but there wasn't that sense of urgency, that hunger you look for as a coach. Last week, we kids turned it up. We went out and played about as good as we can play."
NEXT ROUND: The winner advances to the Region II-3A, Div. I semifinals against either Whitesboro or Jefferson.
DAINGERFIELD (7-4)
vs. GUNTER (11-0)
SITE, TIME: Royse City ISD Stadium, 1 p.m.
AT STAKE: Class 3A, Division II area title.
LAST WEEK: Daingerfield topped Lone Oak, 41-17, and Gunter beat Henrietta, 45-13.
GAME FACTS: Gunter, the 2016 state champion, is unbeaten and averages nearly 10 points for every one its gives up. Gunter has scored 50.2 points (552), allowed 5.1 points (56 total), and is on a 27-game win streak dating back to 2015. Daingerfield has averaged 39.1 points and given up 18.4 per outing. Last week against Lone Oak, senior OLB Timmyon Broner had 16 tackles and returned an interception 27 yards for a score. Daingerfield rolled up 374 yards, including 253 on the ground. Jakuri Woods was 13-of-16 passing for 121 yards and a TD and rushed 14 times for 88 yards and three touchdowns. Chris Castleberry rushed for 107 yards on 15 totes. DL Dylan Freeman and ILBs Jose Mendez and DK Lewis added eight stops apiece.
COACH'S COMMENTS: Daingerfield's Mike Waldie-"It's been a foundation for us all year to play great defense. We had a turnover early in the game (last week) that helped give them 10 points. We only gave them a touchdown the rest of the way, and against a high-powered offense, I can't ask for much more than that. Offensively, we sputtered a little in the first half and didn't take advantage of a couple of good field position opportunities.
"It felt like our halftime lead was bigger. We controlled most of the game in the first half. It was a great night, and I would just have hoped for more explosiveness in the first half on offense.
"Gunter is extremely talented and well coached. They execute well, and there is a reason why they have won 27 straight games; that is remarkable. We are excited to face Gunter, and we scrimmaged a lot of playoff teams earlier in the season. We are battle-tested and seasoned. It's not like we don't know how to handle a team like Gunter; our schedule has prepared us well for this matchup."
NEXT ROUND: The winner advances to the Region II-3A, Div. II semifinals against either Holliday or Edgewood.
MAUD (5-6) vs. IOLA (7-5)
SITE, TIME: Wildcat Stadium,Palestine, 7 p.m.
AT STAKE: Class 2A, Division II area title.
LAST WEEK: Maud defeated Meridian, 56-41, and Iola shut out Mount Enterprise,
51-0.
GAME FACTS: The Cardinals average 34.3 points per game and have given up 39.4 points on average. The Bulldogs are averaging 35.3 points per contest and are giving up just 14.7 points per outing. Last week Maud racked up 542 yards on 62 carries, led by Gage Jones' 222 yards on 17 totes and three touchdowns. Brooks Minter rushed for 211 yards on 30 carries and scored three times, while Rayne Bailey amassed 109 yards on just 13 carries and one score. After a 1-4 start, Iola has won six in a
row. Since 2014, the Bulldogs
have advanced to the second round of the playoffs each year. Iola made it to the third round in 2014 and
2016.
COACH'S COMMENTS: Maud's Allen Cross-"Iola is very aggressive defensively. They have many tall, long defenders up front, and they are all athletic. They will try to shoot the gaps, and they are all tight end, linebacker type kids. Iola runs a multiple look offense and spread it out when they need to. They have a pretty good program with a solid team that reminds me of us. Iola is a familiar
opponent.
"We have to establish the run game. They'll try to stop us at the line of scrimmage, so we must stay on our blocks and
control the line. We will need to get some turnovers, get some stops, and not give up the big play. We want to control the clock, limit their opportunities. We want to avoid a shootout."
NEXT ROUND: Winner will
play either Tenaha or
Dallas Gateway in the Class 2A, Division II regional semi-
finals.