SULPHUR SPRINGS, Texas -- Two teams will clash on the gridiron, two teams will go for the same goal, two teams will joust but only one can move forward.
Texas High (10-1) goes up against Mansfield Summit (8-3) in a Class 5A, Division II area football playoff game Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Sulphur Springs High School's Gerald Prim Stadium.
The Tigers are coming off a 51-28 bi-district playoff win over Terrell, while the Jaguars rolled past Seagoville, 37-7, in their playoff contest. Texas High has averaged 41.0 points per game and has given up 20.7 a game on average.
Mansfield Summit is based out of Arlington, Texas, and finished second in District 5-5A, Division II with just one loss in district. The one district loss was to a strong Midlothian Heritage team. The Jaguars average 36.2 points a game, give up an average of 19.2 and are on a 5-game win streak.
"They (Mansfield Summit) are really physical on defense and have six Division I athletes on defense," Texas High head coach Gerry Stanford said. "Offensively, they are led by their running back, who is a 1,000-yard rusher, and their offensive line, which averages 295 pounds."
Senior running back Amare Burgess has toted the ball 126 times for 1,102 yards and 14 touchdowns for the Jaguars. Sophomore quarterback Demarus Bird has connected on 56 of 132 passes for 847 yards with 15 scores and eight interceptions.
Junior Jeremiah McLin has also shared time at quarterback for Mansfield Summit as he has thrown for 644 yards on 40-of-67 passing with eight TDs and a pair of interceptions. Joseph Williams, a senior, is the leading receiver with 33 grabs for 639 yards and 12 touchdowns.
For the Tigers, the standout running back duo of junior Javari Johnson and sophomore Tradarian Ball are the main catalysts for the offense. Johnson, the team rushing leader, has totaled 1,263 on 161 carries for an average of 7.8 yards per touch. Johnson has found the end zone 15 times.
Ball has amassed 1,189 yards on 159 totes, an average of 7.5 yards per carry, and 11 touchdowns. Ball is Texas High's third-leading receiver with 21 passes for 372 yards and six scores.
Tigers' quarterback David Potter, a junior, has thrown 21 TDs with no interceptions and possesses a quarterback rating of 137.7. Potter has hit on 107 of 177 passes for 1,943 yards.
Senior standout receiver T.J. Gray, who is committed to The University of Tulsa, has hauled in 41 passes for 852 yards and six touchdowns for Texas High. Senior receiver Brandon Hall has 25 snags for 496 yards and eight TDs.
The Tigers also pack a boom on defense.
Junior Isaiah Dowden, a bone crusher of a linebacker, leads Texas High in tackles with 67, including 11 for a loss. Sophomore linebacker Eshayland Cooper has recorded 58 stops, while junior linebacker Jamarion Hope has 55 tackles, including a team-high 14 that went for a loss.
Kendrevion Boyce has added 49 stops for the Tigers and sophomore defensive lineman Duncan McGhee has 47, including 12 for a loss.
"Offensively, we don't want to get behind the chains," Stanford said. "We will need to be really good on first downs and get positive yards. We will have to protect the football as they (Mansfield Summit) have lived off turnovers and big plays on defense all year. On defense, we need to line up well and tackle well. Running to the football and being physical at the point of attack are key."
Jaden Williams, a senior, leads the Jaguar defense with 71 tackles, Jordan Hubbard has 64 and Legend Journey has 59 stops.
Junior Travis Buhake has 6.5 sacks for the Jaguars, junior Trenton Eatmon has 6.0 and senior Journey has made 5.0 sacks.
"The preparation has been good and we have gotten our feet back underneath us," Stanford said. "It's a great time of year to still be playing. We are excited to just keep playing. Obviously, we want to keep playing and are working towards it."
The winner will play either Lovejoy (10-1) or Ennis (5-6) in the regional semifinals next week.