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Bi-district playoff preview
  
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Friday’s games
Hightower vs. Clear Creek
When and Where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, the Rig, S. Main at Oiler Drive, Pearland
Records: Hightower, 8-0, Clear Creek, 4-5
Last week: Hightower beat Travis, 38-0, for the District 23-5A title; Clear Creek lost to Clear Lake, 21-10.
Scouting the Hurricanes: Hightower is built on speed, speed and more speed. On offense, quarterback A.J. Highsmith leads an explosive balanced attack. Look for Highsmith to hit his favorite receiver, Darius Johnson, who leads the team with 21 catches for 475 yards and eight touchdowns. On the ground, Jermain Longino leads the ‘Canes with 470 yards and three touchdowns.
Defensively, the Hurricanes quick defense limited opponents to less than eight points a game. Against Travis last week, the Canes linebackers and defensive backs shut down the Tigers attempts to run outside, holding Travis to under 100 yards total offense.
Scouting the Wildcats: The Wildcats typify a balanced offense, average 150 ypg game on the ground and 159 ypg in the air. Jared Garza leads the Wildcats at quarterback, while CJ McElroy is a double threat running and catching the ball (216 yards rushing and 409 yards receiving with five combined touchdowns). The Wildcats defense held the high-powered Clear LAke defense in check last week, limiting the Falcons to only 214 yards. They’ll need that kind of effort against the Hurricanes.
Travis vs. Dickinson
When and Where: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Mercer Stadium
Records: Travis, 6-2; Dickinson, 7-2
Last week: Travis lost to Hightower, 38-0; Dickinson beat Clear Springs, 21-16
Scouting the Tigers: Coach Randy Cunningham’s biggest challenge may be this week. After defying the odds and earning a playoff berth in their first year of varsity play, the Tigers got buzzsawed against Hightower. The key for the Tigers will be to put the Hightower game behind them and focus on the Gators.
Alex Bynum makes the Tigers’ offense tick offensively, both passing and rushing, while Jamal Branch leads off the ground game.
But the key will be defense, with defensive lineman Spencer Work and Zane Smith controlling the line and Chad Moncure and Denzel Billy patrolling the secondary.
The Tigers have played strong, fundamentally sound football all year, limiting mistakes and penalties and creating turnovers. More of the same is needed if the Tigers want to play next week.
Scouting the Gators: The Gators are led by junior quarterback Clay Honeycutt, who took over in early October after senior signal-caller Brody Trahan was lost for the season due to an injury.
Honeycutt passed for 652 yards and four touchdowns for the Gators and rushed for three more in four games. The Gators average 25.33 points per game this season, but haven’t scored more than 21 points since Oct. 2.
The key for the Gators will be limiting the Tigers rushing attack and protecting the football. In the Gators’ two losses this season, they gave up 450 yards rushing and turned the ball over six times.
Saturday’s games
Kempner vs. Clear Lake
When and where: 6 p.m. Saturday, Pasadena Veterans Memorial Stadium, 2902 Dabney, Pasadena.
Records: Kempner, 4-4; Clear Lake, 7-2
Last week: Kempner beat Elkins 63-56; Clear Lake beat Clear Creek, 21-10.
Scouting the Cougars: Kempner’s been on a roll recently, winning its last two games to sneak into the playoffs.
The Cougars’ biggest asset is its option attack, which creates problems for teams not familiar with it. Kempner averages more than 204 yards on the ground. After a sluggish start, the Cougars have been putting up points, scoring 101 points in their last two games. Against Elkins last week, the Cougars ran for 343 yards.
The team’s Achilles heel, though, has been their defense and turnovers. The Cougars have surrendered 20 points of more seven times this season, and the team turned the ball over four times against Elkins.
Scouting the Falcons: Don’t let the mascot fool you: the Falcons don’t take to the air often. The Falcons have one of the most powerful rushing offenses in the area. The team has rushed for 315 ypg per game and has passed the ball only 31 times all season.
The option offense is led by quarterback Eric Canas, who leads the team in rushing 1,031 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns. Running backs Jared Mack and Randall Holliman also share the running duties (846 yards and 15 touchdowns and 605 yards and six TDs, respectively).
Meanwhile, the Falcons are stingy on the other side of the ball, giving up only 13.6 yards per game. And since the Falcons also run an option atttack, the defense won’t be that surprised by Kempner’s offense.
Marshall vs. Clear Brook
When and where: 6 p.m. Saturday, The Rig, Pearland
Records: Marshall, 3-5; Clear Brook, 6-3
Last week: Marshall beat Austin, 24-13; Clear Brook beat Alvin, 24-10.
Scouting the Buffaloes: Marshall won its last two games of the season to get into the playoffs. But the Buffaloes will have to improve on both sides of the ball if they want to get past Clear Brook. The Buffs only average 212 ypg, and have scored 21 or more points only three times this year. Things have improved, however, after Jared Pickett has taken the reins behind center. He’s been running Marshall’s zone read offense better.
Meanwhile, the defense has been solid, but still gives up more than 20 ppg.
Scouting the Wolverines: You’ll notice a lot of similarities between Clear Lake and Clear Brook. That’s not a coincidence. Brook coach Paul Lanier was formerly the offensive coordinator at Clear Lake.
The Wolverines will run a similar option offense, led by running back Brandon Ellison (1,210 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns) and quarterback Lane Berry (947 yards and 10 touchdowns). The Wolverines have only passed the ball 31 times this year; they average 323 ypg rushing.
Defensively, the Wolverines give up 25 ppg, but here’s a possible weakness. In games in which Brook has given up 27 or more points, teams have thrown for 200 yards or more.
On the Web
Sun editor Wes Swift and Galveston County Daily News sports editor Joshua Buckley will analyze the first-round playoff matchups in a special podcast on Thursday. You can listen to it on www.hcnfootball.com.
Hightower vs. Clear Creek
When and Where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, the Rig, S. Main at Oiler Drive, Pearland
Records: Hightower, 8-0, Clear Creek, 4-5
Last week: Hightower beat Travis, 38-0, for the District 23-5A title; Clear Creek lost to Clear Lake, 21-10.
Scouting the Hurricanes: Hightower is built on speed, speed and more speed. On offense, quarterback A.J. Highsmith leads an explosive balanced attack. Look for Highsmith to hit his favorite receiver, Darius Johnson, who leads the team with 21 catches for 475 yards and eight touchdowns. On the ground, Jermain Longino leads the ‘Canes with 470 yards and three touchdowns.
Defensively, the Hurricanes quick defense limited opponents to less than eight points a game. Against Travis last week, the Canes linebackers and defensive backs shut down the Tigers attempts to run outside, holding Travis to under 100 yards total offense.
Scouting the Wildcats: The Wildcats typify a balanced offense, average 150 ypg game on the ground and 159 ypg in the air. Jared Garza leads the Wildcats at quarterback, while CJ McElroy is a double threat running and catching the ball (216 yards rushing and 409 yards receiving with five combined touchdowns). The Wildcats defense held the high-powered Clear LAke defense in check last week, limiting the Falcons to only 214 yards. They’ll need that kind of effort against the Hurricanes.
Travis vs. Dickinson
When and Where: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Mercer Stadium
Records: Travis, 6-2; Dickinson, 7-2
Last week: Travis lost to Hightower, 38-0; Dickinson beat Clear Springs, 21-16
Scouting the Tigers: Coach Randy Cunningham’s biggest challenge may be this week. After defying the odds and earning a playoff berth in their first year of varsity play, the Tigers got buzzsawed against Hightower. The key for the Tigers will be to put the Hightower game behind them and focus on the Gators.
Alex Bynum makes the Tigers’ offense tick offensively, both passing and rushing, while Jamal Branch leads off the ground game.
But the key will be defense, with defensive lineman Spencer Work and Zane Smith controlling the line and Chad Moncure and Denzel Billy patrolling the secondary.
The Tigers have played strong, fundamentally sound football all year, limiting mistakes and penalties and creating turnovers. More of the same is needed if the Tigers want to play next week.
Scouting the Gators: The Gators are led by junior quarterback Clay Honeycutt, who took over in early October after senior signal-caller Brody Trahan was lost for the season due to an injury.
Honeycutt passed for 652 yards and four touchdowns for the Gators and rushed for three more in four games. The Gators average 25.33 points per game this season, but haven’t scored more than 21 points since Oct. 2.
The key for the Gators will be limiting the Tigers rushing attack and protecting the football. In the Gators’ two losses this season, they gave up 450 yards rushing and turned the ball over six times.
Saturday’s games
Kempner vs. Clear Lake
When and where: 6 p.m. Saturday, Pasadena Veterans Memorial Stadium, 2902 Dabney, Pasadena.
Records: Kempner, 4-4; Clear Lake, 7-2
Last week: Kempner beat Elkins 63-56; Clear Lake beat Clear Creek, 21-10.
Scouting the Cougars: Kempner’s been on a roll recently, winning its last two games to sneak into the playoffs.
The Cougars’ biggest asset is its option attack, which creates problems for teams not familiar with it. Kempner averages more than 204 yards on the ground. After a sluggish start, the Cougars have been putting up points, scoring 101 points in their last two games. Against Elkins last week, the Cougars ran for 343 yards.
The team’s Achilles heel, though, has been their defense and turnovers. The Cougars have surrendered 20 points of more seven times this season, and the team turned the ball over four times against Elkins.
Scouting the Falcons: Don’t let the mascot fool you: the Falcons don’t take to the air often. The Falcons have one of the most powerful rushing offenses in the area. The team has rushed for 315 ypg per game and has passed the ball only 31 times all season.
The option offense is led by quarterback Eric Canas, who leads the team in rushing 1,031 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns. Running backs Jared Mack and Randall Holliman also share the running duties (846 yards and 15 touchdowns and 605 yards and six TDs, respectively).
Meanwhile, the Falcons are stingy on the other side of the ball, giving up only 13.6 yards per game. And since the Falcons also run an option atttack, the defense won’t be that surprised by Kempner’s offense.
Marshall vs. Clear Brook
When and where: 6 p.m. Saturday, The Rig, Pearland
Records: Marshall, 3-5; Clear Brook, 6-3
Last week: Marshall beat Austin, 24-13; Clear Brook beat Alvin, 24-10.
Scouting the Buffaloes: Marshall won its last two games of the season to get into the playoffs. But the Buffaloes will have to improve on both sides of the ball if they want to get past Clear Brook. The Buffs only average 212 ypg, and have scored 21 or more points only three times this year. Things have improved, however, after Jared Pickett has taken the reins behind center. He’s been running Marshall’s zone read offense better.
Meanwhile, the defense has been solid, but still gives up more than 20 ppg.
Scouting the Wolverines: You’ll notice a lot of similarities between Clear Lake and Clear Brook. That’s not a coincidence. Brook coach Paul Lanier was formerly the offensive coordinator at Clear Lake.
The Wolverines will run a similar option offense, led by running back Brandon Ellison (1,210 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns) and quarterback Lane Berry (947 yards and 10 touchdowns). The Wolverines have only passed the ball 31 times this year; they average 323 ypg rushing.
Defensively, the Wolverines give up 25 ppg, but here’s a possible weakness. In games in which Brook has given up 27 or more points, teams have thrown for 200 yards or more.
On the Web
Sun editor Wes Swift and Galveston County Daily News sports editor Joshua Buckley will analyze the first-round playoff matchups in a special podcast on Thursday. You can listen to it on www.hcnfootball.com.
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