The Cooldown: Week 12
The Cooldown: Week 12
The bi-district round didn’t produce too many surprising results around the DFW metroplex. The teams that advanced to the area round are now just one win away from the coveted Thanksgiving Day practice. We’ll preview some of the best area round games after we put a bow on the bi-district round.
Coppell eliminates Denton Guyer
Coppell eliminated Denton Guyer 35-21 by racking up more than 500 yards of total offense. Denton Guyer hasn’t been eliminated from the playoffs this early since a 2018 area round loss to Mansfield Lake Ridge. On the flip side, Coppell hasn’t won more than nine games in a season over the last five years, but the Cowboys are up to 11 wins and carry an undefeated season into the area round next weekend.
Coppell quarterback Edward Griffin completed 17 of his 25 passes for 353 yards and five touchdowns. Baron Tipton led the receivers, catching five passes for 201 yards and a touchdown. That’s 40 (!!) yards-per-catch. Luca Grosoli added four receptions for 62 yards and two scores. Ayrion Sneed caught the other two touchdown passes and finished with five receptions for 44 yards. Xavier Mosley led the rushing attack with nine carries for 113 yards.
Denton Guyer quarterback Logan McLaughlin completed 10 of his 17 attempts for 111 yards and Josiah Martin threw a three yard touchdown pass in his final game as a Wildcat. Martin also caught four passes for 40 yards. Kegan Stelmazewski led the receivers with six receptions for 103 yards and a score. Kaedyn Cobbs led the ground attack with 104 yards on 12 carries. Corbin Glasco and DJ Black each scored a touchdown on the ground for Denton Guyer. Coppell takes on Jesuit on Thursday night at The Star in Frisco in the area round.
Frisco Wakeland eliminates Mansfield Timberview
Frisco Wakeland eliminated Mansfield Timberview 21-18 despite gaining -7 yards on the ground and allowing the Wolves to rack up 410 yards of total offense. Forcing three turnovers certainly helped and Mansfield Timberview didn’t help itself, getting called for 14 penalties for 123 yards. Frisco Wakeland didn’t play a clean game either, but winning the turnover battle by two and not incurring as many penalties was the difference in the three point win.
Frisco Wakeland quarterback Brennan Myer completed 19 of his 31 passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns. Myer also led the rushing attack as the only Wolverine that finished with positive rushing yardage, carrying the ball 13 times and gaining four yards. Donovan Woolen led the receivers with four receptions for 105 yards and two touchdowns. Ryder Treadway added five receptions for 87 yards and Ashdyn Kahouch caught six passes for 51 yards. Ivan Molina caught a touchdown pass in the win.
Mansfield Timberview quarterback Zuric Humes completed eight of his 17 attempts for 58 yards and added seven carries for 74 yards. A 17-yard reception for Mason Boone was enough to lead the receiving corps. Jaylon Woods led the rushing attack with 19 carries for 145 yards and a touchdown and Tyler Madison added five carries for 86 yards and a score. Frisco Wakeland takes on Lancaster on Friday night at 7 p.m. at Birdville ISD’s FAAC in the area round.
Richland eliminates Frisco
I was on hand for Richland’s 48-21 win over Frisco on Friday night. The Royals’ size in the trenches impressed me the most and was the difference in this game. The Frisco offensive line struggled to run block while the Richland offensive line paved the way for its playmakers to rack up nearly 500 yards of offense. Richland is going to be a tough team to eliminate, as evidenced by its undefeated regular season and big win in the bi-district round.
Richland quarterback Drew Kates completed 13 of his 18 passes for 256 yards and four touchdowns. Those four touchdowns were spread around to four different receivers. Evan Smith led the group with four receptions for 89 yards and a score. Deon Jones added five receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown while Xavier Johnson caught a 54-yard touchdown pass and Aaron Brooks caught a 29-yard touchdown pass. Michael Turner led the rushing attack with 19 carries for 195 yards and a touchdown and Kenyan Long carried the ball six times for 29 yards and a score.
Frisco’s offense has leaned on the ground game for most of the season. Jayson Bustamante led the rushing attack with 12 carries for 44 yards, but the Raccoons averaged under three yards-per-carry for the game. L.J. Taylor threw a 68-yard touchdown pass to Jackson Voris, who led the receivers with three receptions for 113 yards and two scores. The other Voris touchdown reception came courtesy of freshman quarterback Brenden Bounds in the fourth quarter. Bounds didn’t play much in this game, but he put this pass on the money.
I initially got it wrong when I tweeted the highlight, crediting Cobyn Harbett, but the highlight is posted. It was just one pass, but Frisco’s future could be bright with Bounds as QB1. Richland faces Barbers Hill on Friday at 7 p.m. at Hutto’s Memorial Stadium. Barbers Hill beat McKinney North 43-21 in the bi-district round, but Richland will provide a much tougher test.
Games to Watch
Thursday, November 16
Jesuit (8-3) @ Coppell (11-0)
Jesuit takes on Coppell on Thursday night at 7 p.m. at The Star in Frisco. The Rangers eliminated Arlington Bowie 20-7 to advance to the area round. The winner of this game advances to face the winner of Byron Nelson and Midland. Jesuit will throw its best punch, but I don’t think it will slow down QB Griffin and WR’s Tipton and Grosoli enough to win this one. I’m expecting a highly anticipated shootout between Coppell and Byron Nelson, assuming both teams take care of business in the area round.
Friday, November 17
Forney (10-1) @ Frisco Lone Star (10-1)
Forney faces Frisco Lone Star Friday night at 7 p.m. at Allen’s Eagle Stadium. Frisco Lone Star hasn’t played in a close game since early October and hasn’t lost since its season opener against Texas High. Forney had a pair of close calls in a tough district, including a loss to Longview. I don’t know how to pick this one, so I am going with the team that has had more success in the playoffs over the last few years. I’ll take Frisco Lone Star in a close one. The winner faces the winner of Richland and Barbers Hill.
Arlington Martin (8-3) @ Allen (7-4)
These teams met back in September and Allen defeated Arlington Martin 51-31 at home. This time these two schools will meet at Southlake Carroll’s Dragon Stadium on Friday night at 7:00. Both teams got off to a slow start before getting into a rhythm in district play. Back in September, I wasn’t sure either of these teams would make the regional semifinal round, let alone the area round. Now, one is guaranteed to make the regional semifinals while the other goes home. I don’t think this game will look much like the first game played between these two teams, which is what makes this game so interesting to me. Despite that, I am taking Allen to win its second game against the Warriors this season.
Prosper (10-1) @ Lake Highlands (9-2)
Prosper and Lake Highlands meet on Friday night at 7 p.m. at Melissa’s Kenny Deel Stadium. Both of these teams run the ball quite a bit. Prosper takes more of a committee approach while Lake Highlands leans on Deonte Dean and QB Tripp Holley. This game should be close, but I think Prosper’s size in the trenches is the difference in this game. Slowing down Holley and Dean won’t be easy, but I am taking Prosper to win and face the winner of North Crowley and Odessa Permian in the regional semifinal.
Saturday, November 18
South Oak Cliff (9-2) @ Melissa (10-1)
South Oak Cliff faces Melissa on Saturday night at 7 p.m. at The Star in Frisco. The Golden Bears haven’t faced a team as talented as Melissa since an early September loss to DeSoto. Melissa recently faced a quality opponent in Lovejoy but lost 28-7. This is as good of a playoff matchup as you will find this weekend. Once again, I’m riding with the experienced team. Give me the back-to-back 5A DII State Champion South Oak Cliff Golden Bears over Melissa in a close one.
Offensive Player of the Week
My Offensive Player of the Week is Lake Highlands running back Deonte Dean! Lake Highlands took down South Grand Prairie 42-38 and Dean’s performance powered the offense! Dean finished with 38 carries for 281 yards and three touchdowns in the Wildcats bi-district round win! Dean and the Lake Highlands offense will face another tough test against a good Prosper defense in the area round.
Defensive Player of the Week
My Defensive Player of the Week is McKinney linebacker Makhi Frazier! McKinney eliminated Flower Mound Marcus 52-31 and Frazier did a little bit of everything in the win. Frazier finished with four tackles, three assisted tackles, two sacks, two pass break-ups, a QB pressure and an interception in the Lions win! McKinney faces Highland Park in the area round.