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12-5A FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Mesquite, Longview open district with marquee matchup
By DEVIN HASSON, dhasson@starlocalnews.com
It is impossible to say that Friday's clash at E.H. Hanby between Mesquite and Longview will decide the district championship.
But whoever emerges as the victor will take a huge step toward that ultimate goal as the Skeeters and Lobos have been the most impressive 12-5A teams during non-district play.
Mesquite is coming off a 49-35 victory over Plano West as it improved to 4-0 for the first time since its state championship season in 2001.
Alex Cooper continues to be among the most efficient passers in the state. Through four games, the senior is completing 78 percent of his passes (89-of-113) for 1,219 yards and 12 touchdowns to go against only one interception.
Junior Session had a big game last week and is averaging better than 100 yards per game on the ground, while Rashard Higgins and Dameon Gamblin give the Skeeters a 1-2 punch on the outside combining for 50 receptions for 834 yards and eight touchdowns.
That unit will face its toughest challenge so far this season against Longview, which has responded nicely from an uncharacteristic 41-8 loss to Coppell in the opener.
Since then, the traditionally stingy Lobo defense has allowed only 9.3 points per game and pitched a shutout against rival Marshall.
Longview has had to adjust on offense without quarterback Bivins Carraway, who was coming off a big year last season.
In his absence, Tory White has shouldered even more of a load and he has 533 yards to lead a talented group of running backs.
While Mesquite and Longview were tabbed as preseason favorites, no team can afford to overlook Rockwall-Heath, who is also off to a 3-1 start.
In the Hawks' only defeat, they lost starting quarterback Chase Schultz with an injury. With Schultz still out last week, Jordan Hoy stepped in and threw for 276 yards and six touchdowns as Rockwall-Heath routed Rowlett, 45-0.
Shyon Motlagh is a key cog in the passing game, as his trio of touchdown receptions last week gives him seven on the season. Nico Henderson is a hard-nosed runner that has been solid all season.
Rockwall-Heath draws crosstown rival Rockwall on Friday in its 12-5A opener. The Yellow Jackets are limping in with a 1-3 record and all three losses have not been pretty.
Outside of a 41-37 win over Rowlett in which sophomore Chris Warren rushed for more than 200 yards and six touchdowns, Rockwall has been outscored 127-27 in its other three games, including a 44-7 loss to McKinney Boyd last week.
In the other 12-5A contest, Horn will travel to Rose Stadium to face Tyler Lee. The Jaguars are trying to shake up back-to-back close losses that left them with a 2-2 record during non-district.
The margin has been slim in those games. Horn has good balance with a strong passing game led by quarterback Destri White (68-111, 711 yards) and wide receiver Brian O'Bannon, and a ground game paced by Treyvon Marsh (85-390).
The Jaguars could easily be 4-0 at this point but head coach Rodney Webb is hopeful that his team learned lessons from a 36-33 loss to Duncanville and a 35-30 setback to Tyler John Tyler that will help them in close games in district play.
Tyler Lee is coming off a tough season in which it won only one game and endured a coaching change and got off to a rough start to this year with three consecutive losses.
But the Red Raiders showed promise last week with a 23-7 victory over Texarkana Texas High.
North Mesquite draws the bye in 12-5A this week after suffering a 31-17 loss to South Garland last week.
The Stallions have one of the best running back duos in the area in Ta'Varius Luke, who has rushed for 464 yards and four touchdowns, and Corey Hunt.
North Mesquite has lacked balance on offense, but might have seen a good sign last week when quarterback Cody Williams threw a pair of touchdown passes.
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