Desoto def Abilene 48-45

[Jack Reacher]

The Battle of Eagles. I believe this info comes from the Abilene paper.

 

ABILENE HIGH (11-1) VS. NO. 2 DeSOTO (12-0)


6 P.M. FRIDAY * MEMORIAL STADIUM, WICHITA FALLS * KTLT 98.1 FM

What’s riding on the game: The winner advances to the Class 6A Division II state quarterfinals against the winner of Friday's regional game between Mansfield and Cedar Hill. The quarterfinal game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Dec. 3 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. "Once you get to the third round, there's no weak sisters," AHS coach Del Van Cox said. "Now, the real football gets played."

Last week: Abilene High defeated El Paso Americas 55-0 in an area-round game at Shotwell Stadium, holding the Trailblazers to 81 total yards and leading 38-0 at halftime. "It was a fun evening for our players and our coaches," Cox said. "To jump on them that early and be able to enjoy it, it was just a great overall team effort. Our defense played lights-out, our offense was able to take advantage of some great field position that our defense gave us." ... DeSoto defeated Southlake Carroll 48-30, overcoming second-quarter deficits of 16-7 and 23-21 by scoring four consecutive touchdowns.

Last meeting: DeSoto defeated Abilene High 38-35 in a 2006 regional game at Brownwood as Cyrus Gray rushed for 251 yards and five touchdowns. Abilene High won two previous meetings, 25-6 in a 1999 regional game at Texas Stadium and 31-13 in a 2002 bi-district playoff at Shotwell Stadium.

Scouting DeSoto: DeSoto has been ranked among the state's and nation's top teams all year, finishing the regular season No. 2 in the Associated Press Class 6A poll behind Allen. "They're definitely by far the best team that we will play this year to this point, no doubt about it," Cox said. "They are extremely talented, well coached. Coach (Todd) Peterman has done a great job. They're playing with a lot of confidence right now. We're going to have to play well on Friday night." ... DeSoto comes in averaging 531.3 total yards (292.4 rushing, 238.9 passing) and 48 points per game. Quarterback Shawn Robinson (132-232-5—2,400, 20 TDs passing; 92-930, 13 TDs rushing) is the key to the offense, but DeSoto also boasts the running back trio of Kelan Walker (99-766, 12 TDs), Richie Washington (106-575, 7 TDs) and Jamonne Williams (78-501, 10 TDs) and receivers K.D. Nixon (46-914, 8 TDs receiving; 21-283, 4 TDs rushing; 5-188, 1 TD KO returns; 12-112 punt returns), Emmet Perry (41-741, 8 TDs receiving), Laviska Shenault (25-383, 5 TDs receiving) and Sam Hunter (12-238, 1 TD receiving). That's augmented by an offensive line that averages 308.8 pounds. "They've got six or seven guys that can score from anywhere on the field," Cox said. ... Defensively, DeSoto allows 265.3 total yards (127.5 rushing, 137.8 passing) and 17.3 points per game. Linebacker Kolby Watts (110 total tackles, 79 solo, 10 TFL, 4 sacks, 5 hurries, 2 INT, 1 PBU) is the leading tackler, followed by defensive back Isaiah Stewart (86 total, 58 solo, 4 INT, 4 PBU, 1 FR). The defensive line is anchored by Wesley Green (63 total, 46 solo, 11 TFL, 3 sacks, 11 hurries, 1 PBU, 1 FF) and Viramontes Pippens (46 total, 41 solo, 5 TFL, 2 sacks, 9 hurries). Watts is joined at linebacker by Josh Midgette (77 total, 54 solo, 3 TFL, 5 sacks, 10 hurries, 2 PBU), Ashton Brooks (60 total, 41 solo, 6 TFL, 4 sacks, 4 hurries, 1 FR, 1 PBU) and Caleb Ervin (52 total, 33 solo, 7 TFL, 5 sacks, 8 hurries, 3 PBU). The secondary includes Michael Gardner (56 total, 38 solo, 3 FF, 1 FR, 1 INT, 5 PBU) and cornerbacks Ge'Mon Green (42 total, 32 solo, 1 INT, 17 PBU, 1 FR) and Byron Hanspard Jr. (38 total, 195 solo, 1 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT, 10 PBU, 1 FF). "They run a 3-4 scheme and get into what we call a Bear front," Cox said. "They reduce down and squeeze it in tight where you can't run inside, and play a little bit of man coverage over the top. We're going to definitely have to make sure that we get off collision, get off the man coverage and try to get away from those big guys inside."

Abilene High update: Abilene High's 11-game winning streak is the ninth-longest in school history. Three teams (2004, '05 and 2012) started 12-0 before losing in the regional round. AHS averages 474 total yards (255.5 rushing, 218.5 passing) and 51.3 points per game. The Eagles have scored more than 50 points in six consecutive games and eight overall. Running back Abram Smith (217-1,787, 32 TDs rushing) is having the fifth-best rushing season in school history and needs 138 yards to pass Arturo "Sneezy" Beltran for the AHS career rushing record. Quarterback Peyton Killam (177-241-6—2,481, 25 TDs passing; 100-728, 12 TDs rushing) is having the seventh-best passing season in AHS history and needs just 1 passing yard to reach 4,000 for his career. Last week, Killam recorded 100 yards rushing and passing in a game for the fourth time in his career. The feat has been achieved just nine times in school history, three times by Ronnell Sims. Kicker Jonathan Manry (72-76 PAT, 12-12 FG) tied the season record for most field goals last week and became the first AHS player to go over 100 kicking points in a season. Receivers Raekwon Millsap (46-861, 8 TDs), Bryce McGough (40-439, 3 TDs), Xavier Bradley (28-481, 4 TDs) and Qua'Shawn Washington (26-361, 5 TDs) give AHS ample options when defenses load up against the run. Defensively, Abilene High allows 344.9 total yards (142.2 rushing, 202.7 passing) and 23.1 points per game. Linebackers Dackota Triano (93 total tackles, 44 solo, 12 TFL, 6 sacks), Terrell Franklin (92 total, 42 solo, 11 TFL, 4 sacks, 1 INT, 4 FR, 2 TD returns), Devin Romero (81 total, 42 solo, 3 TFL, 3 sacks) and A.J. Gonzales (71 total, 27 solo, 7 TFL, 1 sack) are the leading tacklers. The defensive line of Coy McMillon (67 total, 20 solo, 9 TFL, 2 sacks, 9 hurries), Ryland Madrid (54 total, 8 solo, 2 TFL, 1 sack) and Noah Perez (53 total, 16 solo, 7 TFL, 4 sacks, 3 hurries, 2 FR) was the dominant factor in last week's playoff victory. Safeties Kasey Dean (68 total, 43 solo, 4 INT, 3 PBU, 2 FF, 1 FR) and Washington (63 total, 45 solo, 1 TFL, 1 INT, 3 PBU, 2 FF, 1 FR) and cornerbacks Isaac Buenrrostro (36 total, 22 solo, 4 INT, 18 PBU, 1 FR, 3 blocked kicks) and Doak Holloway (55 total, 36 solo, 4 TFL, 2 INT, 12 PBU, 1 FF) man the secondary.

What Abilene High needs to do to win: Make plays. This won't be the first time AHS has squared off with what is, on paper, a superior opponent. And it wouldn't be the first time for AHS to knock off such a team. Controlling the ball and limiting DeSoto's possessions will be key factors. "We know that they're going to be very talented," Cox said. "What we've got to do is make sure we play hard every play. We can't use that as an excuse. If you want to be considered the best, you've got to beat the best teams and those who've got the best athletes."

[ATLien12x]

Great breakdown! Pulling for Abilene as I want to see a new face in the championship in a few weeks. As a Georgia guy, the only time we get to watch Texas football are on highlights and then actual state championship games on fox. I've seen Desoto several times on ESPN/NFHSNetwork. Always fast talent and extremely athletic.  Don't know much about Abilene other than the name rings bells of past success 

[hardhit1]

DeSoto might just be the best team never to win a State Championship.

[Jack Reacher]

Abilene has firepower. I just wonder if they have the defense to get a couple of stops against Desoto.

 

Abilene's 2009 champs had offensive firepower as well but their defense was pretty salty. I'm not sure this edition has that.

[Lamarfan]

Desoto is the clear favorite in this one.

[CHill]

Green Eagles big in this match-up!

[Cat_Scratch]

Wonder why they didn't list the 2009 Abilene team that went undefeated and on to a nation runner up title?

[Lamarfan]

I heard Abilene up 14-0

 

[playballintxandmi]

14-7 Abilene leads

[Lamarfan]

Abilene 23-7 now

[Horsefly]

Here at the game and desoto is still thinking about thanksgiving and Abilene is focused on getting to the next round.  Abilene is intense

[Lamarfan]

Any radio links that you know of.

[Horsefly]

Abilene has some tough running RBs #21 and #28

[Horsefly]

31-14 Abilene 1:47 before half

[ATLien12x]

West Texas gonna take one at least 

[Horsefly]

31-21 half 

[Horsefly]

1 minute ago, ATLien12x said:

West Texas gonna take one at least 

No, it's just half

[Horsefly]

This desoto team, at least in this game, don't seem on fire like under Mathis.  They are just walking around as if this is just another game.

[Horsefly]

31-28 10:26 3d

[Lamarfan]

 31 -28 Abilene beating Desoto right now they said.

 

[Horsefly]

38-28 Abilene 1:43 3d.  Robinson threw his second INT

[Horsefly]

Desoto is hurting themselves, penalties and 4 TOs

[Horsefly]

38-35 Abilene 8 sec 3d

[Horsefly]

Pitiful offensive play calling by desoto!  38-35 5:10 4th.  Abl 4th and 5 going for it

[Mr. Football]

45-35 Abilene late 4th.

CH will beat Abilene next week and will win 6A D2