In fact, the Vikings know how to beat the Eagles at their own game.
Rogers coach Jeff Walker spent parts of the last two years teaching Lago Vista coach Alan Haire and his staff the ins and outs of his Slot-T offense. This, though, happened when Walker was still offensive coordinator at Class 3A power Liberty Hill and before he accepted the Rogers job this summer.
Lago Vista (5-2 overall, 1-2 in District 25-2A) will try and use its inside of knowledge of Walker’s offense against the Eagles (6-1, 3-0) to knock off the 25-2A co-leaders at 7:30 p.m. today. With a win tonight, Rogers would clinch its first playoff berth in two seasons.
Walker says the Vikings’ inside knowledge gives him an eerie feeling.
“He has my playbook and my training tapes,” he said. “They have our different snap counts.”
With his players’ limited knowledge of the complicated offense, Walker admits he hasn’t changed a thing about the system that’s helped guide Rogers to five straight wins.
“If they guess right and do it right, I’ll tip my hat to ’em,” Walker said.
With the success Rogers has had in those five straight victories, it’s hard to argue for changing things up too much.
In the Eagles’ last two wins (against Jarrell and Lexington), they’ve totaled 745 rushing yards and averaged more than 7 yards per carry.
Among a host of Eagles who carry the ball on a regular basis are tailback Jordan Sebek, fullback E.J. Larkin, quarterback Chance Marek, halfback Kason Lowrance and fullback Robert Campos.
While Rogers likes to spread the ball around, the Vikings have two primary ball carriers.
Scott Kerr is the team’s leading rusher, with 783 yards, while teammate Tyler Hull has 611 yards.
Those two combined for 72 yards in last week’s loss to Salado.
Gatesville fights for District 7-3A vs. Glen Rose
GATESVILLE - When the Gatesville Fightin’ Hornets host the Glen Rose Tigers at 7:30 p.m. today, it will be the biggest test yet to see just how much the Fightin’ Hornets have improved under second-year coach Kyle Cooper, who directed them to a 2-8 finish last year.
Now the Hornets are 5-2 overall and 2-0 in District 7-3A, along with China Spring and Glen Rose, which is 6-1 overall.
The biggest thing that’s made the difference for the Hornets is defense. They have allowed only 89 points and 217.7 yards per game. Through this many games last season, the Hornets had allowed 211 points and 302 yards per game.
Of course last season, Cooper had only one returning starter. This year he has several that have benefited from a year of work in his system.
On offense, Kevin Clarke has emerged as a potent rushing threat, picking up 153 yards on 23 carries last week to give him 398 on 63 carries for the year, second on the team behind Cody Sheets’ 518 yards.
Plus the Hornets still have a good passing game behind quarterback Shane Clark, who has completed 65 of 102 passes for 759 yards.
The run-first offense is opposite of the Tigers’ philosophy. The Tigers have had success through the air behind senior quarterback Derek Thompson, who completed 12 of 18 passes for 220 yards in last week’s win over West and has completed 30 of 47 passes for 468 yards in two district games.
When the Tigers run, it’s Chase Evatt who will get the call. Evatt carried nine times for 50 yards last week. Glen Rose is averaging more than 100 rushing yards per game, but the majority of it has come late, with the contest already well in hand.
That type of attack helped the Tigers advance the the Class 3A Division II Region II final last year.
The winner of tonight’s contest would all but secure a playoff spot and, just as important, remain in good contention for the district title.
rschneider@temple-telegram.com
mhood@temple-telegram.com
