For the Eagles, a chance to play for the District 25-2A title next week is on the line. Rogers has already clinched its first playoff spot in two seasons, but potentially having a shot at the district title has to be a surprise after undergoing a complete offensive overhaul under first-year coach Jeff Walker.
And for the Bumblebees, a win guarantees they’ll control their destiny heading into Week 10. A loss, though, would all but end their playoff hopes.
Rogers (7-1 overall, 4-0 in 25-2A) hosts Academy (6-2, 2-2) on Senior Night at 7:30 p.m. today at Merk Field in a game that will go a long way in deciding the district’s third and final playoff spot.
Academy coach Royce McAdams said his team knows exactly what’s at stake, but the Bees’ main focus has been eliminating the mistakes that hurt them last week against district co-leader Salado.
The Bees were able to move the ball, racking up 389 yards, but killed drives with five turnovers.
“We’ve got to play a clean game,” McAdams said. “That’s what we’re hoping for. If we can do that, we’ve got an excellent chance of winning.”
In Academy’s wide-open passing attack, quarterback Chase Gommert runs the show. He’s the area’s third-ranked passer, throwing for 1,445 yards and 12 touchdowns to go with 725 yards and nine scores on the ground.
A big part of what makes him dangerous is a speedy receiving corps led by tight end Chase Reeders, who’s fifth in the area with 30 catches for 518 yards and five TDs. The Bees also get the ball to running back Layton Willis, who scored twice last week and averages just less than 6 yards per carry.
Though Rogers’ defense is one of the district’s best, allowing 14 points per game, the easiest way to control the Bees’ offense is to play keep-away.
“We just have to hold onto the ball because they’re pretty explosive,” Walker said. “We just have to do what we do.”
And what the Eagles do is run the ball with their tight-formation Slot-T attack.
Rogers has racked up more than 2,000 yards on the ground and has three rushers - tailback Jordan Sebek, fullback E.J. Larkin and quarterback Chance Marek - averaging more than 5 yards per carry.
Sebek (665 yards, eight TDs) and Larkin (632, 11) are the primary rushers.
The Eagles average more than 35 points per game.
That’s not good news for Academy, which had trouble against the run in back-to-back losses to Lago Vista and Salado. The Bees allowed 464 rushing yards in that stretch.
Cameron Yoe tangles with No. 4 Navasota for 24-3A lead
CAMERON - The Cameron Yoe Yoemen have been tested several times. So far, except for an early 16-14 loss to Gatesville, the Yoemen have passed each test with ease.
But next up for Yoe (6-1, 4-0 District 24-3A) is its biggest test of the season when it hosts the fourth-ranked Navasota Rattlers (7-0, 4-0) at 7:30 p.m. today at Yoe Field.
The winner will earn at least a share of the district title. Navasota has already clinched a playoff berth, but Yoe needs a win tonight or next week against Caldwell to wrap up a postseason spot.
The Rattlers of former Rogers coach Lee Fedora are fueled by running back Dexter Pratt, a Louisiana State commitment who has more than 4,000 career rushing yards. When called upon, quarterback Jacolby Stokes has provided a sufficient passing attack.
Yoe’s defense gives up close to 290 yards per game, but the Yoemen counter with an offense that averages 416.3 yards per game.
Yoe quarterback Steven Townsend has completed 82 of 137 passes for 1,270 yards and 17 touchdowns. Brandon Freeman has hauled in 27 catches for 449 yards and five scores. Running back James Wells has rushed 62 times for 630 yards and eight touchdowns, and Townsend has added 545 yards rushing.
With the Rattlers averaging 38 points per game and Yoe averaging 36, this one could be a shootout.
Buckholts, Lometa clash for 16-Six-Man’s final playoff berth
BUCKHOLTS - Simply put, the Buckholts Badgers’ season is on the line tonight.
If the Badgers (3-5, 0-1) can beat District 16 Six-Man rival Lometa (4-3, 1-0) at 7:30 p.m. today at Jim Hauk Field, they’ll almost certainly be playoff-bound for the first time since 1997.
“We’ve had this game circled all season,” Buckholts coach Shay Avants said. “The kids know what’s at stake. We’ve had the best week of practice we’ve had all year. We’re as prepared as we’ve been.”
For a matchup of the Badgers’ speed against the Hornets’ size and power, Buckholts has been working on ways to use its quickness to its advantage. But the Badgers will have to do it without starting running back Joell Mendoza, who’s out with an injury.
Sophomore quarterback William Watson leads an offense that averages 34 points per game.
“We just have to take care of the ball and execute,” Avants said.
Avants said Lometa has an average size advantage of 25 pounds or more per player, and he figures the Hornets will simply want to line up and overpower the Badgers.
Lometa has two linemen that weigh more than 220 pounds, along with a 225-pound tight end.
rschneider@temple-telegram.com
