After an emotionally draining week following the death of West Orange-Stark QB
Reggie Garrett, area teams look to refocus on the field as district play begins in earnest.
*Pearland makes its return to District 24-5A when the Oilers visit Clear Springs in a Saturday night tilt. Both teams enjoyed an open week, giving Pearland coach Tony Heath time to attempt to figure out how to contain Chargers all-purpose threat Howard Mathews. An early choice for area offensive player of the year, Mathews leads Springs in rushing (264 yards), receiving (15 for 164) and has accounted for eight touchdowns, including his 74-yard touchdown pass in a Week Two loss to Cinco Ranch.
*La Porte takes on Deer Park in a 23-5A opener that has the potential for a shootout. Bulldogs QB Jeremy McNeal is as hot as any signal caller in the area, completing 63 percent of his attempts for 391 yards and nine touchdowns during a 4-0 start. While Webb has been productive in the air, RB Anthony Webb has dashed for 481 yards and five scores. The Deer will rely on junior LB Casey Westmoreland (two interceptions) to anchor a defense that has kept opponents under 16 points in three of their first four outings.
*El Campo has averaged almost 40 points per game in their 3-0 start, but will get their biggest challenge of the season when Angleton welcomes the Ricebirds in the 23-4A opener for both. The RB duo of Devin Parks and D’Vonte Wells have combined for 690 yards and 10 touchdowns and will be ready to counter the Wildcats’ 1-2 punch of QB Quandre Diggs and RB Ryan Jackson, who have teamed up for 1,095 yards and 13 scores in a 3-1 start.
*Undefeated schools meet at Etheredge Stadium as 4-0 Manvel visits 3-0 La Marque as two of District 24-4A’s four undefeated teams open play. Kirk Martin’s Mavericks have never lost to the Cougars, and have thrived under the 1-2 QB punch of Travaughn Colwell and Dexter Foreman. The pair have completed 58 percent of their passes for 695 yards and an impressive 11-2 TD-INT margin. The Mavs much contend with explosive Cougars RB Tim Wright, who ranks among the top 10 runners in the state with 697 yards and six touchdowns in his first three games.
*Klein’s rock-solid defense has allowed just 11 points per game as the Bearkats have bolted to a 3-0 start. They’ll look to remain undefeated as rival Klein Forest takes them on in a District 13-5A lid-lifter. The offense has benefited from the help from their compatriots on the other side of the ball, as RB Keyshawn Hill (387 yards, six TDs) has been the pacesetter of the attack.