Ranger Field Report

Defense Earns Second Shutout, Rangers Clinch Playoff Berth: Jesuit dominated in all three facets of the game, jumping out to a 23-0 first quarter lead en route to securing its second straight shutout, 53-0, over Irving H.S. on Wednesday afternoon at Postell Stadium. Jesuit clinched the top seed in UIL District 7-6A Division II with the win, guaranteeing a home game in the playoffs, behind another incredibly strong all-around performance.

The Ranger defense was led by a slew of senior Rangers that made major impacts. Senior Pierce Jackson led the team with nine tackles, followed by eight stops from senior Major Kent and six from senior Jack Judson. Senior Ryan Graham posted six tackles while senior Sy Mendenhall racked up five stops, two tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and a safety. Senior Michael Esteve forced a fourth quarter fumble recovered by junior Charlie Freeman, and junior Ryan Allred blocked a third quarter punt that led to a safety.

Junior quarterback Gage Roy was a perfect 6-for-6 behind center, throwing for 162 yards and three touchdowns. Roy connected on a 17-yard strike to senior Charlie Cook on Jesuit's first drive of the game, added a 49-yard touchdown pass to junior Hunter Krepp near the end of the first quarter and jumpstarted the Jesuit offense in the third with a 39-yard touchdown pass to senior Charlie Clements.

Junior Robert Fitzgerald completed his touchdown hat trick with a punt return touchdown late in the second quarter. Fitzgerald, who starts at defensive back for the Rangers but also contributes in the wildcat formation, now has a defensive touchdown (interception return vs. MacArthur) and seven rushing touchdowns to compliment his special teams score against Irving.

The Rangers only allowed 40 yards of total offense from the Tigers, holding Irving to 3-of-12 on third downs and keeping Irving out of the red zone throughout the entire game. The team combined for four sacks and held the Tigers' quarterback to a 2-for-7 clip passing while limiting the rushing attack to 0.6 yards per rush.

Scoring Early and Often: Since the week six matchup against Nimitz, Jesuit has outscored opponents, 99-0, in the first half. The Rangers, who entered last week's matchup against Irving with a 5-0 record when scoring first, scored 23 points in the first quarter against Irving on 10 offensive plays.

Jesuit Gathering Momentum to End Regular Season: Over the last three weeks, the Ranger offense has earned a 72.2 percent conversion rate on third downs while holding opponents to a 32.4 clip (12-of-37) in similar situations. The Ranger defense has not allowed a fourth down conversion since Nov. 5 against MacArthur and have only allowed 50.3 passing yards per game over the last three weeks.

Up Next: Jesuit clinched the district's top seed in the UIL Division 2-6A tournament after Wednesday's win over Irving and will face Arlington H.S. in the first round of the playoffs. The bi-district round game is currently scheduled for Dec. 11 at Postell Stadium.

Scouting the Eagles

Wildcats Pull Away Against Eagles: Mitch Coulson tallied four total touchdowns as Lake Highlands pulled away in the second half for a 34-7 win over Richardson.Lake Highlands (9-0, 6-0 in District 7-6A) earns at least a share of the district title with the win over Richardson (5-4, 4-2). Coulson scored on Lake Highlands' first two possessions of the game, both coming in the first quarter. Richardson cut the lead in half early in the second quarter. But like the first half, Lake Highlands opened with back-to-back touchdowns after forcing a punt and fumble to extend the lead to 28-7. Coulson had 130 yards rushing on 15 attempts and added another 52 through the air. Aaron Bertrand led Richardson with 105 yards passing and one rushing touchdown.

Bertrand Emerging as Key Offensive Threat: Heading into the final week of the regular season, Aaron Bertrand is responsible for all of Richardson's touchdowns as either a passer or rusher. Proving to be a threat on the ground, Bertrand has 790 yards this season with 13 touchdowns, which is one off of the district leader (Tyriq Stubbs, JJ Pearce). Bertrand averages 10.2 passes and 18.4 rushing attempts per game, throwing for a season-high 123 yards and two touchdowns against J.J. Pearce while rushing for three touchdowns on two occasions (vs. Nimitz, MacArthur) and racking up a season-high 153 yards against MacArthur.

Returning to Form: Richardson's 28-24 win over MacArthur on Nov. 20 clinched the Eagles' first playoff appearance since 2012 as Richardson is locked into District 7-6A's second seed of the Division I-6A bracket. The Eagles have reached the regional round twice in program history (1991, 1992), and have not  won a playoff game since 2012. Currently, Richardson is scheduled to take on Arlington Martin in the first round of the playoffs.

RANGER RIVAL REPORT
 

Recaps Courtesy of The Dallas Morning News

J.J. Pearce 59, Nimitz 24: Richardson Pearce tailback Tyriq Stubbs rushed for a game-high 192 yards and three touchdowns, as Richardson Pearce closed in on a playoff spot with a 59-24 victory over Irving Nimitz in District 7-6A play on Wednesday afternoon at Eagle-Mustang Stadium. Richardson Pearce (4-5 overall, 4-2 in 7-6A) used consistent offense play to help control most of the contest, racking up 559 total yards while scoring at least two touchdowns in each of the first three quarters. The big game by Stubbs also helped set up a solid passing effort from quarterback Burke Wahlberg, as he threw for 283 yards and four scores while top target Oliver Crawford hauled in eight catches for 133 yards and two touchdowns. Irving Nimitz (2-6 overall, 1-5 in 7-6A) got 126 total yards and two touchdowns from Kavon Bartlett, with tailback J'Den Hall rushing for 121 yards and a score.

Lake Highlands 34, Richardson 7: Mitch Coulson tallied four total touchdowns as Lake Highlands pulled away in the second half for a 34-7 win over Richardson.Lake Highlands (9-0, 6-0 in District 7-6A) earns at least a share of the district title with the win over Richardson (5-4, 4-2). Coulson scored on Lake Highlands' first two possessions of the game, both coming in the first quarter. Richardson cut the lead in half early in the second quarter. But like the first half, Lake Highlands opened with back-to-back touchdowns after forcing a punt and fumble to extend the lead to 28-7. Coulson had 130 yards rushing on 15 attempts and added another 52 through the air. Aaron Bertrand led Richardson with 105 yards passing and one rushing touchdown.

MacArthur 30, Berkner 23: Lee Hamilton had 48 receiving yards and a touchdown to help lead Irving MacArthur to a 30-23 District 7-6A victory over Richardson Berkner Wednesday afternoon at Joy & Ralph Ellis Stadium. Leading 23-14 going into the third quarter, MacArthur (3-5, 3-3 district) took control of the game after quarterback Kylale Flye threw a 73-yard pass to Tre Howard and then rushed for a six-yard touchdown. Berkner was able to cut the deficit to seven late in the game, but failed to recover the ensuing onside kick. Trailing 13-0 after the first quarter, Berkner (2-7, 1-5 district) found its way onto the scoreboard on the back of Devin Joshua, totaling 51 total yards on a drive that was capped off by a one-yard touchdown run. Both teams traded touchdowns late in the second quarter, as MacArthur's alternate quarterback Glendon Casas-Willis threw a touchdown to Lee Hamilton, and Berkner followed with a Jamaal Saine touchdown pass to Denim Jones. A long kickoff return for MacArthur and ensuing field goal gave MacArthur a 23-14 halftime lead.

Rockwall 58, Mesquite Horn 17: Braedyn Locke passed for 247 yards and five touchdowns as Rockwall dominated Mesquite Horn, 58-17, in a District 10-6A contest at Wilkerson-Sanders Memorial Stadium. Zach Hernandez added 99 yards rushing and two touchdowns. The Rockwall defense set up its potent offense early on. Garrett Lewis intercepted a Horn pass on the second play from scrimmage. Two plays later Locke passed 11 yards to Jax Johnson to make it 6-0. Drew Molck intercepted a Horn pass on the ensuing series. Locke, a junior, passed seven yards to Hernandez on 3rd and goal to make it 13-0 with 9:32 remaining in the second quarter. Horn later cut the first-quarter deficit to 13-10 when Tarance Johnson picked up a Rockwall fumble and returned it 42 yards. Rockwall (8-1, 5-0) outscored Horn, 28-0, in a dominant second quarter and led 48-10 at the half. Hernandez broke for a 71-yard run down the left sideline to make it 27-10. Locke and the other offensive starters left the game early in the second half after the offense scored a quick touchdown. Horn (2-6, 0-4) was held to 62 yards and three first downs in the first half while Rockwall amassed 390 yards and 17 first downs.

Flower Mound Marcus 58, Lewisville 38: Flower Mound Marcus secured its second consecutive district title Friday as the Marauders (8-0, 5-0 in District 6-6A) pulled away from rival Lewisville (5-3, 3-2) on the road, 58-38, to remain unbeaten on the season. It was the highest-scoring game in the Battle of the Axe series for the second consecutive season and Marcus now holds a 19-15-1 edge overall in the series. LSU commit Garrett Nussmeier completed 21 of 31 passes for 265 yards and four touchdowns in the win, while Dallas Dudley had four catches for 121 yards and two scores. For Lewisville, Boise State commit Taylen Green threw for 276 yards and three scores, including 11 receptions for 170 yards and two touchdowns for Isiah Stevens.

Coppell 49, Plano East 26: Ryan Walker passed for six touchdowns while leading Coppell (4-3, 3-2 in District 6-6A) to a 49-26 victory over Plano East (0-8, 0-5 in District 6-6A). Coppell came out in the second half with Walker tossing a 56-yard pass to Anthony Black for a touchdown to go up 28-13. Plano East answered soon after with a 1-yard touchdown run by Ismail Mahdi. Then, it was all Coppell. Two of Walker's TD passes went to Anthony Black, who finished the night with 136 receiving yards. Plano East's Dylan Hayden ran for 186 yards and a score.

South Grand Prairie 21, Arlington Lamar 19: South Grand Prairie scored 21 points in the third quarter and held off a late rally to pull off a 21-19 win over Arlington Lamar at the Gopher-Warrior Bowl in Grand Prairie Friday afternoon. The win earned a playoff spot for South Grand Prairie (5-2 overall and 3-2 in District 6A-8) while Lamar (3-6 overall and 2-4 in district play) must await the outcome of the Arlington Bowie-Arlington High matchup to know its playoff fate. In the fourth quarter, Lamar had a golden scoring opportunity following an interception by Harold West that gave the Vikings the ball deep inside South Grand Prairie territory. But, after Lamar had a first-and-goal at the five, the South Grand Prairie defense made goal line stand, including stops on three plays at the one-yard line.Lamar would eventually get the ball back and score on 68-yard pass from Jaden Morris to Le'Andre Roberts with two minutes left, but South Grand Prairie recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the remainder of the clock to seal the victory.

Arlington Martin 60, Arlington Sam Houston 6: Arlington Martin (8-1, 6-0 in District 8-6A) remained undefeated in district play with a dominant 60-6 victory over Sam Houston (3-6, 1-5) on Friday. Martin led the game from wire to wire after a 62-yard touchdown return on the opening kickoff by quarterback (yes, quarterback) Zach Mundell. Mundell also served as the team's punt returner. Mundell went on to power the Martin offense as well, completing 8 of 11 passes for 161 yards and four touchdowns before being removed from the game at the end of the third quarter. Martin wide receiver Kyron Askey caught three of those touchdown passes from Mundell, finishing with 93 yards through the air in the victory.

THE LAST TIME THEY MET...

Sophomore EJ Smith erupted for five touchdowns and fellow second year Jack Barton snagged a pair of interceptions, propelling Jesuit Dallas to a 56-34 over Richardson on Friday evening at Postell Stadium. The Eagles scored 21 second half points to tie the Rangers, 28-28 at halftime, but 14 unanswered points to open the third quarter provided the buffer in Jesuit's first win of the season

Smith wrapped the contest with 178 yards to earn his first 100-yard varsity contest and logging the most rushing touchdowns since Matt Miller scored five times against W.T. White on Oct. 11, 2013. Overall, Jesuit pounded the pavement for 384 yards and seven rushing touchdowns, matching most since last year's clash with J.J. Pearce. Senior Hank Clements passed the 100-yard plateau for the first time this season, securing a career-high 135 yards.

The Jesuit defense stopped Richardson twice on fourth downs and were led by six tackles and two interceptions by Barton. Both drives sparked by Barton interceptions resulted in Jesuit Dallas touchdowns, providing timely momentum to the Blue and Gold. Sophomore Tommy Roy secured an interception in the fourth quarter to punctuate a defensive effort that limited Richardson to 83 rushing yards.