BY LEMAN SAUNDERS
DI: Borden County v Jonesboro
Borden County
Borden County will ride into Arlington on a 27-game win streak and looking for the programs fifth state championship.
Coyotes’ head coach Trey Richey is 3-1 in state championship games having won it all in 2008, 2009, 2014 and lost the 2011 state game to Throckmorton. He was an assistant coach at Borden County when they won the state title in 1997 over Panther Creek and lost the 1998 state title to Trinidad.
Offensively, they run a variety of spread formations, with split ends/receivers and use the unbalanced line, ‘J-Bird’ formation as the base tight set.
Honestly, what sets Borden County apart from almost all other teams in class 1A is their size upfront:
Center Zane Allen – 6-4, 244 pounds; End Braxton Barnes – 6-4, 285 pounds; Guard JW Nix – 6-0, 160 pounds.
All are quick off the line and very strong!
Oh, and don’t forget lead blocking fullback Ben Justice at six feet tall, 209 pounds along with quarterback/running back Trace Richey, at 6-1, 183 pounds.
This size advantage has led to some solid offensive numbers for the skill position players:
Running back Nick Proulx leads the team in rushing with 1,971 yards and 41 touchdowns on 111 carries. He also has 294 yards and 3 Touchdowns receiving on 9 catches.
Running back Payton Merket averages 15.2 yards per carry running for 972 yards and 17 touchdowns on just 63 carries. Merket has also went 22-31 passing for 421 yards and 10 touchdowns with no interceptions.
Richey averages 16.8 yards per carry and rushed for 926 yards, 19 touchdowns on 55 carries. He has completed 67.7% of his passes with zero interceptions for 1,011 yards and 21 touchdowns and has 11 catches for 316 yards and 7 Touchdowns receiving.
Easton Edwards is the Coyotes’ leading receiver with 18 receptions for 465 yards and nine touchdowns.
Defense is where it is at for the Coyotes! They are allowing an amazingly low eight points a game despite giving up a season high 38 to Happy, who was averaging over 77 points a game, last week in the semifinals. Again, size up front and excellent play from their secondary, running primarily 2-3 type defenses has been the key to their success.
Defensive Ends Justice, Allen, and Ryan Willborn have recorded a total of 360 tackles, 87 for loss, and 15 fumble recoveries! Justice has blocked two punts and picked off three passes as well.
Linebacker/Safety Richey leads the team in tackles and picks, with 168 and six, respectively.
Defensive Back JW Nix has 96 tackles, 21 for loss and also picked off four passes.
Jonesboro:
This will be only the second time Jonesboro has played for a state championship, losing last season to Borden County.
Head Coach Eddie Gallegos’ squad is made up of seasoned veterans and they have played 11 playoff teams this season, including the TAPPS DI State Champions, Dallas Lutheran, whom they beat 76-42. Their only loss was at the hands of top DII-semifinalist Milford, way back in week two, 71-44.
Offensively for the Eagles…
Running Back Wyatt Young is their primary back. He has rushed for 2,501 yards and 44 touchdowns and accounted for 2,941 yards of total offense. He has 3,237 all-purpose yards to his name.
Running Back Ethan Lilljedahl has rushed for 1,142 yards, 24 TDs, on just 97 carries.
Running Back Andy Sarmiento has rushed for 805 yards, with 11 touchdowns, and if forgotten about can burn defenses. He is also 64-for-89 kicking PATs.
Running Back Payton Merx is also capable of racking up some rushing yards.
Quarterback Anthony Lopez is the play caller in the predominantly run-based offensive attack and he has thrown for 332 yards and 8 Touchdowns this season.
Center Gage Bragewitz along with Ends Alex Sarmiento and Trevor Sellers are good at getting the initial push and making holes for their backs to find. Sellers leads the team in receiving with 12 catches for 296 yards and seven touchdowns.
Defensively…we are looking at the same three guys as Jonesboro’s top defensive men…
Safety Young leads the team with 176 tackles, has picked off 7 passes, recovered two fumbles and scored three defensive touchdowns.
Cornerback Lilljedahl has five Interceptions and two fumble recoveries with one defensive touchdown and has recorded 100 tackles.
Defensive End Sarmiento is second on the team with 110 tackles and has recorded 4 sacks with six fumble recoveries and one interception.
Defensive End Trevor Sellers and cornerback Anthony Lopez are also key players in the Eagle’s defensive schemes.
Wyatt Young is dangerous as a return man on special teams. He already has three kickoff returns for touchdowns and has amassed some long yardage on a few punt returns as well.
Last year’s state game was the only time these two schools have played each other. The fact that they both got to experience the atmosphere of AT&T Stadium last year will help them focus more this time around. I think both teams are stronger and more rounded than last season, but I think the Borden County size advantage is just too much for Jonesboro to overcome. Defensively, the Coyotes have the edge and will slow down a great Eagle offensive attack. I expect Borden County to do a lot of the same things they did last week against Happy, That is, run the ball behind their big line. I look for the Coyotes to jump out to an early lead and slowly extend on it. Jonesboro will battle back to narrow the gap a little, but ultimately come up short, in a valiant effort.
Borden County 72 Jonesboro 32
DI: Borden County v Jonesboro
Borden County
Borden County will ride into Arlington on a 27-game win streak and looking for the programs fifth state championship.
Coyotes’ head coach Trey Richey is 3-1 in state championship games having won it all in 2008, 2009, 2014 and lost the 2011 state game to Throckmorton. He was an assistant coach at Borden County when they won the state title in 1997 over Panther Creek and lost the 1998 state title to Trinidad.
Offensively, they run a variety of spread formations, with split ends/receivers and use the unbalanced line, ‘J-Bird’ formation as the base tight set.
Honestly, what sets Borden County apart from almost all other teams in class 1A is their size upfront:
Center Zane Allen – 6-4, 244 pounds; End Braxton Barnes – 6-4, 285 pounds; Guard JW Nix – 6-0, 160 pounds.
All are quick off the line and very strong!
Oh, and don’t forget lead blocking fullback Ben Justice at six feet tall, 209 pounds along with quarterback/running back Trace Richey, at 6-1, 183 pounds.
This size advantage has led to some solid offensive numbers for the skill position players:
Running back Nick Proulx leads the team in rushing with 1,971 yards and 41 touchdowns on 111 carries. He also has 294 yards and 3 Touchdowns receiving on 9 catches.
Running back Payton Merket averages 15.2 yards per carry running for 972 yards and 17 touchdowns on just 63 carries. Merket has also went 22-31 passing for 421 yards and 10 touchdowns with no interceptions.
Richey averages 16.8 yards per carry and rushed for 926 yards, 19 touchdowns on 55 carries. He has completed 67.7% of his passes with zero interceptions for 1,011 yards and 21 touchdowns and has 11 catches for 316 yards and 7 Touchdowns receiving.
Easton Edwards is the Coyotes’ leading receiver with 18 receptions for 465 yards and nine touchdowns.
Defense is where it is at for the Coyotes! They are allowing an amazingly low eight points a game despite giving up a season high 38 to Happy, who was averaging over 77 points a game, last week in the semifinals. Again, size up front and excellent play from their secondary, running primarily 2-3 type defenses has been the key to their success.
Defensive Ends Justice, Allen, and Ryan Willborn have recorded a total of 360 tackles, 87 for loss, and 15 fumble recoveries! Justice has blocked two punts and picked off three passes as well.
Linebacker/Safety Richey leads the team in tackles and picks, with 168 and six, respectively.
Defensive Back JW Nix has 96 tackles, 21 for loss and also picked off four passes.
Jonesboro:
This will be only the second time Jonesboro has played for a state championship, losing last season to Borden County.
Head Coach Eddie Gallegos’ squad is made up of seasoned veterans and they have played 11 playoff teams this season, including the TAPPS DI State Champions, Dallas Lutheran, whom they beat 76-42. Their only loss was at the hands of top DII-semifinalist Milford, way back in week two, 71-44.
Offensively for the Eagles…
Running Back Wyatt Young is their primary back. He has rushed for 2,501 yards and 44 touchdowns and accounted for 2,941 yards of total offense. He has 3,237 all-purpose yards to his name.
Running Back Ethan Lilljedahl has rushed for 1,142 yards, 24 TDs, on just 97 carries.
Running Back Andy Sarmiento has rushed for 805 yards, with 11 touchdowns, and if forgotten about can burn defenses. He is also 64-for-89 kicking PATs.
Running Back Payton Merx is also capable of racking up some rushing yards.
Quarterback Anthony Lopez is the play caller in the predominantly run-based offensive attack and he has thrown for 332 yards and 8 Touchdowns this season.
Center Gage Bragewitz along with Ends Alex Sarmiento and Trevor Sellers are good at getting the initial push and making holes for their backs to find. Sellers leads the team in receiving with 12 catches for 296 yards and seven touchdowns.
Defensively…we are looking at the same three guys as Jonesboro’s top defensive men…
Safety Young leads the team with 176 tackles, has picked off 7 passes, recovered two fumbles and scored three defensive touchdowns.
Cornerback Lilljedahl has five Interceptions and two fumble recoveries with one defensive touchdown and has recorded 100 tackles.
Defensive End Sarmiento is second on the team with 110 tackles and has recorded 4 sacks with six fumble recoveries and one interception.
Defensive End Trevor Sellers and cornerback Anthony Lopez are also key players in the Eagle’s defensive schemes.
Wyatt Young is dangerous as a return man on special teams. He already has three kickoff returns for touchdowns and has amassed some long yardage on a few punt returns as well.
Last year’s state game was the only time these two schools have played each other. The fact that they both got to experience the atmosphere of AT&T Stadium last year will help them focus more this time around. I think both teams are stronger and more rounded than last season, but I think the Borden County size advantage is just too much for Jonesboro to overcome. Defensively, the Coyotes have the edge and will slow down a great Eagle offensive attack. I expect Borden County to do a lot of the same things they did last week against Happy, That is, run the ball behind their big line. I look for the Coyotes to jump out to an early lead and slowly extend on it. Jonesboro will battle back to narrow the gap a little, but ultimately come up short, in a valiant effort.
Borden County 72 Jonesboro 32
