Defending State Champs Come To Town

This Friday night, the Tigers need to come up with a victory to get their season back on track and to still have a shot at a district championship.  A win won't come easy however, as the two time defending state champion Ennis Lions will be looking to improve their district record to 4-0.

The Tiger defense will be tested by the Lion offense led by QB Graham Harrell who has thrown for over 1800 yards this year while rushing for more than 500.  Last year Harrell took over the reins of the Lion offense as a sophomore and had a sensational year leading the Lions to an undefeated season and a state championship.  Listed by several national publications as one of the country's top juniors, stopping Harrell will be a key to a successful game by the Tigers on Friday.  Jarvis Woodson and Anthony Jenkins are Harrell's main targets and the pair has been likened to the departed dynamic duo of Broderic Jones and Vincent Marshall.  Denard Cox and Thurston Ashley are both talented running backs who give Ennis an impressive balanced attack.

The Lions offense gets all the attention, but the defense has been very impressive this season.  Led by all-state linebacker Frank Gutierrez, the Lions held the vaunted Denton Ryan offense to 14 points in their early season showdown, and they haven't allowed any team to score more than 20 points all season.  The Tigers, who at times have been spectacular this season, will need to be more consistent on Friday and will most likely need a top notch game from QB Daniel Orr.  Orr has been limited to under 100 yards passing in all three district games, will need to get back to his non-district level of play for the Tigers to have a chance on Friday.  Clarence Robinson will still be the focus of the Tiger attack, but without the threat of the pass, Terrell was able to load up against the run and stop him.

I'm looking forward to a great game on Friday.  My father-in-law will be in town for the game and he is a big fan of high school football and follows perennial Michigan power Utica Eisenhower.  Come out and support the Tigers on Friday in their quest for a district championship!!!