5A Team of the Week: Mesquite Skeeters
Mesquite and West Mesquite have been on very different trajectories in recent times. Mesquite hasn’t won more than two games since 2022. West Mesquite has won 11 games in each of the past two seasons.
For the first time ever, they met on the football field last Friday, and those trends went out the window.
Caleb Rhodes rushed for 104 yards and two touchdowns, including the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter, as Mesquite scored a huge 14-13 victory over their crosstown foe.
“I’m so happy for our kids and the way they handled adversity throughout the game,” Mesquite head coach Rafael Thomas said. “Our culture is USVSUS, we take pride in not beating ourselves and playing for one another. Effort and discipline helped us win the game, that’s what we pride ourselves on here.”
Rhodes also completed four of his eight passes for 85 yards. On the ground, running back Xeric Ransom carried the ball 15 times for 79 yards. Defensively, sophomore defensive lineman Odis Whidby led the Skeeters with 12 tackles. Defensive end Rogelio Araujo, safety Montrell Haggerty Jr., and linebacker Sincere Adair all had fumble recoveries.
Mesquite has already surpassed its win total from last year, sitting at 2-3. Most importantly, the Skeeters are 2-0 in district play, a mark that Thomas thinks can work wonders for a team loaded with sophomore contributors.
“This is just one game, but it shows our team, which is a young one, that the culture works if you buy in,” Thomas said. “The win is great, but the work is far from over. “
That work will continue after a bye week on Oct. 8 when the Skeeters play at W.T. White.
Previous 5A Teams of the Week
Week One: Bryan Adams
Week Two: Waco
Week Three: Northbrook
Week Four: Bryan Rudder
