Arguably the biggest game in the Houston area this week is Fort Bend Marshall traveling to take on the Manvel Mavericks in a District 23-5A matchup. Both teams are coming in undefeated at 5-0, so someone is losing their goose egg tonight.
This is Manvel’s first year in 5A, as they dropped down from 6A last year with the reclassifications. This game will be decided on which defense has the best game. Manvel is averaging 37 points per game while the Buffalos are averaging 42 points per game. The defense is really where these two teams are separated. Manvel is allowing just under nine points per game. When you’re holding opponents to under 10 points a game you have a pretty good shot to win every game. In district play the Maverick defense has gotten better, only giving up 10 points total in the two district games they have played so far.
Manvel’s 5-0 record has been more impressive so far, but getting to 5-0 however you get there is impressive. Manvel faced Crosby, North Shore and Pearland in non-district, and won all three matchups by double digit points.
The Buffalos have fared even better on offense in district games, they have bumped that 42 points per game up to 52 points a game. The teams are evenly matched on paper, but they don’t play the game that way. Whoever wins this game will have the inside track to being the number one team in District 23-5A. However, Fort Bend Elkins is making some noise in district winning their first two game after starting off their season 0-3 and not having scored more than 17 points.
It should be a good game at Alvin Memorial Stadium when these two teams take the field, and if it’s not then one team will be looking really scary heading into the rest of the season.
