Who: DeSoto vs. Arlington Martin
What: Played a total of five times: Eagles lead the series 4-1
Where: Mansfield’s Vernon Newsom Stadium
When: Saturday at 4 p.m.
Players to Watch for DeSoto and a few words from coach Todd Peterman
SR. RB LD Brown — Oklahoma State verbal commit, ran a 4.43 40-yard dash
SR. RB Keylan Chapman — 4.5 40-yard dash and benches 400 pounds.
SR. QB Tristen Wallace — Ohio State verbal commit.
SR. LT Josiah Washington — Texas State commit, 6’6, 290
JR. WR K.D. Nixon — 4.38 40-yard dash, 623 receiving yards, 6 total TDs.
“Four of our five starting offensive line are all new, they’re young, but we won’t skip a beat,” DeSoto’s first-year head coach Todd Peterman said. “They’ve been through are system long enough to know what to expect come Saturday.”
Peterman stressed to his team since last season that he just wants to keep things simple by doing the little things right.
“The biggest thing I want our kids to do is to get lined up right and let the kids play. This game is going to come down to special teams and what team can capitalize on turnovers.”
“Our kids and our staff respect each other. It’ll just be a good, no great high school football game, and it’ll come down to the wire.”
Players to Watch for Arlington Martin
SR. RB Nic Smith — 54 rushing TDs and 3,267 rush yards in two seasons, 8.5 avg. yd/c
SR. QB Erick Walker — 1,183 pass yards for seven TDs
SR. WR Tyler Wilson — 4.5 40-yard dash
SR. OLB Daquaylyn Thomas — 186 tackles total tackles
“Martin is fast,” Peterman said of his familiar opponent. “They won the 4×1 and 4×2 relay at state last season, so they’ll be tough to match up with.”
Score prediction
DeSoto 28, Arlington Martin 21
Who: Euless Trinity Trojans vs. De La Salle Spartans (Concord, Calif.)
What: First time De La Salle has played a team in Texas
Where: Mansfield’s Vernon Newsom Stadium
When: Saturday at 8 p.m.
A Few Tidbits
From 1992-2003, De La Salle held the longest winning streak of 151 games under legendary head coach Bob Ladouceur. Ladouceur retired from coaching January 4, 2013 with a 399-25-3 record.
Last season, the Spartans won their 23rd California Interscholastic Federation Bowl Game Championships, with a 14-0 record.
Trinity lost in the Class 6A Division I regional final to the eventual state champion, Allen.
De La Salle returns 12 starters from last season’s squad, three of which are defensive linemen. Trinity returns five starters.
Players to Watch for De La Salle
JR RB Andrew Hernandez — 1,840 rush yards, 30 TDs.
SR RB Antoine Custer — 1,860 rush yards, 24 TDs.
JR QB Anthony Sweeney
JR TE Devin Asiasi — 6’5, 255 lbs.
JR WR Jonathan Harvey
JR DT Boss Tagalon — 6’3, 295 lbs., holds 14 FBS offers and is the No. 11 ranked DT in California
Players to Watch for Trinity
SR DE Chris Daniels — 6’4, 290 lbs.
SR DL Elise (EJ) Gisa — 6’2 287
SR OLB Justus Gregg — 5’9 185, 118 tackles last season.
SR QB Tyler Natee — 930 pass yards, 1,400 rush yards, 19 total TDs
SR RB Ja’Ron Wilson — 1,792 rush yards, 22 TDs
SR RB Dejuan Garrett — injured last season, looking to have a breakout season
Battle will be won in the trenches
Both teams will try to establish the run game. Each is similar in the sense of their offensive schemes running the ball. However, Trinity runs out of a two receiver split tight I-formation or a two tight end set most of the game. The Spartans run the Veer, the Wing-T and some I-formation.
It’ll come down to who can force turnovers and capitalize on those turnovers. It’ll be a barnburner for sure.
Score Prediction
Trinity 35, De La Salle 28
