Sep. 18—The first month of the 2024 football season has given us storylines of high powered offenses along with team’s trying to figure out strengths and weaknesses as they head into district play.
Here are the Week 4 previews across the coverage area:
Hemphill at Westwood
Time and Date: 7:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 20
Location: Panther Stadium, 1812 Panther Road, Palestine, TX 75801.
Game Notes: Friday Night is homecoming at Panther Stadium as they hope to keep their undefeated streak alive. The Panthers (3-0) are now in the top 10 by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football at No. 8 in Class 3A, Division I football. They are averaging 65.3 points per game in the first three games of 2024. In three games, Hemphill (0-3) has only scored 58 points with last week’s 60-26 loss to West Sabine the most they have scored. The Hornets are led by quarterback Conor McDaniel and senior running back Trevon McDaniel.
Scurry-Rosser at Frankston
Time and Date: 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 20
Location: Jeff and Opal Austin Stadium, Frankston, TX 75763
Game Notes: The contest is homecoming for the Frankston Indians following a gutsy win over the Grapeland Sandies last week. Question marks are in play for the Indians for Frankston Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Paul Gould following injuries last week to seniors Tyler Rogers and Reese Hicks. The Indians (2-1) need to figure out how to contain Scurry-Rosser quarterback Levi Jones, who is 27-of-45 for 585 yards with four touchdowns and running back Ralph Miller with 52 carries for 427 yards and seven touchdowns. Scurry-Rosser (2-1) has wins over Italy, 27-20 and Mineola, 54-28.
Elkhart at Corrigan-Camden
Time and Date: 7:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 20
Location: Bulldog Stadium, 504 S Home Street, Corrigan, TX 75939.
Game Notes: Friday marks a battle of 1-2 teams looking to gain some momentum in the final non-district game of the season. The Elks, under Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Cody Day, would love to head to District 11-3A, Division II play at 2-2 following last week’s tough loss to the Kerens Bobcats. This contest wraps up a two game road trip for Elkhart. For the Bulldogs, they are led by senior quarterback Michael Sullivan, who is 12-of-33 for 147 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. They are more of a running team as seven players have had carries so far. The top back is sophomore Derrick Reagle with 50 carries for 350 yards and two touchdowns.
Italy at Cayuga
Time and Date: 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 20
Location: Scarborough Stadium, 17750 US 287, Cayuga, TX 75832.
Game Notes: The Cayuga Wildcats are hoping to build on last week’s dominating performance in which they had a season high in points to record their first win in a 42-22 victory over Itasca. Quarterback Gunner Douglas could have his name called a lot against a feisty Italy Gladiators team coming in at 2-1 overall. Douglas accounted for 268 yards of total offense and three touchdowns in the Wildcats victory. The Gladiators have relied on defense in their two victories following a 21-6 victory over Chilton and a 19-7 win over Clifton. Italy is led by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football’s Preseason Defensive Most Valuable Player in senior free safety Gared Wood. Wood also is the quarterback after finishing with a District Offensive MVP season in 2023. His top targets could be wide receiver Treylan Fennell, running back Eric Solis and wide receiver Cory Johnson.
Groveton at Grapeland
Time and Date: 7:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 20
Location: Grapeland Sandies Stadium, 1007 N Olive Street, Grapeland, TX 75844.
Game Notes: The Grapeland Sandies are hoping to bounce back after a heartbreaker last week against the Frankston Indians for their first loss of the year. Grapeland Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Jordan Wood will rely on running back Maleek Johnson and quarterback Bryson Johnson as they wrap up non-district play Friday. The Groveton Indians come in at 0-3 overall scoring only 44 points for the season following last week’s 59-0 loss to Lovelady. The defense has allowed 120 points in losses to Alto, Trinity and Lovelady so the Grapeland offense should find its rhythm this week.
Coolidge at Oakwood
Time and Date: 7:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 20
Location: Panther Memorial Stadium, 388 FCR 331, Oakwood, TX 75855.
Game Notes: Oakwood Athletic Director and Head Football Coach J.J. Johnson’s team is hoping to bounce back from a 60-14 mercy-rule loss to Aquilla last week but it won’t be easy with the 2-1 Coolidge Yellowjackets coming to town. Coolidge is coming off of a 50-43 victory over St. Joseph’s Catholic. The Panthers defensive unit will have to figure out how to contain an offense averaging 45 points in the past two games. The Yellowjackets are led by running back Devonta Johnson and defensive standouts Jacoby Brown and Tino Braleon.
