Mansfield faces SG Prairie in key 5-5A matchup
September, 29, 2011
9/29/11
4:44
AM CT
By
Randy Jennings | ESPNDallas.com
MANSFIELD (4-0, 1-0) vs. SOUTH GRAND PRAIRIE (2-2, 1-0)
7:30 p.m. Friday at Grand Prairie’s Gopher-Warrior Bowl
When we saw them last: Mansfield’s Jerod Evans threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to his brother, Lance Evans, with one second remaining to send the Tigers over Mansfield Timberview, 29-27. In a game with a lot less drama, South Grand Prairie running backs Laquinton Bailey and Leonard Aikens each rushed for two touchdowns in a 45-24 victory at Midlothian.
2010 result: Mansfield trailed by two points going into the fourth quarter, but rallied to defeat South Grand Prairie, 24-22, at Mansfield’s R.L. Anderson Stadium.
What’s at stake: The winner will be 2-0 in District 5-5A and in no worse than a three-way tie for first place. South Grand Prairie has never lost to the Tigers at the Gopher-Warrior Bowl.
Key matchup: Coming off a bye week, South Grand Prairie found a running game last week in a win at Midlothian, rushing for 332 yards after averaging 148 yards through its first three games. That improved running game will be tested by an active Mansfield defensive front that allows an average of only 125 rushing yards per game.
Players to watch: Mansfield junior running back Kenneth Burks has 482 rushing yards and five TDs, and senior defensive end Hassan Ridgeway has commmitted to Texas. South Grand Prairie senior quarterback and Baylor commit Jared Johnson has thrown for 617 yards and seven TDs, and kicker Johnny Armijo has made six field goals.
Prediction: South Grand Prairie 27, Mansfield 24.
7:30 p.m. Friday at Grand Prairie’s Gopher-Warrior Bowl
When we saw them last: Mansfield’s Jerod Evans threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to his brother, Lance Evans, with one second remaining to send the Tigers over Mansfield Timberview, 29-27. In a game with a lot less drama, South Grand Prairie running backs Laquinton Bailey and Leonard Aikens each rushed for two touchdowns in a 45-24 victory at Midlothian.
2010 result: Mansfield trailed by two points going into the fourth quarter, but rallied to defeat South Grand Prairie, 24-22, at Mansfield’s R.L. Anderson Stadium.
What’s at stake: The winner will be 2-0 in District 5-5A and in no worse than a three-way tie for first place. South Grand Prairie has never lost to the Tigers at the Gopher-Warrior Bowl.
Key matchup: Coming off a bye week, South Grand Prairie found a running game last week in a win at Midlothian, rushing for 332 yards after averaging 148 yards through its first three games. That improved running game will be tested by an active Mansfield defensive front that allows an average of only 125 rushing yards per game.
Players to watch: Mansfield junior running back Kenneth Burks has 482 rushing yards and five TDs, and senior defensive end Hassan Ridgeway has commmitted to Texas. South Grand Prairie senior quarterback and Baylor commit Jared Johnson has thrown for 617 yards and seven TDs, and kicker Johnny Armijo has made six field goals.
Prediction: South Grand Prairie 27, Mansfield 24.
Randy Jennings
ESPNDallas.comRandy Jennings covers south Metroplex high schools for ESPNDallas.com. His 34-year career as a sports writer includes eight years at the Dallas Morning News. Jennings is a graduate of UT-Arlington.
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Travis L. Brown
Travis L. Brown covers high schools for ESPNDallas.com. He is a graduate of TCU, where he was sports editor of the student paper, The Daily Skiff.
Randy Jennings
Randy Jennings covers south Metroplex high schools for ESPNDallas.com. His 34-year career as a sports writer includes eight years at the Dallas Morning News. Jennings is a graduate of UT-Arlington.
Jeff Andrews
Jeff Andrews covers north Metroplex high schools for ESPNDallas.com. He covered high school sports for four years at the Denton Record-Chronicle. Andrews is a graduate of UNT.
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