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Plano East and Hebron softball will finish a three-game series to decide who goes to state.

This isn’t the typical best-of-three series that many coaches elect to play in the playoffs, it’s simply the third time the two will meet this season after facing each other twice in district play.

“Our district is really one of the hardest districts in the state of Texas,” Hebron coach Staci Jackson said. “It proves it because East has already played Flower Mound, and we’ve already played Plano, and now here we are playing Plano East to go to state. If that doesn’t show you that our district is extremely strong, I don’t know what does.”

Instead of deciding the Class 5A regional final in a best-of-three series, the decision went to a coin toss, which was won by Jackson in favor of a one-and-done game.

Jackson said she believes that this late in the season, a one-game regional final does more to prepare the winning team for the single-elimination state tournament in Austin.

Hebron entered the playoffs as the final seed coming out of District 8-5A but has peaked when it mattered and eliminated two district champions and two runners-up in its journey to the region final.

“In our district, it doesn’t really matter what seed you are,” Jackson said. “As long as you make it in the top four, anything can happen in the postseason.”

Hebron must conquer the challenge of a Plano East team that has dominated the Hawks in their two meetings 8-1 and 11-1 this season.

Defense is Jackson’s key to turning the tables on East, which has made a name for itself this season in its ability to generate offense in many different ways.

Jackson said her team’s ability is there to create a different result, so the trip to Austin might come down to the team with the better focus on defense.

“It might be the first team that makes a mistake that loses,” Jackson said.

Forney eyes return bid to state tournament

Forney surprised many last season by not only making the state tournament, but also advancing to the Class 4A state final, only to lose 10-3 to Santa Fe.

Because of that success, it’s no secret anymore that the Jackrabbits can play some ball.

However, Forney again reaches the regional finals as an underdog to its own district 15-4A champion Ennis, who beat Forney twice in district play.

“My girls came out of both games thinking we should have had a good shot at it,” Forney coach Eric Montgomery said. “My girls are not overly confident, but they are confident that they can perform well this weekend.”

Forney graduated threes seniors since last season’s state tournament campaign, including starting pitcher Macie Tillery, but the tandem of Danielle Najera and Allison Brown has stepped in seamlessly, offering two contrasting looks to opposing hitters.

Montgomery wanted a best-of-three series and ended up winning the toss. He said he believes multiple games will allow his hitters time to figure out Ennis’ pitching.

“I’m hoping that over a three-game series that my girls will be able to figure them out,” Montgomery said. “The ability to change up pitchers will be able to keep them off-balance hopefully because they are a pretty good hitting team as well.”

Waxahachie returns to the girls state basketball playoffs after a rare absence a season ago.

The Lady Indians (20-9), runner-up in District 15-4A, face Round Rock Cedar Ridge (25-10) in the opener of a Region II bi-district doubleheader scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday at Waco High.

The second game matches 15-4A champion West Mesquite against Hutto, fourth-place finisher in 16-4A.

Waxahachie has relied on defense to make up for a lack of height and a youthful lineup. The Lady Indians start two sophomores, two juniors and one senior.

“Nobody is taller than 5-8, so we have to be good on defense,’’ said Waxahachie coach Lesli Priebe, who guided the Lady Indians to the Class 4A state title in 2006.

Waxahachie counts on the rebounding and scoring of 5-foot-7 junior Ja’Mayia Perez and the all-around play of 5-foot-6 senior guard Taylor Hill.

Cedar Ridge is a new high school without a senior class, so its roster of two freshmen, five sophomores and three juniors is younger than that of Waxahachie. Cedar Ridge enjoys an advantage in height with 6-foot-2 sophomore Courtney Brown.

The teams closed the regular season in opposite fashion, with Waxahachie winning its final three and Cedar Ridge dropping its last three to fall into a tie for second place in District 16-4A. Cedar Ridge settled for the third-place playoff berth after losing a coin flip with Pflugerville Connally.

In its two most recent playoff trips in 2009 and 2010, Waxahachie advanced three rounds before losing in the Region II semifinals.

“We’ve gotten great effort from our girls this season,’’ Priebe said. “We’ll need to play our best against Cedar Ridge.’’

League games are just beginning in some boys basketball districts, but in 15-4A, teams have played almost a third of their district schedule.

Because of the size of 15-4A (nine schools), 16 games with bye dates are required for the home-and-away round-robin, necessitating the start of league games in November.

A three-team battle is shaping up with Lancaster (6-0), West Mesquite (4-1) and Red Oak (4-1) separating themselves from the pack.

Lancaster already owns a road win over West Mesquite and hosts Red Oak at 7 p.m. Friday.

The Tigers have four players averaging double figures in their district wins:

*Bobby Word (16.3), a 6-2 junior and a solid 3-point shooter.

*Daeshon Hall (13.8), a 6-7 senior post.

*D.J. Foster (12.0), a 6-4 senior forward who excels in going to the basket.

*Brandon Fisher (10.2), a 5-10 senior guard.

Red Oak suffered its first 15-4A loss Tuesday to West Mesquite, 68-50. The Hawks are led by 6-7 senior Luke Eubank.

Lancaster made it to the Class 4A state finals in the 2009-2010 season, losing in the title game to Houston Yates.

West Mesquite and Mesquite Poteet each made an impressive playoff run a year ago, but only one will have a chance to duplicate that success this time around.

The two rivals own identical 4-3 records in District 15-4A, but the advantage in gaining the only remaining playoff berth clearly rests with the Wranglers of West Mesquite.

By virtue of a 22-21 win over Poteet in Week 7, West Mesquite owns the head-to-head advantage should the teams finish tied in the standings. In that watershed win over Poteet, West Mesquite rallied from a 21-3 deficit by scoring the game’s final 19 points in the last 16 minutes.

The Week 10 schedule favors West Mesquite. The Wranglers (4-5) play at Forney (2-7, 1-6) while Poteet (6-3) goes on the road to face 15-4A leader Waxahachie (8-1, 7-0), No. 4 in ESPNDallas.com Class 4A area rankings.

The Wranglers can clinch a playoff berth with either a win or a Poteet loss. The Pirates need the combination of a win over Waxahachie and a Forney upset of the Wranglers.

West Mesquite, bidding for its sixth straight playoff appearance, went three rounds deep a year ago.

Poteet made the most of only its second playoff appearance in nine seasons last year by going to the Class 4A Division II state semifinals, losing to Johnathan Gray and eventual state champion Aledo.

Waxahachie, Corsicana and Lancaster have already secured the top three playoff spots in 15-4A.

MESQUITE, Texas -- In a game with huge playoff implications in District 15-4A, West Mesquite put itself in the driver’s seat for a spot in the Class 4A playoffs.

The Wranglers used a strong second half to defeat Red Oak, 28-17, Friday evening at Hanby Stadium. With the win, West Mesquite (4-5, 4-3) is now tied with Mesquite Poteet for the fourth playoff spot out of 15-4A. The Wranglers beat Poteet, 22-21, earlier this season to earn the tiebreaker edge.

West Mesquite trailed 17-14, but held Red Oak (4-5, 3-4) scoreless in the second half. The Wranglers took the lead for good with 8:12 in the third quarter, as sophomore quarterback Shateek Nasir connected with sophomore William Stanley on a 56-yard touchdown pass.

The Wranglers added an insurance touchdown with 4:06 in the fourth, as two-way player Kameron Miles rushed for a 20-yard score. West Mesquite’s defense stepped up big in the second half, particularly in the final quarter. Steven Butler Jr., Cranston Jones and Nick Akins all accounted for interceptions in the fourth. Jones’ pick with 1:06 remaining doused Red Oak’s chances for a rally, as the Hawks were looking to trim the lead to four.

West Mesquite jumped on the board first at the 8:58 mark of the first quarter. Running back Darrius Payne-Edwards took a handoff 55 yards from the left side of the field to the right. For the game, West Mesquite rushed for 224 yards and three touchdowns as a unit.

Payne-Edwards led the charge with 140 rushing yards and a score. Miles finished with two touchdowns and also had some key plays in the secondary. Cameron Bausley led Red Oak with 113 total yards (81 rushing) and a receiving touchdown.

A win next week against Forney, or a Poteet loss to Waxahachie, will automatically get the Wranglers in the playoffs.

RED OAK (4-4, 3-3 15-4A) vs. WEST MESQUITE (3-5, 3-3)
7:30 p.m. Friday at Mesquite‘s E.H. Hanby Stadium

When we saw them last: Corsicana put Red Oak in a 22-0 first-quarter hole and the Hawks hurt themselves with four turnovers in a 49-10 loss to the Tigers. Courtland Smith’s 58-yard touchdown run in the dying seconds of the third quarter gave West Mesquite breathing room and a 96-yard interception return by Kameron Miles finished Terrell, 27-10.

2010 result: Each team topped 500 yards of offense in West Mesquite’s 59-45 shootout victory at Red Oak.

What’s at stake: Red Oak and West Mesquite are tied for fifth place in District 15-4A and need a win to keep alive hopes of a top-four finish in the standings and a spot in the playoffs.

Key matchup: Red Oak receiver Jeremiah Gaines is averaging 25.5 yards per catch, with 664 yards and seven touchdowns on 26 receptions. Gaines had a 64-yard touchdown catch in last year’s game against West Mesquite. The Wranglers' defense needs to take the quick strike away from the Hawks.

Players to watch: Red Oak junior quarterback Austin VanHove has thrown for 1,570 yards and 12 touchdowns but is coming off a three-interception game. Cameron Bausley has rushed for over 700 yards and seven touchdowns. For West Mesquite, Shateek Nasir has stepped in at quarterback for injured freshman Chason Virgil and posted very similar numbers. Wranglers receiver Eldridge Massington has made 39 catches for 633 yards and six touchdowns.

Prediction: The Wranglers have played the top teams in 15-4A closer than Red Oak and the home crowd has made a difference this season: West Mesquite 27, Red Oak 20.

It isn’t one player or even a handful of players behind Lancaster’s 6-1 record.

“We’re playing a lot of kids,’’ said coach Chris Gilbert, in his first season at Lancaster. “I’m probably playing more kids than I ever have in my career. We routinely alternate five or six defensive backs, three running backs and we’ve used three quarterbacks. It has taken effort from all of them.’’

Gilbert, who observed the Tigers from afar in prior years, said the program has depth.

“I really feel like we have a little way to go, but I like where we are now,’’ Gilbert said. “I’ve talked to our players about peaking at the right time and I really feel that’s why Friday night’s game is so important.’’

Lancaster (4-1 in 15-4A) goes on the road to meet district leader Waxahachie (6-1, 5-0) 7:30 p.m. Friday at Lumpkins Stadium.

“It will be a playoff-type atmosphere and I want to see how we handle it,’’ Gilbert said.

In another road game with a playoff-type atmosphere in Corsicana, the Tigers sputtered early and couldn’t recover, losing 55-38.

Lancaster has won three since Corsicana, including a come-from-behind 20-19 thriller over Mesquite Poteet last week. Sophomore Nick Harvey scored Lancaster’s winning touchdown on a 19-yard run midway in the fourth quarter.

“The defense carried us against Poteet,’’ Gilbert said.

The Tigers for years have been known for outstanding play in the secondary, and it is true again, but they are also getting great effort up front from senior defensive tackle Windell Chalmers (6-foot, 245) and junior defensive end Deandre Hall (6-7, 215).

“Waxahachie has a great team,’’ Gilbert said. “They have a great running back and quarterback and a big offensive line. Defensively, they are very quick and move around a lot. We really need a good start.’’

After the Indians, Lancaster closes the regular season with games against Terrell and at Red Oak.

MESQUITE, Texas -- The District 15-4A title race was looking to get even more confusing just before halftime of Waxahachie's win over West Mesquite on Thursday night.

That's when Waxahachie decided to rally with a spectacularly confusing play. With the ball on its 29 and about a half a minute left to play in the second quarter, quarterback Don King III hit Michael Veail on a short curl. If the play stops there, the clock probably runs out and the Indians head into the locker room down 23-13.

But the play continued with a pitch to running back Robert Lowe Jr., who ran the ball to the West Mesquite 5 before he was brought down. The play set up a touchdown on a slant to Terrance Hawkins, bringing Waxahachie to within three at the break.

“That play is a trick play but we knew we could execute it,” Lowe said. “I wish I would have scored, but we got down there and scored at that’s all that mattered.”

The trickeration sparked Waxahachie’s offense and drove the Indians to take the lead in the second half in a 40-33 victory.

Waxahachie coach David Ream said the trick play was one his team practices every week and has ready to use in rare situations.

“We do it in our two-minute offense every week and they have a good time with it,” Ream said. “It was just a well-executed play.”

Lowe carried the load for the Indians for the second straight week, scoring four touchdowns on the night and rushing for over 200 yards.

“He’s a great back," Ream said. "He’s got great balance. When the game’s on the line we can get it in his hands and he’ll make the first downs for us.”

Two of the touchdowns came on 17- and 3-yard runs in the second half. King added a 9-yard scamper as Waxahachie outscored West Mesquite in the period, 20-10.

The win keeps a hot West Mesquite (2-5, 2-3) team from getting involved in the District 15-4A championship race and allows Waxahachie (6-1, 5-0) to control its destiny through the last three weeks of district play.

While no one in Waxahachie green would elaborate too much on it, the Indians have to have the season finale against Mesquite Poteet circled. That meeting could end in a celebration of Waxahachie's first district championship won in the school’s renovated stadium.

“We worried about our next game, but [Poteet’s] got it coming. But we’re worried about our next game,” Lowe said.

NO. 4 WAXAHACHIE (5-1, 4-0 15-4A) AT WEST MESQUITE (2-4, 2-2)

7 p.m. Thursday at Mesquite Memorial Stadium

When we saw them last: Waxahachie took control of the hyper-competitive District 15-4A with a 47-36 win over Corsicana, who had beaten Mesquite Poteet the previous week. West Mesquite rescued its playoff push with a close 22-21 win over Poteet.

2010 result: West Mesquite came out on top in a 63-56 shootout. Don’t expect the same kind of offensive explosion from both teams as West Mesquite is missing its all-around playmaker, Trevone Boykin, who is now at TCU. Byokin accounted for well over half of West Mesquite’s total offense both through the air and on the ground. Waxahachie also graduated a big-time playmaker of its own, LaDarius Brown, who is now teammates with Boykin at TCU.

What’s at stake: A West Mesquite win could make the race for the District 15-4A title a crazier affair than has already developed this season. After an 0-3 start, West Mesquite handed title contender Mesquite Poteet its second district loss of the season after the Pirates took a loss to Corsicana the week prior. West Mesquite lost to Corsicana in its district opener, but Waxahachie took the 15-4A reins last week after a home win over Corsicana. If Waxahachie walks out of Mesquite Memorial with a win Thursday, the Indians have a season ending matchup with Poteet standing in between it and a district championship.

Key matchup: Waxahachie’s offense vs. West Mesquite’s defense. As general as that sounds, it could be a huge problem for West Mesquite’s defense that has been prone to give up high point totals throughout the season. Waxahachie has a balanced offense that can constantly keep West Mesquite guessing and will force West Mesquite to focus in on stopping one dimension of the offense. West Mesquite should hope it picks correctly, because both the air and ground game for Waxahachie can be deadly.

Players to watch: It could be a matter of picking the poison for West Mesquite between Waxahachie’s offensive tandem of quarterback Don King III and running back Robert Lowe Jr. Both players have the ability to take the offense on their shoulders and carry the team to a victory. Offensively, look for West Mesquite to move the ball and score in a complete team effort, as almost every offensive position has been a committee effort throughout the season. Luckily, West Mesquite has depth in athletes and can pull off this full-scale revolving door.

Prediction: West Mesquite’s head coach Mike Overton knew what he was talking about when he told ESPN Dallas’ Randy Jennings that Waxahachie “might be the best 4A team in the state right now.” The Indians should prove him correct in a 38-21 win Thursday night.

West Mesquite’s 22-21 come-from-behind victory over Mesquite Poteet on Friday is a prime example of why it is a mistake to count out a Wranglers program riding a streak of five straight playoff appearances.

After an 0-4 start to 2011, including 0-2 in District 15-4A, the Wranglers have won their last two to move into a tie for fifth place in the district standings.

It looked bleak for West Mesquite when it trailed rival Poteet 21-3 midway through the third period.

The Wranglers were already without their starting quarterback. Freshman Chason Virgil suffered a season-ending broken passing arm the prior week, in a 19-16 victory over Ennis.

Against Poteet, sophomore backup quarterback Shateek Nasir rallied the Wranglers with three touchdown passes in a 13-minute stretch of the second half. Nasir threw a 15-yard scoring pass to William Stanley late in the third period and two in the fourth quarter to Eldridge Massington to tie it with 3:17 remaining. An extra point by Miguel Garza gave West Mesquite its margin of victory.

The winning touchdown was set up by Cody Morris’ interception.

Massington, a junior, finished with eight catches for 156 yards and two touchdowns.

“I’m proud of the way our kids have kept fighting,’’ said West Mesquite coach Mike Overton. “We’ve got a young team this year and we played a tough schedule, but these guys have hung in there.’’

West Mesquite controls its playoff destiny. Wins in its final four games can assure a sixth straight postseason trip. Help will be needed if it loses down the stretch.

The Wranglers (2-4, 2-2) host 15-4A leader Waxahachie (5-1, 4-0) at 7 p.m. Thursday at Mesquite Memorial Stadium.

“Waxahachie might be the best 4A team in the state right now,’’ Overton said.

West Mesquite closes its season with road games at Terrell and Forney sandwiched around a home game against playoff contender Red Oak.

The new 2,500 seats at Waxahachie’s remodeled Lumpkin Stadium could come in handy Friday when the Indians host rival Corsicana in a matchup of the final two remaining teams without a defeat in District 15-4A play.

It is the first time the two foes have been unbeaten in district play going into the big game since 2007, when they met in a district opener.

Corsicana (6-0, 4-0 in 15-4A) is No. 3 in ESPNDallas.com Class 4A Top 10.

The only blemish on the record of No. 7 Waxahachie (4-1, 3-0) was administered by Class 5A unbeaten Flower Mound Marcus in the season opener.

First place doesn't have to be at stake to rev up the two communities for this game. They are separated by only 36 miles. Records indicate the series dates to at least 1913.

Both teams have dominated foes this season. In its four wins, Waxahachie has averaged 50 points scored and 10 points allowed.

Corsicana’s victory margin doesn’t match Waxahachie's, but is still a comfortable 19.5 per game. The Tigers are coming off a 29-16 showdown win over previously unbeaten Mesquite Poteet.

Waxahachie, which missed the playoffs last year for the first time since 1989, has done it a little differently this season, riding the passing arm of quarterback Don King III. The 6-footo-3, 195-pound senior has thrown for 1,244 yards and nine touchdowns.

King can expect pressure from a Corsicana defense that has already amassed 28 sacks.

The Tigers depend heavily on running back Cameron Washington. The 6-foot, 190-pound senior has rushed for 1,258 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Corsicana last season ended a string of Waxahachie victories in the rivalry, 42-28.

CORSICANA, Texas – Friday’s Corsicana-Mesquite Poteet bout flew by as a blur of short plays and defensive stops. Not much stood out in what might have been the best matchup on paper in Week 5.

But before the word “boring” rolls off the tongue to describe Friday’s physical 29-13 Corsicana win, meet running back Cameron Washington.

Washington slipped into this District 15-4A heavyweight match with a very quiet 1,000-plus-yard rushing season through five games, and he added over 250 yards and three touchdowns to help push the third-ranked Tigers (6-0, 4-0) past No. 4 Poteet (5-1, 3-1).

“He’s one of the hardest workers we have on the football team,” Corsicana coach Phil Castles said. “He runs with his heart. He’s a physical player but he does it for his teammates.”

Throughout the game, Washington was the one Corsicana weapon Poteet’s defense could not account for. He delivered touchdown runs from 15 and 33 yards plus a short 4-yard run.

“He’s just so tough,” Poteet coach Randy Jackson said. “We’ll have a kid there, but he’s a load for those guys to tackle and you miss him and there he goes. It was a big assignment for our defense.”

It took the teams a quarter to size one another up, but Washington sparked the Corsicana offense with his first touchdown minutes into the second quarter.

Poteet scored on a pair of 1-yard Steven Hicks runs, but Jackson said without any big play threat against a very athletic Corsicana team, the Pirates struggled to keep up.

Corsicana beat Poteet last season 44-10, which was enough to split the district title between the two schools. However, Poteet continued on past that championship to make a run to the 4A state semifinals.

Both teams now have a case of déjà vu, but only the weeks ahead can prove the impact of this game on playoff positioning. That’s something both coaches will harp on during practice next week.

“We were co-champs with Poteet last year and obviously we want to keep that title and make the big run,” Castles said. “Poteet had a great run in the playoffs. That would be nice to meet them deep in the playoffs sometime again.”

Jackson also is looking down the road.

“In 1980 or whatever, you might be done – one team makes the playoffs,” he said. “All we have to do is look back one year and realize what a great season we can have. We just need to start a winning streak next week, we hope.”

No. 8 LANCASTER (3-0, 1-0) at No. 5 CORSICANA (3-0, 1-0)
7:30 p.m. Friday at Corsicana's Tiger Stadium


When we saw them last: Lancaster squeezed out a 28-27 overtime victory over Forney in a District 15-4A opener last week on Tre’ White’s two-point conversion run. Corsicana snapped a 35-35 tie with four minutes to play on a 31-yard touchdown pass from DeVontay Bell to Chris Edding for a 43-35 victory over 15-4A foe West Mesquite.

2010 result: Lancaster quarterback Davon Hodge threw for 134 yards and two touchdowns in a 21-7 victory over Corsicana in Lancaster. The home team broke open a 7-7 deadlock with 14 points in the fourth quarter.

What’s at stake: The winner will be in a tie for the District 15-4A lead along with the Red Oak-Mesquite Poteet winner.

Key matchup: Corsicana’s 6-foot, 190-pound senior running back Cameron Washington vs. Lancaster’s run defense. In last year’s game, Washington was limited to 41 yards on 13 carries. The Lancaster defense held its first two opponents’ ball carriers this season to an average of just over 3 yards per attempt. But Forney had great success on the ground against Lancaster last week, rushing for 238 yards and three touchdowns.

Players to watch: Lancaster receiver Jaquan White is Hodge’s favorite target with 13 catches for 220 yards and three touchdowns. Corsicana’s Christian Hines, who had a 1,000-yard receiving season last year, had eight catches for 128 yards and touchdown in the win over West Mesquite.

Prediction: Slight edge goes to Corsicana because it has played the tougher schedule of the two: Corsicana 27, Lancaster 22.

One reason District 15-4A is considered one of the most competitive for football in the state is a team like Red Oak.

The Hawks (2-1, 1-0 in 15-4A) didn’t get the amount of preseason attention that went to Corsicana, Mesquite Poteet, West Mesquite or Lancaster, but Red Oak has the kind of offense that can make any opponent nervous.

Red Oak is averaging 45 points a game with its balanced attack.

In their district-opening 56-27 win over Ennis last week, the Hawks had two rushers and a receiver go over 100 yards.

Senior Charles Crosby (5-foot-7, 150 pounds) rushed for 123 yards and junior Cameron Bausley (5-11, 170) gained 116. Each had a pair of touchdowns.

Junior tight end Jeremiah Gaines (6-3, 235) caught three passes for 120 yards and scored once.

Junior quarterback Austin VanHove hit on 8-of-12 passes for 191 yards and three touchdowns.

The Hawks host Poteet (3-0, 1-0) 7:30 Friday in a rematch of a last season’s swing game played at Mesquite Memorial Stadium. Red Oak no doubt has anguished over the final events of that night many times.

Poteet scored on a touchdown pass with nine seconds remaining to force overtime, and eventually won, 21-20. The difference turned out to be a Red Oak extra point kick that banged off the upright after the Hawks scored first in overtime.

Poteet went on to go five rounds deep in the playoffs. Red Oak finished fifth in 15-4A, one victory shy of qualifying for postseason.

MESQUITE, Texas – Mesquite Poteet quarterback Tanner Ramsey stepped into a precarious position following predecessor Beau Nowell.

However, Ramsey has been key in proving Poteet has reached a new level of legitimacy after the Pirates dismantled Terrell, 55-0, on Thursday in their District 15-4A opener.

“I learned everything from Beau,” Ramsey said. “Watching him play made me want to play harder and makes me want to play for the team like he did.”

Ramsey threw for two touchdowns and over 200 yards in the win, which he said now makes him excited to see what his team can do throughout the rest of the season.

His highlight of the game was a sharp 28-yard touchdown pass to Chase Graham on a post route in the second quarter, extending Poteet's lead to 35-0.

There’s no questioning his status among the area's top quarterbacks, but Ramsey was quick to share the credit with the rest of his team.

“I’m just playing quarterback,” Ramsey said. “I’m just getting the ball to my receivers and they’re making plays for me.”

There is some truth to Ramsey’s statement, as Poteet (3-0, 1-0) boasts dangerous weapons around the first-year starter.

Running back Steven Hicks led the charge on the ground, scoring a touchdown and passing the century mark in yards. Hicks was tough to bring down, repeatedly requiring three to four defenders to drag the elusive back to the turf.

Another prime target for Ramsey is two-way standout Graham, who led Poteet in interceptions last season. Graham is getting a chance to showcase his hands this season as a wide receiver.

Graham said he believes this year’s squad is playing with a confidence that last year’s team did not have this early in the season.

“Last year’s team, most of the seniors were pissed off about all the years before that,” Graham said. “This year, we all became like a band of brothers because that’s what Beau Nowell and all them laid out for us.”

Poteet coach Randy Jackson has set his team up for success, putting together an offensive game plan that is based mainly on screen passes and short slants to supplement Hicks’ runs. Poteet had no trouble moving down the field on Terrell (2-1, 0-1), as they were only forced to punt once.

“I’ve been really impressed with him,” Jackson said. “We’ve got kids like Hicks that can take a little bit of weight off his shoulders but Tanner Ramsey has answered the bell.”

In the end, it starts at the top and the Pirates are well on the way to proving that their legitimacy is tied to the arrival of Jackson.

“We know the system,” Ramsey said. “We had two years to bond together and we’ve got it down now.”