Kirk Dooley’s Blog
Preseason predictions had the 10-6A district championship going to Mesquite Horn, Highland Park or North Mesquite. Later this Friday night those predictions should be a little more clear. The winner of Friday’shomecoming game between the Scots and the Stallions will emerge as the top challenger to Horn’s title repeat.
While that’s true, let’s not dwell on Horn just yet. The focus should be on North Mesquite and how this could be their year, especially if Friday is their night.
To begin with, the Stallions return eight starters on offense and eight starters on defense. I can’t name a North Texas team with more experience. And like Horn, North Mesquite is loaded with D-1 talent. The biggest headache for the Scots will be junior quarterback Ja’Quez Gooch, who ran for more than 1,000 yards, passed for 861 and scored 20 touchdowns last year as a sophomore. He could be the next Trevone Boykin.
(If you’re not familiar with Boykin, he’s TCU’s Heisman Trophy candidate who hails from West Mesquite.)
Dreshawn Minnieweather is the Stallion’s pounding running back and their line is anchored by the best offensive lineman in Texas, Jean Delance, all 6’5”, 290 lbs. of him. Don’t punt to A’daireon Madlock, who will take it to the house before your coverage is set up. Defense? Last week they held South Garland to 84 yards of total offense. Plus they forced two safeties in the first 20 minutes of the game.
North Mesquite is averaging more than 48 points per game, allowing seven and is undefeated. I would say that HP’s home winning streak would be tested, if there were one.
The Scots are looking forward to this challenge. Quarterback Henry Allen has been impressive each game. Stephen Dieb continues to defy gravity. The wide receiver corps is so deep that 10 players are considered starters. On defense, injuries to the defensive line have challenged the Scots. But here’s the good news: Zach Snelling, Bobby Hrncir and Turner Coxe are all expected to play Friday.
Matthew Barge will sit this game out and Kyle Massimilian will step in for him at defensive back.
As the North Mesquite coaches watch film of the Scots’ win over Prosper, they must be sweating how to deal with wide receiver Chris Buell. How do you stop a guy who catches 11 passes for 155 yards? If you shift your defense, what receiver would then be open? Jeffrey Kupp, Kemp Sauer, Cy McCullough, J.T. Dooley, Parker Alexander, Tom McDaniel, Carson Bryant or Jon Welfelt, depending on who’s in the game at the time.
And add Jack Toohey to that list. He was listed as a starter when he suffered a preseason injury, and now he’s finally been cleared to play.
With Toohey back, the Scots have a receiver corps deeper than the Mariana Trench.
