High School Sports

By HAROLD WILSON
Staff Writer

Eight is enough.

Or at least John Tyler hopes so.

The Lions enter a new season with an old streak staring them in the face.

JT looks to break a school-record eight-game losing slide when it plays host to Texas High tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the finale of the Trinity Mother Frances Football Classic.

After starting last year 1-1, JT lost its last eight contests to tie the school mark for futility set on two other occasions in between 2002-04.

Both begin the season more experienced, based on returning starters. JT boasts 13 returnees, including eight on offense, and Texas High a total of 14 -- seven on each side of the ball.

Texas High won last year's meeting in dominant fashion, 38-7. The Tigers have won three of the last four with the Lions and are one win away from tying the all-time series.

Second-year JT head coach Dereck Rush refused to label the game in must-win terms, but knows a fast start would be better than the last two years when the Lions finished non-district 1-4 each time.

"We definitely want to start this season on a good note," Rush said. "We have to just go out and play our brand (of football) and hope good things happen to us."

In a scrimmage against Longview last week, JT worked heavily on its passing game, with Lion junior quarterback Jeremy Johnson completing 23 of 32 passes for more than 200 yards.

Johnson, junior returning junior running back Ky'Ordric Black and the return of four offensive linemen places JT ahead of last year's curve when only one starter returned. JT averaged just 16 points per game in 2007.

As for what to expect from Texas High remains somewhat a mystery. Texas High, coming off a 6-4-1 season that ended in the bi-district round of the Class 4A Division I playoffs, closed its only scrimmage to the public according to Rush.

Still, the ability of Tiger skill players who put up big numbers last season like quarterback Nathan Sorenson (1, 826 yards, 15 TDs passing) and wideout Cobi Hamilton (29 catches, 726 yards, seven touchdowns) remain no secret.

"We're going in blind - through the dark with one eye open and shut," said Rush, whose team did not get a chance to exchange film with Texas High either. "I know they have a good quarterback and running back and excellent receiver, center and guard on the offensive line. I look for them to try and open it up more and utilize their athletic ability."

Turnovers tended to be a common theme in JT losses last year. After stopping Texas High on its initial series a year ago, the Lions fumbled the subsequent punt return at the goal line, leading to an easy Tiger touchdown that turned the tide.

In the scrimmage against Longview, a JT interception led directly to a touchdown, and a blocked punt set up a one-play, one-yard Lobo scoring drive.

"We have to cut out things of that nature," Rush said. "If we cut out the mental mistakes, hustle to the ball, be sound on offense, defense and special teams, I think we'll be OK."

JOHN TYLER OFFENSE -- SE-18 Tarrington Joiner (150, Sr.), FL-1 Dominic Ward (150, Sr.), LT-66 Reginald Carroll (245, Sr.), LG-51 Craig Jones (250, Sr.), C-55 Azael Arispe (250, Sr.), RG-50 Fred Green (240, Jr.), RT-77 Gerron Anthony (280, Jr.), FL-3 De'Trich Morgan (165, Sr.), SE-10 Courtland Nickelberry (180, Jr.), QB-15 Jeremy Johnson (165, Jr.), RB-22 Ky'Ordric Black (190, Jr.), PK 40-Jesse Diaz (Jr.).

TEXAS HIGH DEFENSE -- DE-48 Pharron Minnifield (208), NG-98 Vonderrick Allen (318), ST-99 Gary Williams (270), SE-13 Jacoby Thomas (218), SLB-5 Lavert King (179) or 6 Telvin Wilson (188), MLB-11 Cameron Evans (195), WLB-4 Raymondrick Brown (216), CB-21 Jordan Strickland, CB-9 Roderick Collier, FS-39 Slade Heathcott, SS-30 Montrae Williams (186), P-39 Heathcott.

TEXAS HIGH OFFENSE -- SE-14 Cobi Hamilton (195), LT-79 Jarius Dancer (256), LG-51 Matt Schroeder (262), C-59 Eric Stewart (248), RG-68 Reginald Ware (316), RT-78 Andrew Kelley (324), TE-43 Logan Preston (185), FL-9 Roderick Collier (177) or 21 Jordan Strickland (167), QB-8 Nathan Sorenson (193), TB-39 Slade Heathcott (186), or 33 Kody Sutton (186), FB-35 Hunter Allday (178), PK-47 Austin Gibson (148).

JOHN TYLER DEFENSE -- B-80 Alijah Williams (195, Sr.), NT-85 Ashton Dorsey (275, Jr.), DT-56 Sydney Terrell (245, Sr.); DE-26 Ricky Marshall (205, Sr.), WLB-32 Alvin Arps (190, Jr.), MLB-34 Cliff Caldwell (200, Jr.), SLB-28 Joe Bayonne (205, Jr.), CB-30 LaKendrick Wilkerson (170, Sr.), CB-7 Jeremy Biggs (165, Sr.), SS-2 Correy Wilson (175, Sr.), FS-9 Billy Thompkins (190), P-6 Tarik Spencer (175).