High School Sports

By HAROLD WILSON
Staff Writer

LUFKIN -- Residents of the Gulf Coast braced themselves for the worst last weekend as Hurricane Gustavo and its gusting winds headed their way.

John Tyler, which faced a similar plight to start its season, finds itself still caught in the eye of a storm packed with highly rated opponents leading into district play.

After taking on a Class 4A heavyweight last week, JT gets ready for one of the best in 5A this decade tonight when the Lions take on Lufkin at 7:30 p.m. at Abe Martin Stadium.

"This year it only gets worse," said JT head coach Dereck Rush, whose preseason slate includes games to come against traditional Class 5A power Arlington Lamar, state-ranked Wichita Falls Rider (4A) and two-time 5A champion Lewisville.

"There's no fall off. It's probably a step up. Lufkin, they have talent on both sides of the ball."

Both teams opened their season at the same stadium, but with different outcomes.

Lufkin (1-0) defeated Robert E. Lee 26-21 in the second game of the Trinity Mother Frances Football Classic Friday in Tyler. The next night, Texas High trounced JT 42-14 in the finale of the classic at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium.

While Lufkin outscored Lee 19-0 in the second half of a come-from-behind win, Texas High outpointed JT 21-0 in the second quarter to break open their game.

The Lions (0-1) allowed two interceptions to be returned for touchdowns, and gave up three passing TDs of 40 yards or more.

Rush reminded his team about protecting the ball after the game, knowing Lufkin needs little help to beat teams.

"We can't afford to have three turnovers and survive that," Rush said. "We have to take care of the football against quality teams."

While JT struggled, Lufkin showed its moxie by shaking off a halftime deficit and dominating the final two quarters.

The Lufkin attack centers around senior quarterback Jeffrey Claybon and senior defensive tackle Jamarcus McFarland, the nation's top recruit in Texas and No. 3 in the nation according to Rivals.com.

Longtime Lufkin coach John Outlaw appreciates the natural rivalry with the JT's and Robert E. Lee's, which shared a district with the Panthers from 1960-2003.

"We're excited to be playing the Tyler schools again," Outlaw said. "We should have never left (the East Texas district)."

An upset-minded JT team figures to have a better chance by keeping the ball more. In the opener, JT ran 51 plays to Texas High's 52. However, six of JT's 12 drives lasted less than 90 seconds (1:30).

The winning formula remains the same for JT: win the turnover battle, limit huge gains and stay on the field longer.

"The keys are pretty much like every game: take care of the ball, play sound defense, special teams and offensively control the clock and move the sticks," Rush said. "If we do that and keep them from big-playing us, I think we'll have a chance."

LIONS' TALES:

JT and Lufkin have teamed for memorable battles over the past 15 years. In 1994, JT nipped Lufkin in a thriller, 31-30, which proved to be the Lions' closest call during their state title run along with a one-point win over Dallas Kimball. Two years later, JT handed Lufkin its worst loss (52-14) of the John Outlaw-era. After losing three of his first four meetings with the Lions, Outlaw's Panthers have won the last seven encounters.

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PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS

OFFENSE

JOHN TYLER (Multiple, Spread) --

WR-18 Tarrington Joiner (5-11, 150, Sr.), FL-1 Dominic Ward (5-6, 150, Sr.), LT-66 Reginald Carroll (6-4, 255, Sr.), LG-51 Craig Jones (5-10, 250, Sr.), C-55 Azael Arispe (5-11, 250, Sr.), RG-50 Fred Green (5-8, 240, Jr.), RT-77 Gerron Anthony (6-3, 280, Jr.), FL-3 De'Trich Morgan (5-9, 170, Sr.), SE-10 Courtland Nickelberry (6-0, 180, Jr.), QB-15 Jeremy Johnson (6-0, 165, Jr.), RB-22 Ky'Ordric Black (5-9, 190, Jr.), PK 40-Jesse Diaz (Jr.).

LUFKIN (Spread) -- WR-9 Tra Horace (5-8, 160, Jr.), WR-8 Quinn Trimble (6-2, 175, Jr.), LT-52 Drew Alexander (6-0, 220, Sr.), LG-77 Clark Oates (6-1, 280, Sr.), C-51 Clint Chandler (5-11, 240, Sr.), RG-72 Hayden McCleskey (6-1, 255, Sr.), RT-54 Ben Honeywell (6-0, 245, Jr.), QB-12 Jeffrey Claybon (6-2, 190, Sr.), RB-21 Tre'von Lewis (5-10, 210, Sr.), WR-15 D'adrick Lee (6-2, 215, Sr.), WR-4 Kasey Jones (5-10, 160, Jr.), PK-86 Sterling Myers (5-9, 165, Sr.).

DEFENSE

JOHN TYLER (4-3) --

B-80 Alijah Williams (5-11, 195, Sr.), NT-85 Ashton Dorsey (6-2, 275, Jr.), DT-56 Sydney Terrell (5-9, 245, Sr.); DE-26 Ricky Marshall (6-1, 205, Sr.), WLB-32 Alvin Arps (5-10, 190, Jr.), MLB-34 Cliff Caldwell (6-0, 205 Jr.), SLB-28 Joe Bayonne (5-10, 205, Jr.), CB-30 LaKendrick Wilkerson (5-9, 170, Sr.), CB-7 Jeremy Biggs (5-11, 170, Sr.), SS-2 Correy Wilson (5-11, 185, Sr.), FS-9 Billy Thompkins (5-11, 195, Sr.), P-6 Tarik Spencer (6-2, 175).

LUFKIN (4-3) --

DE-56 Ja'Darius Dade (6-1, 220, Sr.), DT-65 JaMarcus McFarland (6-3, 280, Sr.), DT-62 Desron Williams (6-2, 240, Jr.), DE-61 Germad Reed (6-1, 220, Sr.), SLB-7 JaMendric Garrett (5-10, 180, Jr.), MLB-48 Blaine McBride (5-10, 185, Jr.), OLB-5 Darrion Anderson (5-10, 175, Sr.), CB-2 Victor Price (5-11, 165, Jr.), CB-29 De'Marquez Freeman (5-10, 170, Sr.). SS-16 Corey Shy (6-0, 165, Sr.), FS-3 Carrington Byndom (6-0, 175, Jr.), P-85 Will Fenley (6-0, 170, Jr.).