Posted 1:36 am Sunday, September 06, 2009
John Tyler Has The Look Of A Playoff Team
By HAROLD WILSON
Staff Writer
To many John Tyler football observers, a win over the Pack proved Cujo is officially back.
Staff Writer
To many John Tyler football observers, a win over the Pack proved Cujo is officially back.
The birth of Cujo coincided with a state playoff contender, and the Lions looked like just that after beating Lufkin 27-18 Friday night in the Trinity Mother Frances Football Classic at Rose Stadium.
While the 2005 Lions made progress with an eight-win season -- the school's only winning campaign the last eight years -- they lacked a victory of Friday's magnitude.
Lufkin entered the game with 11 straight playoff appearances, highlighted by a state championship in 2001 and appearances in the state semifinals in 2002, 2004 and 2005.
"We didn't have a chance in the second half on offense because they just dominated us and we turned the ball over," longtime Lufkin coach John Outlaw said. "They're a good football team and it's going to be hard for anyone to beat them."
The JT turnaround showed the difference a year makes. A year ago JT departed from Lufkin losers of 10 consecutive games -- the worst such-streak in the school's storied history.
After Friday's night breakthrough win over the same Lufkin, JT appears on the brink of another number 10 -- the state's Top 10 rankings.
"It gives us confidence," a calm JT head coach Dereck Rush said after the win. "But we've got to keep (improving) in practice to reach our goals."
JT tackled another tall task, winning its second straight game against a team ranked No. 12 in the state, following up one over Class 4A Texas High (41-17).
In both wins, JT dominated the second half, outscoring Texas High 28-7 after intermission and Lufkin 20-6 following the break.
All three phases performed soundly for the Lions. The offense picked up more than 400 yards for the second straight week, the defense forced three turnovers and the special teams prevented Lufkin from converting a single conversion in the victory.
QB Jeremy Johnson (307 total yards, 2 TDs), RB Kedrick Chancellor (109 all-purpose yards, 2 TDs) and WR Ricky Collins (138 all-purpose yards, 1 TD) highlighted the offensive effort. JT finished with zero turnovers the second straight week.
Johnson, a Southern Methodist commit, impressed the first two weeks, connecting on 24 of 34 passes for 320 yards and two TDs, and rushing for a team-best 311 yards and four TDs.
With Oklahoma State commit and left tackle Gerron Anthony leading them, the offensive line shined again -- helping the Lions average 7.1 yards per rush.
Alvin Arps (seven tackles, one fumble recovery) and Darrien Starling (five tackles, three passes defended, two interceptions) starred on defense.
The defensive line lent a hand with the efforts of tackle Ashton Dorsey (three tackles, one for a loss, one quarterback pressure) and ends Desmond Dean (three tackles, one for a loss) and Darrien Jones (four tackles, one for a loss) helping hold Lufkin's two running backs to 10 carries for 29 yards, although Panther signal-caller Deauntre Smiley sliced his way past the century mark (20-110, 1 TD).
While others consider JT back, Rush focused on the team getting back to work, starting with Friday's home date against Arlington Lamar (2-0), which beat Keller Fossil Ridge (34-31) and Weatherford (41-21) in its first two games.
"We still made a lot of mistakes but that's part of getting better," Rush added. "We've got to work harder. That's what it turns into."
