West Rusk's assignment: Take down Daingerfield

Photo by Jonathan Baker GRINDING IT OUT — West Rusk tailback Daniel Thompson (above) is one of two running backs in the Kilgore News Herald's coverage area with over 1,800 yards this season (Kilgore's Frank Reddic is the other). Thompson and the West Rusk Raiders (9-2) will face Daingerfield 10-1) in the UIL Class 2A Division 2 area round on Friday night at Jack Murphy Stadium in Gladewater, a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. The West Rusk High School Raiders proved last week, with a first-round win over Hearne, that they are not just happy to be in the University Interscholastic League's Class 2A Division 2 playoffs.

They want to pull up some chairs and stay a little while.

It's a little bigger challenge in the area round, however. The Raiders, led by second-year head coach John Frazier, take on a team with a rich playoff history — the Daingerfield Tigers.

West Rusk (9-2) meets Daingerfield (10-1) on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. at Jack Murphy Stadium in Gladewater.

For all that playoff history, the Raiders will only have to face this year's team. That, though, might be a pretty big challenge.

Daingerfield, whose only loss so far this season was a 49-18 defeat at the hands of 3A power Gilmer, seems determined to celebrate the 25th anniversary of that special 1983 state championship season with another state title (the program won three state titles in the 1980s).

Daingerfield's Tigers have shut out three straight opponents (Ore City, Queen City and Harelton), and outscored them 149-0.

The loss to Gilmer was the only game where the Tigers didn't hit at least 28 points.

Daingerfield is coached by Barry Bowman.

"They're as good as advertised," Frazier noted. "They're talented everywhere."

The Tigers beat former coach Dennis Alexander and his Harleton team 49-0 last week. In the process, they got two touchdown passes from quarterback Tyler Boyd (of 77 and 55 yards) and three touchdown runs from tailback Koko Smith. They also got a 72-yard fumble recovery for a score by defensive back Bobby Attaway.

While Daingerfield was taking care of business against Harleton, the Raiders were in Waxahachie last Friday playing Hearne. For West Rusk, it was the first playoff game since the 2000 season.

The Raiders broke out early, then held on late.

Tailback Daniel Thompson put the Raiders on the scoreboard on their first offensive series with a 20-yard touchdown run. Hearne punched back with a 1-yard run by quarterback Justin Evans, got the two-point conversion and took an 8-6 lead.

Josh Patin gave the Raiders the advantage back with a 9-yard run, and then recovered a fumble by Hearne and returned it to the Eagles' 8-yard-line. Frazier would call Patin's number again, and the senior would score. West Rusk led 18-8 at the half, then got another touchdown from Thompson in the third quarter to take a 24-8 lead.

Hearne wouldn't go away, though. Alonzo Gurode scored for the Eagles on a 7-yard run, then scored again with a minute left in the game on an 11-yard run.

Hearne tried the onside kick, but it didn't go 10 yards, and the ball went over to West Rusk. The Raiders were able to run out the clock.

Frazier said the importance of the playoff win couldn't be overstated.

"It was big for us, all the way around," he said. "It was good for the kids to get that first win under their belts. It was big for the school, and for the community. And I hope we can do even more."

The win broke a two-game losing streak for the Raiders, who dominated their competition for the bulk of the season.

A big reason why was an offense that has rolled up 4,123 yards, scored 44 touchdowns and 328 total points. The Raiders' offense isn't flashy — they just run right

you, through you and over you,

need be.

Thompson is the groundgame's leader with 1,819 yards and 17 touchdowns on 194 carries. Patin has nine scores of his own and 787 yards on 92 carries, and two more players — quarterback Josh Medford and Santos Gonzalez — are each over the 300-yard mark. Medford has five touchdowns and Gonzalez four. Jorge Barrios has rushed for two scores and 290 yards, Dominique Smith has two touchdown runs, as does Beau Bower.

The defense is led by Chris Savala's 122 tackles, 10 sacks by Felix Williams, five interceptions by Patin.

The West Rusk-Daingerfield winner will play the winner of the New Waverly-Hardin game (being played Friday in Humble) in the regional round.