Ellis County Sports Your source for Ellis County Sports News
By Travis M. Smith | Ellis County Sports
Eleven Ellis County football teams took the field in week 7 and not a single game ended closer than five touchdowns.
Half of the county’s eight wins ended in shutout fashion.
The winners did so in impressive fashion. 5A DI No. 7 Red Oak, Midlothian, Ennis, 5A DII No. 4 Midlothian Heritage, Maypearl, Italy, Avalon and Milford outscored their opponents 427-35 — for a stout 53.4- 4.4 points per game average and 49.0 median point differential.
Midlothian allowed the most points amongst the winners, “surrendering” 15 to Granbury in the Panthers’ 49-15 district victory (+34).
The 34-point margin was the tightest on both ends, with Waxahachie falling to 6A No. 1 Duncanville 44-10 (-34).
The three Ellis County teams to suffer a loss (Waxahachie, Ferris and Life Waxahachie) fell by a combined 156-47 — an average of 52.0-15.7 or 36.3 margin.
Check out the win/loss differentials below and a brief breakdown for each program below:
The Winners
• Maypearl +62
• Ennis +61
• Red Oak +56
• Italy +52
• Avalon +46
• Milford +46
• Midlothian Heritage +35
• Midlothian +34
The not-Winners
• Ferris -39
• Life Waxahachie -36
• Waxahachie -34
WAXAHACHIE
The (4-2, 1-2) Waxahachie Indians lost to 6A No. 1 Duncanville 44-10.
The Indians trailed the defending state champions from the state’s largest classification 30-0 at the half. Duncanville scored its first points on a safety due to a high snap over the Indian punter’s head on the game’s second drive.
Waxahachie mustered just 31 yards by halftime. Fourteen of those yards came on 6 completions, which goes to show just how well the Panther defense swarmed to the football. Duncanville, meanwhile, had 253 total yards at the break, with 207 coming through the air on just five completions.
The loss was the second on the season and in 11-6A to a defending 6A state champion for the Indians, who fell to 6A No. 3 DeSoto two weeks prior.
No. 7 RED OAK
The Red Oak offense continued its historic roll, amassing over 550 total yards in a 63-7 homecoming win against district-foe Waco. Red Oak improved to 6-0 on the season and 4-0 in District 4-5A DI. The Hawks had previously never started a season better than 4-0.
Having built a 35-7 lead by the half, the Hawks turned to the run game in the second half. Roman Bedolla rushed 11 times for a game- and career-high 167 yards and one touchdown. Chris Martinez added 12 carries for 144 yards and a score, though most of that total came in the first half.
Red Oak quarterback Reggie Moody finished the game 16-of-18 for 220 yards and 3 touchdowns.
MIDLOTHIAN
Midlothian (6-1, 5-0 in 4-5A DI) used another balanced offensive attack and stellar defense to defeat district-foe Granbury 49-15.
The Panthers led 28-0 at the half and 49-0 after three quarters, only allowing the 15 Pirate points to come in garbage time. The Midlothian offense accounted for 371 total yards to Granbury’s 206 total yards and three turnovers (all fumbles).
Quarterback Drew Wendel completed 10-of-his-14 first-half passes for 165 yards and one touchdown — a 34-yard score to Bryant Wesco (6-110) in the first quarter. Wesco started the Panther scoring with a 57-yard punt return for a touchdown after the Panther defense forced the Pirates to punt on the opening drive.
Running backs Slater Callahan (6-87, TD), Michael Garber (12-61, 2TD) and David Aborisade (5-23) all ran for Panther touchdowns.
No. 4 MIDLOTHIAN HERITAGE
State-ranked (6-0, 3-0) Midlothian Heritage suffocated the Mansfield Summit offense in a 42-7 district win.
The Summit Jaguars picked up just 8 first downs on 117 total yards against the Heritage defensive front seven. For those who love deeper statistics, Summit averaged just 1.84 yards per completion and 3.04 yards per carry on its 46 offensive snaps.
Carter Rutenbar led the Heritage offense by completing 15-of-his-26 passes for 213 yards and 3 touchdowns (1 INT). Stetson Sarratt pulled in all 3 of those touchdown passes on his way to game-highs with 6 catches for 76 yards.
With four games to play, Midlothian Heritage needs just one win combined with losses by Arlington Seguin and Burleson or two wins to clinch a District 5-5A DII playoff berth. The district champion could very well be determined in a district showdown between Heritage and (3-3, 3-0) Ennis at Lion Memorial Stadium on Friday.
ENNIS
The offensive experiment has continued in impressive fashion for the (3-3, 3-0) Ennis Lions, who defeated Joshua 61-0.
The tandem of Gracen Harris and Wondame Davis completed 11-of-their-17 passes for 312 yards and 4 touchdowns to no interceptions. The duo also rushed 4 times for 78 yards and a score AND caught 4 passes for 137 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Yes, you read all of that correctly.
Joshua mustered just 164 total yards against the Ennis defense.
Ennis crowned 2023 Homecoming queen Celeste Arriaga and king Lonnie Collins (99) prior to kickoff. Collins is a 6-foot, 265-pound senior defensive lineman for the Pride with 35 total tackles, 1 sack and 2 quarterback hurries.
With four games to play, Ennis needs just one win combined with losses by Arlington Seguin and Burleson or two wins to clinch a District 5-5A DII playoff berth. The district champion could very well be determined in a district showdown between Ennis and (6-0, 3-0) No. 4 Midlothian Heritage at Lion Memorial Stadium on Friday.
LIFE WAXAHACHIE
Life Waxahachie (2-5, 0-1 in 5-4A) lost its district opener to Waco La Vega 56-20.
Senior running back Kordell Berry continued to pace the Mustang offense with 14 carries for 87 yards and 2 touchdowns. He now has 855 yards and 12 touchdowns on 104 rushes through 7 games this season.
Sophomore Aadon Shull led the Mustangs with 14 total tackles and one pass defended.
FERRIS
The Ferris Yellowjackets lost their District 4-4A opener to Godley 56-17.
Sophomore quarterback Joshua Greek completed 21-of-his-46 passes for 238 yards and 2 touchdowns (3 INT). Junior wide receiver Gavin Garcia caught 5 passes for 80 yards and 2 touchdowns, while sophomore Quidarwin Cotton had a team-high 8 grabs for 67 yards.
The Yellowjackets ran for negative-3 yards as a team, thanks largely to a relentlessly Wildcat front seven.
Ferris is currently 1-5 on the season and 0-1 in district play but has played a relatively tough non-district slate. Glen Rose has dominated its district over the past half-decade, but even the Tigers are 2-4 on the season. There are still plenty of paths to the postseason for the Yellowjackets.
PALMER
The Bulldogs enjoyed a bye.
MAYPEARL
Maypearl scored 6 first-quarter touchdowns en route to a 62-0 District 7-3A homecoming win against Dallas Inspired Vision.
Junior runningback JT Washington rushed 6 times for 117 yards and 3 touchdowns, while senior Ryan Stevens added 6 carries for 49 yards and 3 scores.
Senior quarterback Heath Graf completed 9-of-his-12 first-half passes for 165 yards and 3 touchdowns.
The (5-1, 3-1) Panthers cannot lock up a playoff spot without a couple wins and a little help. Two wins combined with a win against Dallas Madison and future losses by Dallas Madison and Dallas A-Plus Academy would secure a playoff berth. We understand that’s a bit confusing, so just cheer for a couple more Panther wins.
ITALY
The Italy Gladiators (4-3, 3-0 in 7-2A) continued their torrid run through district play by shutting out Itasca 52-0.
Junior quarterback Gared Wood completed 12-of-his-14 passes for 294 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Senior wideout Dredick Owens pulled in 5 of those touchdown passes on a night where he finished with 6 catches for 188 yards. Eric Solis (1-37) and KT Cockran (1-16) caught the other two Wood touchdown passes.
The Gladiators clinch a 7-2A playoff spot with their next win.
AVALON
Avalon defeated (2-5) Campbell 46-0 in a non-district game. The game ended in a mercy rule following a third-quarter Eagle touchdown and subsequent defensive stop.
Sophomore athlete Josh Novak rushed 7 times for 82 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also completed his lone pass to senior Jake Ozymy for a 10-yard touchdown. Novak and Ozymy accounted for 11 and 10 total tackles, respectively.
The (2-4, 0-0) Eagles start their four-game district slate on the road Friday against Covington. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Avalon will host Milford (Oct. 20) and Blum (Nov. 2) at home during district play, with a game between those two on the road against Three Way on Oct. 27.
MILFORD
Milford defeated Three Way School 52-6.
OVILLA CHRISTIAN
Ovilla Christian (4-2, 1-2 in TAPPS 2-DII) suffered back-to-back district losses to Lucas Christian Academy (78-47) and Dallas Lutheran (60-13) prior to the week 7 bye. The Eagles opened district play with a thrilling 59-56 victory against WPA (Wylie).
Ovilla Christian returns to action at 4 p.m. Saturday at home against (5-0) Lakehill Prep.
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Travis M. Smith, @Travis5mith
tsmith@elliscosports.com
