Ellis County Football Friday Roundup: Week 8 (Oct. 15)

By Travis M. Smith | KBEC Sports

Previews, score predictions, stats, standout players and recaps will be added throughout the weekend. All computer rankings were compiled by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football in conjunction with PigskinPrep.com.

As always, fans can catch a full recap of all things Ellis County athletics every Monday night from 6-7 p.m. on KBEC 1390AM/99.1FM and online at elliscosports.com during “The Press Box.”

CLASS 6A

(4-3, 2-2) WAXAHACHIE 3, No. 5 (4-1, 3-0) Duncanville 52 — FINAL

Keith Abney Jr. intercepted a Solomon James pass with 18 seconds to play in the second quarter to send Waxahachie and nationally-ranked Duncanville into the halftime locker room tied at 3.

The Waxahachie defense held the high-powered Duncanville offense to just 77 total yards on 23 plays in the first half at Panther Stadium. Fifty-four of those yards came on 15 carries (3.6 YPC). On the flip side, the Indian offense accounted for 65 total yards and 1.9 YPC (21-40).

The second half? Well, that was a different story. For the full recap and photos from the District 11-6A game, click here!

Last time out: The Indians led (4-2, 3-0) Cedar Hill for all but the final 90 seconds this past Friday. To read the full recap and check out the incredible photo gallery, click here!

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football computer rankings listed Duncanville third and Waxahachie 101st out of 245 Class 6A programs.

CLASS 5A 

(4-3) Crandall 21, No. 4 (7-0, 4-0) ENNIS 66 at Lion Memorial Stadium in Ennis — FINAL

Ennis scored seven times in the first half to build an impressively comfortable 49-14 halftime lead against visiting Crandall.

The Lions used the ground game (23-239) to outgain the Pirates 311 total yards to 169.

Dee Johnson led the group out of the backfield with 16 carries for 200 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Gilkey maximized his five carries for 31 yards and three touchdowns, while Devion Beasley added a three-yard touchdown run on his lone carry of the first half.

Gilkey also completed 9-of-his-11 passes for 72 yards and one 4-yard touchdown to Dee Johnson. Gracen Harris pulled in a team-high six passes for 21 yards.

Last time out: Ennis soundly defeated (1-5, 0-3) North Forney this past Friday behind another stellar offensive performance. Check out the full recap here! 

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football computer rankings listed Ennis eighth and Crandall 52st out of 122 Class 5A Division II programs.

(3-4, 3-1) MIDLOTHIAN 42, v (1-6, 1-3) RED OAK 27 — FINAL

The Midlothian Panthers and Red Oak Hawks entered the halftime locker rooms at Billy Goodloe Stadium knotted at 14, following a half that saw two completely opposite offensive approaches.

Midlothian rushed 22 times for 150 yards in the half, which accounted for the Panthers’ entire offensive output. Senior running back Deago Benson led all ball carriers with nine rushes for 103 yards and two touchdowns.

As for Red Oak, the Hawks scored both of their touchdowns in the second quarter on carries by quarterback Jaylon Robinson (10-27) and running back Christopher Martinez (5-8). Robinson also completed 8-of-his 14 passes for 120 yards with Warren Roberson (2-47), Jace Wyatt (4-43) and La’kelsey Johnson Jr (2-30) on the receiving end of those completions.

Midlothian committed the lone turnover when Chad Ragle was picked off in the second quarter.

The game is being held on Homecoming Night for the Hawks.

Last time out: The Panthers ran all over (1-5, 0-2) Burleson Centennial this past Friday. Check out the full recap plus photo gallery in this link!

Last time out: Turnovers doomed Red Oak against No. 6 Colleyville Heritage in a 48-21 loss this past week. Three turnovers of those turnovers (one fumble, two INTs) came in the first half. The Hawks will have to lock it down on offense in order to keep pace in the playoff race.

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football computer rankings listed Midlothian 27th and Red Oak 44th out of 129 Class 5A Division I programs.

CLASS 4A

 (1-6) LIFE WAXAHACHIE 0, No. 7 (6-1) MIDLOTHIAN HERITAGE 64 at Midlothian ISD Multipurpose Stadium — FINAL

Midlothian Heritage outpaced the Life Waxahachie Mustangs 263 total yards to 51 (0 passing) for a 43-0 halftime lead. The Jaguars, led by Mason O’Neal (12-74), rushed 23 times for 179 yards. O’Neal rushed for three of those first-half touchdowns, while quarterback Kaden Brown completed 8-of-his-11 passes for 84 yards and three touchdowns to Xavier Moten (4-51).

Midlothian Heritage picked up 14 first downs to the Mustangs’ three.

Last time out: State-ranked Midlothian Heritage dominated the Lions of Brownwood 43-25 this past Friday night at Gordon Wood Stadium.

Last time out: Life Waxahachie fell to (2-4) Alvarado, 35-14.

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football computer rankings listed Midlothian Heritage seventh and Life Waxahachie 78th out of 95 Class 4A Division I programs.

(4-3) FERRIS 21, (2-5) Godley 13 at Wildcat Stadium — FINAL

The Ferris Yellowjackets led 14-6 at the half and held on for a 21-13 road victory against the always tough Godley Wildcats at Wildcat Stadium on Friday.

Last Time out: Ferris is fresh off of a much-needed bye week. The Yellowjackets fell to Bridgeport, 31-14, in their last time on the field. Starting quarterback Nathan Greek left that game early with an apparent leg injury.

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football computer rankings listed Ferris 75th and Godley 28th out of 92 Class 4A Division II programs.

CLASS 3A 

(2-6) Dallas Madison 8, (4-2) MAYPEARL 21 at Roesler Stadium in Maypearl — FINAL

The Maypearl Panthers led 21-8 at the half Friday at home against Dallas Madison and then pitched a shutout in the second half to win by the same score at Roesler Stadium.

Last time out: Maypearl was shut out in the second half but managed to squeak out a 24-19 road district win this past Friday on the road against Life School Oak Cliff at Lion Stadium in Dallas.

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football computer rankings listed Maypearl 59th and Madison 63rd out of 106 Class 3A Division I programs.

(5-1) PALMER 51, (2-5) Scurry-Rosser 33 at Wildcat Stadium in Scurry — FINAL

Palmer led 21-14 at the half on the road against Scurry-Rosser at Wildcat Stadium. The Bulldogs then picked up the offensive pace for a 51-33 district victory.

Last time out: The Bulldogs used their size and grit to snag a potential district championship-clinching win this past Friday night at home against Edgewood, 36-20.

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football computer rankings listed Palmer 39th and Scurry-Rosser 75th out of 105 Class 3A Division II programs.

CLASS 2A

(1-6) Kerens 0, (5-2) ITALY 45 — FINAL

Italy led 38-0 at the half against (1-5) Kerens and never looked back in the eventual 45-0 victory at Gladiator Stadium.

Last time out: A safety near the end of regulation sealed the victory for Italy at Gladiator Stadium this past Friday evening against (3-3) Marlin, 23-21.

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football computer rankings listed Italy 22nd and Kerens 93rd out of 95 Class 2A Division I programs.

CLASS 1A

(5-3) AVALON 56, (4-4) Bynum 37 at Bulldog Field in Bynum — FINAL

Avalon jumped out to a 41-19 halftime lead on the road against Bynum and departed Bulldog Field with a 56-37 victory.

Last time out: The Avalon Eagle offense poured it on in the second half against Covington for a convincing homecoming win at Eagle Stadium. Avalon outscored the Owls 42-14 in the second half for the mercy-rule win, 64-14.

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football computer rankings listed Avalon 28th and Bynum 48th out of 75 Class 1A Division I programs.

(2-4) MILFORD — BYE 

Last time out: The Bulldogs defeated (4-3) Bynum in thrilling fashion this past Friday, 78-71.

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football computer rankings listed Milford 51st out of 75 Class 1A Division I programs.

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Travis M. Smith, @Travis5mith

tsmith@kbec.com