Ellis County Football Friday Roundup: Week 9 (Oct. 22)

By Travis M. Smith | KBEC Sports

Previews, score predictions, stats, standout players and recaps will be added throughout the weekend. All computer projections were compiled by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football.

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

(4-4, 2-3) Mansfield 25, (5-3, 3-2) WAXAHACHIE 43 — FINAL

Special teams woes haunted the Waxahachie Indians in the first half Friday against visiting Mansfield.

A blocked punt and botched punt return ultimately led to 10 Tiger points and a 17-14 Mansfield lead at the break.

Waxahachie outgained Mansfield 204 total yards to 129, though the Tigers started near midfield or deeper thanks to miscues and less-than-ideal kickoff coverage.

Quarterback Roderick Hartsfield Jr. completed 9-of-his-11 passes for 84 yards and one interception. He also added three carries for 24 yards and a second-quarter touchdown.
Waxahachie junior Jayden Becks led all ball carriers with 16 rushes for 84 yards and one touchdown.

Mansfield’s Sergio Kennedy finished the first half 4-of-8 passing for 37 yards and 47 rushing yards on six carries.

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football computer projections listed Waxahachie as an 11-point favorite. The game is being held at Stuart B. Lumpkins Stadium in Waxahachie.

Last time out: The Waxahachie defense held the high-powered Duncanville offense to just 77 total yards on 23 plays in the first half at Panther Stadium. The Panthers then buckled down and scored seven unanswered touchdowns in the second half. For the full recap and photos from the District 11-6A game, click here!

CLASS 5A 

No. 4 (8-0, 5-0) ENNIS 31, (5-3, 4-1) Forney 7 — FINAL

Junior quarterback Jackson Gilkey completed 9-of-his-13 passes for three touchdowns in the first half for a 21-0 Lion lead against Forney.

Standout freshman Gracen Harris pulled in eight Gilkey passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns. TT Cox hauled in the third touchdown, taking his lone catch for a 70-yard touchdown with 6:44 to play in the second quarter.

Dee Johnson led all running backs with 11 carries for 54 yards at the break. The Lions outgained the Jackrabbits 240 total yards to 170. A Gilkey interception served as the lone turnover in the game’s opening half.

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football computer projections favored Ennis by 20. The game is being held at Citi Bank Field in Forney.

Last time out: Ennis scored seven times in the first half to build an impressively comfortable 49-14 halftime lead against visiting Crandall. The Lions roared to an easy 66-21 home victory.

(1-7) Mansfield Legacy 20, (4-4, 4-1) MIDLOTHIAN 42 — FINAL

Midlothian scored three times in the second quarter to build a 28-14 halftime lead against Mansfield Legacy.

One of those scores came on the defensive end when Tylor Knighton recovered a Bronco fumble with 11:51 to play in the second quarter. The touchdown gave the Panthers a 13-7 lead and was followed by a pair of rushing scores.

The Panthers outgained the Broncos 246 total yards to 144 and ran 11 more plays (30-19). All but 5 of those Midlothian yards were gained on the ground.

Jordon Richburg (4-90) and Deago Benson (8-76, TD) led the way for the Panthers on the ground. Midlothian also received rushing touchdowns from Kaden Smith (3-25) and Chad Ragle (4-17).

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football computer projections favored Midlothian by 23. The game is being held at Midlothian ISD Multipurpose Stadium.

Last time out: The Panthers gained all of their 337 yards on the ground, averaging 6.1 yards per carry, in a 42-27 win against Red Oak. That yardage total came just 8 yards shy of outpacing the entire Red Oak attack (345). 

Deago Benson continued his torrid rushing pace with 27 carries for 188 yards and three touchdowns. The junior running back now has 713 yards and eight touchdowns on 109 carries for the Panthers. Check out the full recap plus photo gallery in this link!

(1-7, 1-4) Red Oak 2, (5-3) Mansfield Summit 35— FINAL

Red Oak moved the football well in the first half against Mansfield Summit but could not find the end zone. The Jaguars eventually carried a 21-0 lead into the halftime locker room behind 205 total yards and one Hawk turnover.

Red Oak quarterback Jaylon Robinson completed 8-of-his-9 passes for 124 yards and one interception. He also rushed 5 times for a team-high 13 first-half yards.

Tight end La’Kelsey Johnson Jr. (3-55) and wideout Kentrell Anderson (3-31) led the Hawk receiving group.

Summit rushed 18 times for 157 yards (8.7 YPC) in the first half.

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football computer projections favored Summit by 27.

Last time out: The Midlothian Panthers gained all of their 337 yards on the ground, averaging 6.1 yards per carry, in a 42-27 win against Red Oak on the Hawks’ Homecoming. That yardage total came just 8 yards shy of outpacing the entire Red Oak attack (345). Check out the full recap plus photo gallery in this link!

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

CLASS 4A

No. 7 (6-2) MIDLOTHIAN HERITAGE 28, (5-3) Waco La Vega 40 — FINAL

Midlothian Heritage and Waco La Vega were tied at 21 at the half. The Jaguars trailed the Pirates 34-28 as the game entered the fourth quarter.

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football computer projections favored Midlothian Heritage by 2. The game is being held at Willie Williams Stadium in La Vega.

Last time out: Midlothian Heritage outpaced the Life Waxahachie Mustangs 263 total yards to 51 (0 passing) for a 43-0 halftime lead. The Jaguars cruised to a 64-0 district win.

(8-0) No. 2 Stephenville 49, (1-7) LIFE WAXAHACHIE 6 — FINAL 

No. 2 Stephenville led 21-0 at the half.

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football computer projections favored Stephenville by 61. The game is being held at Mustang Stadium in Waxahachie.

Last time out: Midlothian Heritage outpaced the Life Waxahachie Mustangs 263 total yards to 51 (0 passing) for a 43-0 halftime lead. The Jaguars cruised to a 64-0 district win.

(5-4) Hillsboro 36, (4-4) FERRIS 29 — FINAL

Hillsboro led 29-7 at the half. The game was tied at 29-all with 2:00 to play in the fourth quarter.

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football computer projections favored Ferris by 4. The game is being held at Yellowjacket Stadium in Ferris.

Last Time out: 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. Starting quarterback Nathan Greek will miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL, per Matt Stepp with Dave Campbell’s Texas Football. 

CLASS 3A 

(5-2, 3-1) MAYPEARL 53, (1-6) A+ Academy 6 — FINAL

The Maypearl Panthers led 33-0 at the half.

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football computer projections favored Maypearl by 34. The game is being held at Rylie Stadium in Dallas.

Last time out: 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.

(4-3) Blooming Grove 22, (6-1) PALMER 29 — FINAL

Palmer led 15-9 at the half.

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football computer projections favored Palmer by 16. The game is being held at Bulldog Stadium in Palmer.

Last time out: 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.

CLASS 2A

(6-2) ITALY 61, (2-6) Axtel 6 — FINAL

Italy led 47-0 with 3:37 to play in the second quarter.

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football computer projections favored Italy by 28. The game is being held at Ellison Field in Axtel.

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

CLASS 1A

(2-4) MILFORD 24, (5-3) AVALON 70 — FINAL

Avalon led 34-24 late in the second quarter.

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football computer projections favored Avalon by 28. The game is being held at Eagle Field in Avalon.

Last time out: 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: Milford enjoyed a bye week. 

____

Travis M. Smith, @Travis5mith

tsmith@kbec.com