Lucky 7s: Midlothian Heritage wins 7th district title on 7-game winning streak ahead of 5A football playoffs

Travis M. Smith 3 weeks ago Football, Midlothian, Midlothian Heritage High School 436 Views

By Travis M. Smith | Ellis County Sports

KAUFMAN — In an 8-team district, Midlothian Heritage third-year head football coach Eric Edwards knew he’d need to schedule a playoff-ready non-district schedule.

The (7-3) Jaguars, who are young at several skill and key positions, struggled against (9-1) No.4 Stephenville, (9-1) No. 4 Argyle and (10-0) No. 3 Texarkana Texas High. The latter two are both ranked in the final 5A Division II AP poll, while Stephenville is the same in 4A Division I. It doesn’t take a John Madden or a football playoff committee to see the strength of that schedule.

Midlothian Heritage bounced back from those early-season bumps and lessons to reel off an undefeated District 6-5A Division II championship run, which concluded Thursday with a 38-20 road win against the (6-4, 5-2) Kaufman Lions. That victory put the exclamation mark on the 7th consecutive win for the Jaguars and garnered their 7th district championship in just 9 varsity seasons.

The Jaguars outscored their district opponents 352-92 en route to a 7th district football championship in 9 seasons as a varsity program.

A program doesn’t hold district opponents to under 14 points per contest without three things — talent, buy-in and coaches with a gameplan. Edwards has a staff committed to all three and these key contributors leading the way:

DEFENSE

Jayden Moore leads the Jaguar defensive unit with 77 total tackles (36 solo) and 8.0 tackles-for-loss, both team-highs. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound senior defensive back has 149 total tackles (73 solo), 12 tackles-for-loss and 12 passes defended over his two-year varsity career.

Junior linebacker Jaylin Hawkins (6-1, 200) has recorded 7 or more tackles in 7 games en route to 73 total tackles (38 solo), 4.5 tackles-for-loss and 2.5 sacks. He recorded a season-high 13 total tackles (6 solo) and a TFL in the Jaguars’ 21-14 win against Terrell on Oct. 11.

Much like Hawkins, freshman sensation Owen Menicucci recorded his season-high in tackles (10) against Terrell. And, with 7 tackles-for-loss, 6-foot, 190-pound lineback trails only Moore and senior defensive end Jamie de los Santos (7.5 TFL) in that category. His 2.5 sacks are also tied with Hawkins and junior defensive end Demerick Isaac (26 tot tckls, 6.5 TFL) for the team lead.

Menicucci plans to wrestle and compete in the field events for the Jaguars’ track-and-field team…we just have to get through his first varsity football season and to those seasons first.

Zachery Hagerty currently leads the Jaguar defense with 3 interceptions and is second in passes defended (4) to junior defensive back Brayden Abila (5). Abila also has 2 picks and a fumble recovery to go with his 35 total tackles.

OFFENSE

The Jaguar offense quite literally runs through junior running back Za’ko Davis, a 5-foot-9, 170-pound runner with the speed and power to be a game-changer on each snap.

Davis has amassed 1,110 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns on just 143 carries over the regular season for an average of 7.7 yards per carry and 110.0 yards per game. He has 5 games of over 100 rushing yards and 90 or more combined rushing and receiving yards in 9 contests (19 catches for 180 yards, TD).

Don’t worry too much, though — in the one game Davis didn’t reach the 90-yard combined total, the running back rushed for 68 yards and THREW for 148 yards and a touchdown with 9 completions in a 21-14 win against Terrell.

Davis rushed for 562 yards (140.5 YPG) and 10 touchdowns over the Jaguars’ final 4 district games, which included 4 scores in a 56-3 win against Crandall and 2 in each of the final 3 contests. His 9 carries for 210 yards and 2 touchdowns in a Nov. 1 win against Corsicana produced a staggering 23.3 yards-per-carry average and led to a 51-7 Heritage victory.

Not to be overlooked, by any means, senior dual-threat quarter Carter Rutenbar has accounted for 2,520 total yards and 24 touchdowns. He has completed 118-of-his-185 passes (63.8%) for 1,778 yards and 17 touchdowns to 8 interceptions. Those passing stats rarely included second-half attempts during district action.

Rutenbar averaged 7.6 yards per carry with 742 yards and 7 touchdowns on 97 totes (74.2 YPG).

Senior wideouts Freeman Robinson III (29-481) and Landon Wright (12-295) led the receiving corps with 6 touchdown receptions, while fellow senior Ryan Satterwhite posted a team-best 36 catches for 477 yards and 2 touchdowns.

UP NEXT

Midlothian Heritage will now face (3-7) Seagoville in the 5A DII bi-district championship round. The game is slated for a 7 p.m. kickoff Thursday at Midlothian ISD Multipurpose Stadium.