Lake Info
Normal Lake Level is 322.00 feet above Mean Sea
Level.
Current level for Cedar Creek Lake is: 319.63 Water Temperature:
72 degrees - top
72 degrees - bottom
|
|
Playoffs
may ride on Kemp-Mabank matchup
By Kerry Yancey
Monitor Staff Writer
MABANK–Last year, a series of severe thunderstorms wiped out the annual grudge match
between hosting Kemp and Mabank.
This year, Friday night’s umpty-third meeting between the neighboring schools is a
district game, so it will be played, and since it’s on the Panther Stadium turf,
there won’t be any worries about a muddy field, even if it does rain (there’s a
small chance of showers).
There’s also a lot more riding on the game this year than last year’s contest,
which was a pre-district matchup. 
Both teams come into Friday’s game off district losses – Kemp is 0-2 in District
13-3A play after last week’s 34-7 thumping by Crandall, while Mabank is 1-1 after
falling to Ferris 31-24 Friday night, when a fourth-down play inside the Ferris 5
didn’t connect.
Kemp arguably has the most to lose, as three losses almost certainly will end any chance
of the Yellowjackets making the playoffs, while Mabank could still hope for a playoff
berth, even with two losses.
Ferris and Crandall are atop the standings at 2-0, but Ferris still must play North Forney
(who upset Kaufman, 36-35, in double overtime Friday), Kaufman and Crandall, while the
Pirates still have to play Kaufman, Mabank and Ferris.
North Forney and Mabank are tied at 1-1. Mabank will play Kemp this week, followed by
Crandall and North Forney, while the Falcons play Ferris this week and finish with Kemp
and Mabank.
One thing that is certain – records won’t matter, because the basic truth is any
Kemp-Mabank game, in any sport, is going to be a war.
“We’ve got two years pent up, now,” Mabank coach Jimmy Cantrell said Monday
morning. “My main concern will be keeping our kids focused on what we’ve got to
get done.”
“It’s an area rivalry, and I think our kids are anxious to play them, especially
since we didn’t get to play last year,” Kemp coach Greg Anderson said Monday.
“We just need to heal, and heal quickly.”
The Yellowjackets will be limping into Panther Stadium on crutches – well,
that’s a slight exaggeration, but Anderson is worried, because one missing player
usually means two missing starters, offense and defense.
Quarterback Jeff Goldman reaggravated the shoulder injury he suffered against Fairfield,
and his backup, Blake Murray, again tweaked the knee injured in the second scrimmage
against Van, back in August.
Tight end/linebacker Colton Gaddis also has a shoulder injury, as does offensive/defensive
lineman Mitchell Pinion, while center/defensive end Blake Watkins has bruised ribs. All
are questionable for Friday’s game.
“We have to focus on one game at a time, and we did that Friday,” Cantrell said.
“It’s all about matchups. Defensively, we’re just real young, but I think
our kids played well.
“I thought we could have won the game, but we’ve got to bounce back, because we
have three tough games left,” Cantrell added.
Both coaches pointed out Mabank and Kemp match up pretty well as far as team speed goes.
“They don’t have the No. 3 (Robert Grady) Ferris has or the No. 24 (Courtney
Miles) Crandall has – that one guy who can run away from you,” Anderson said.
“We’re going to have to contain No. 5 (Jake Goldman),” Cantrell said.
“But, this is one (opponent) we match up with, speed-wise. Then it becomes a matter
of technique and execution, and they’re probably saying the same thing.”
In fact, both coaches agreed Friday night’s game likely will be a quick one, as
neither team really wants to throw if they don’t have to.
For Kemp, the key will be avoiding turnovers. While they haven’t had many, the ones
they have suffered have come at critical times, such as inside the Crandall 10, following
a long march.
“We really had the opportunity to score 17 points in the first half, but we were 7-7
at halftime,” Anderson said. “We came out in the second half and had a
three-and-out, and then they were in the end zone on the first play.
“It took the wind out of their sails, and we could never get it back,” he added.
“That part is frustrating. We’re not playing a full game.”
For the Panthers, the critical breakdown in the Ferris game came late in the first half,
when they pinned Ferris on their own 1 with a punt.
“They proceeded to go down the field 99 yards and score,” Cantrell said.
“We can’t give up those kind of drives. That drive really hurt us.”
That said, Cantrell said the last two games are the first two that the Panthers have
played four full quarters.
“We’re going to have to force Kemp into mistakes,” Cantrell said.
“They’ve shown a lot of different looks on defense, so we have to take what they
give us.
“If they take away the run, we have to show that we can hit the high-percentage
passes,” he added. “Defensively, we need to force some three-and-outs.”
“I’m sure they’re preparing the same way,” Anderson said. “We
need to win to keep our playoff hopes alive. Anything can happen in the next three
weeks.”’Dogs travel to face Zebras
By Kerry Yancey
Monitor Staff Writer
EUSTACE–Now 2-0 in District 6-2A play, the Eustace Bulldogs face their toughest test
yet Friday night, when they hit the road to face the 2-0 Grandview Zebras.
“For a lot of people, this game is for the district championship. I don’t look
at it that way,” Eustace head coach Doug Wendel said Monday.
“You don’t win a championship in the third week,” he added. “But, it
is two 2-0 teams going at it.” 
While it might not determine the 6-2A championship, Friday’s matchup in Grandview
will go a long way in determining the playoff seeding for the district.
Maypearl is the only other 2-0 team – everybody else is 0-2, and Maypearl and
Grandview will meet in Maypearl Nov. 5 in the season finale.
The Bulldogs go into Friday’s game missing their starting quarterback, as junior
Jacob McCarter is definitely out with a grade 3 separated shoulder, Wendel reported.
McCarter injured his shoulder diving into the end zone to score a touchdown early in last
week’s 64-28 blowout of Palmer’s Bulldogs.
“I don’t have any expectations that he’ll be back,” Wendel said.
Sophomore John Bradburn stepped into the quarterback position and did fairly well.
“We told John to protect the football,” Wendel recalled. “On the last one
(TD), I told him ‘you read it (the option).’ He pulled it and went to the house.
“We won’t have to change our offense,” he added. “We’re not
checking off plays at the line. That’s probably the biggest difference. John has the
ability to throw it if we need to.”
Against Palmer, the only Eustace pass thrown was on a two-point conversion, which was
good. When you rush for 592 yards, you don’t have to throw.
Junior fullback Justin Bersterman backed up his 259-yard effort against Sunnyvale by
rushing for 287 yards and five touchdowns on just 12 carries, or right at 24 yards per
touch.
“We’re excited about Bersterman’s game, but our offensive line played
extremely well,” Wendel said. “Raymond Shutak and Zach Stokes are playing at a
really high level. Our backs and receivers all blocked well.”
The win over Palmer gives the Bulldogs “every opportunity” to make the playoffs,
Wendel pointed out.
“Our defense had three (red zone) stands, and once we caused a fumble, which was a
big momentum-changer,” he said.
Grandview, an area finalist last year, was the pre-season district favorite, and certainly
will present a formidable challenge.
“They have a Division I back (Daniel Spencer) who has committed to Houston, I
believe, and they have a quarterback (Derek Jarrell) who is as good as we’ve seen in
three or four years,” Wendel said.
“Both linebackers are the caliber of (Kemp senior Johnny) Kilgore, but bigger,”
he added. “I don’t see any glaring weaknesses.”
The Zebras are a spread team who uses screen passes to great effectiveness. “Against
Dallas Life (Oak Cliff) two weeks ago, Spencer touched the ball 13 times and had seven
touchdowns,” Wendel said.
“The keys for us are: we have to move the chains, sustain long drives and when we get
down there, we have to score points,” he said.
While the Bulldogs have had the scoring part down, a lot of those points have come on long
runs. “We can’t get eight plays into a drive and make a mistake,” Wendel
said. “There won’t be many yards outside the hash marks.
“I do think we can move the ball, but we have to sustain drives and score,” he
added.
Directions to Grandview: There is no direct route from Eustace to Grandview. Google Maps
suggests taking U.S. 175 northwest to Interstate 20. Follow I-20 westbound for about 15
miles to exit 464B (U.S. 67) to Cleburne and Midlothian. Follow U.S. 67 south through
Midlothian (about 29 miles) to intersect with I-35W at Alvarado. Follow I-35W south for
about nine miles, and take exit 16 (State Highway 81 south) toward Grandview. Go about two
miles and turn left on Zebra Parkway at the high school. Driving distance/time about 104
miles, two hours.
Upcoming Events |
| Football Oct.
22
MHS vs KHS*
EHS @ Grandview*
Oct. 29
MHS vs Crandall*
KHS vs North Forney*
EHS vs Maypearl*
Nov. 5
MHS @ North Forney*
KHS @ Kaufman*
EHS @ Dallas Life Oak Cliff*
(end regular season)
(*district contest) |
Volleyball Oct.
22
MHS vs KHS*
EHS @ Teague*
Oct. 26
MHS @ Kaufman*
KHS @ Ferris*
EHS @ Leon*
(end regular season)
(*district contest) |
| Yachting Oct.
23
Race Day
Nov. 6
Fun Sail or Make-up race |
| Cross country Oct.
25
MHS-KHS @ District meet
(Kaufman)
EHS @ District meet
(Malakoff)
Nov. 6
Regional meet
(Vandergriff Park, Arlington)
Nov. 13
State meet
(Round Rock) |
|