McCallum Win Creates Three-way Tie Atop 26-4A

By Sam Bohmfalk

McCallum 55, LBJ 41

Don’t be surprised if Michael Sorrells soon garners a few more offers from D-I schools.  Already with scholarship promises in hand from Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State and Tulsa, Sorrells dismantled the LBJ defense scoring six touchdowns in leading the McCallum Knights to a 55-41 victory over the LBJ Jaguars.  The win creates a virtual three-way tie between one-loss teams LBJ, McCallum and Travis.

Held to just 58 first-half yards, Sorrells put the Knights on his shoulders in the third quarter as he bullied his way into the end zone three times, scoring on runs of 3, 7, and 44 yards turning a 21-13 Knights deficit into a 41-28 lead heading into the fourth.  The change of quarter did nothing to stop Sorrells, who quickly added his fifth touchdown of the game to push the McCallum lead to 20.

LBJ wasn’t about to lie down, however, and Trey Porter’s second touchdown run pulled the Jaguars within 13.  After a defensive stop, the Jaguars struck again as quarterback Darius Collins found Emiliano Espinoza from 45-yards out to pull LBJ within 7.

Collins, who finished 22-36 for 293 yards and three touchdowns, was hoping for a chance to tie the game, but McCallum’s Sorrells proved to be too much.  The 6-3, 200-pounder scored his sixth touchdown from 7-yards out to ice the game and send the district title picture into disarray.

Elsewhere around 26-4A

Crockett 28, Reagan 6

Crockett’s 240 rushing yards controlled the clock, but it was quarterback Paul Wagner’s arm that won the game for the Cougars.  Wagner threw for touchdowns of 23 and 28 yards in the second half as the Cougars scored 21 unanswered to knock the Raiders out of the playoff chase, 28-6.

Lanier 41, Eastside 14

The Lanier Vikings remained in a tie for fourth-place in District, as they drubbed the Eastside Rams 41-14.  The Rams’ last game is next week against Travis, although the team is guaranteed to remain in the district cellar by virtue of their record.

District 26-4A Week 8 Preview

By Sam Bohmfalk

Crockett (1-6, 1-2) vs. Reagan (1-6, 1-2)

The Reagan Raiders enter this game riding high off a 51-20 victory over Eastside.  The win against the Rams snapped the Raiders’ 19-game losing streak.  The Raiders were led by all-everything Jaquarias Daniels, who threw touchdown passes of 15 and 23 yards, rushed 55 yards for a score, returned an interception 55 yards for a touchdown, and returned a fumble on a two-point conversion 100 yards for two points.  The Crockett Cougars enter having fallen last week 43-16 to district leaders LBJ.  Quarterback Paul Wagner led the Cougars offense with an efficient line of 17-28 for 137 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Crockett’s defense struggled to stop LBJ, allowing over 500 yards while forcing the Jaguars to punt just once.  Both teams need this win if they want a shot at grabbing the last playoff spot in 26-4A.

Prediction: Crockett 38, Reagan 12

LBJ (4-4, 4-0) vs. McCallum (3-4, 2-1)

The McCallum Knights are the last real challenge for an LBJ Jaguars team that is looking to run the table in district play.  The Jaguars had no trouble last week in their 43-16 victory over Crockett.   McCallum’s defense will have to find a way to stop LBJ quarterback Darius Collins, who has lit up district opponents, completing 74% of his passes in four games, for 574 yards and 7 touchdowns.  A win by McCallum would put the Knights in position to repeat as district champions.  The Knights are led by the district’s leading rusher, Michael Sorrells, who has amassed 1086 yards and 13 touchdowns on just 130 carries.

Prediction: LBJ 42, McCallum 27

Lanier (2-5, 1-2) vs. Eastside (1-7, 0-4)

The Lanier Vikings and Eastside Rams each enter this game as teams that would put a dictionary definition of the word defense to shame.  Lanier fell to the Travis Rebels last week, 51-14, due in large part to the fact that the Rebels amassed 438 rushing yards.  On the other side, the Eastside Rams fell victim to Reagan last week, giving up 51 points—the least they’ve allowed in a district game to date.   The Rams pass defense, which has been suspect all year, will have to find a way to stop Vikings quarter back K’Len Britton if they want to win.  Britton, who has thrown for 1,091 yards and 13 touchdowns on the year, was held in check against Travis completing just 10 of 21 passes for 88 yards and a touchdown.

Prediction: Lanier 56, Eastside 13