SGP Warriors

Well, they are now out of the Playoffs. They lost to Allen (not too much of a surprise) 27-14. Allen took a lead of 27-0 into the fourth quarter before SGP started making some headway. I'm a little bummed about it, but they played a good game from what I heard. They just got bested by a better team, is all. Hoping next year is an even better year for them.

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Playoff Game #1: SGP Warriors vs. Allen Eagles

This game is on a Friday night, so I could go... I just don't know if I will or not. Records say that the Eagles are better...
State 5A poll says that the Allen Eagles are ranked #5 in the state. And this is a big state.
Area 5A has the Allen Eagles ranked #2 behind Euless Trinity. I used to live in Euless. Anyway... the Warriors lost three games this season. One was to Cedar Hill (ranked #12), another was to Richardson Berkner (now unranked), and the third was to Duncanville (ranked #19). SGP has a tough time with teams that are ranked in the top twenty. So, with a team that is ranked two in the area and 5th in the state AND ranked #19 in the Nation... well, do my Warriors have a chance? Yes, but they have to play mistake free for the entirety of the game. And even if they do that, they will still likely lose.

The Warriors played a similar calibre game in the Playoffs against Trinity either last year or the one prior to that and played well. The school is starting to get used to high talent games... and if they let the pressure slide off them like water on a duck's back, then they could provide the upset. They haven't done it this season... but now would be a good time to start.

Forecast: Upset city? Warriors win it in OT, 38-35

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Game 10: SGP Warriors vs. GP Gophers

The Warriors vs the Gophers... the ever popular "North - South Game"! Neither team is ranked in the Area top 20, although I would have to think that SGP is on the bubble of the top 20... SGP is 6-3 and has clinched a playoff birth going into this game. The GP Gophers, well they just suck with a 1-8 record coming into this one. They're just wanting the season to be over so they can just move on and forget it...

The Gophers lone victory was a 37-14 romping over Irving Nimitz. SGP also won over Nimitz with a score of 28-0.

It's not uncommon for a Gopher opponent to hit 40 points. In the nine games, opponents have hit the 40 point mark three times. They have also held the Gophers to under 10 points in three of the last four games.

The Warriors have been shutout twice and lost their third in OT. The Warriors also beat Irving MacArthur in OT last week.

Forecast: How good is SGP really? Not good enough to win the state 5A, but definitely good enough to win in this rivalry on Friday night. This should be an embarrassment for the Gophers. Score: 38-6.

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Game 6: SGP Warriors vs. Cedar Hill

This is definitely a testament game for the Warriors. It is going to be the toughest game for the Warriors for the rest of the season. The rest of the district will and should be a breeze for the Warriors and Longhorns.SGP is ranked 18th in the area and Cedar Hill is ranked 12th. An SGP loss shouldn't knock them from the top 20, but it could if it is an embarrassing loss, something like 52-0. I don't think it will look like that...

Cedar Hill does have a passing game, but they choose to not use it. Why use it when the running game can't be stopped. The QB Driphus Jackson has 56 carries for 311 yards while going 33-62 for 256 yards passing. He has two TD passes and two TD rushes. A bigger threat would be the RB Ben Malena who has 70 rushes for 605 yards. He has rushed for 7 TDs. There is no real favorite for Jackson when he throws, but then again, he has plenty of targets. There are also other rushing threats.

Longhorns to Watch:

• QB Driphus Jackson: 33-62 for 256 yards, 2 TDs, 1 Int
• RB Ben Molina: 70 carries for 605 yards, 7 TDs

The Warriors have a passing game, rushing game, and receiving game. They average 110 yards passing each game, 134 yards rushing, and close to three TDs a game. The Warriors average twice as many catching TDs as rushing TDs.

Should the Warriors win this, they have to stop the Longhorn rushing game.

Warriors to Watch:

• QB Ryan Campos: 29-53 for 437 yards in four games.
• RB Tyrus McGlothen: 112 carries for 488 yards (5 games)
• WR DeWayne Peace: 21 catches for 358 yards and 7 TDs

Forecast: Wow... I guess this forecast is questioning myself and whether I believe the Warriors can shut down the Longhorn rushing game. And... well... I think they can slow it down. I don't think they can shut it down. And with that in mind, can the Warriors step up the "O"? Maybe. I want to say the Warriors will win this one. I really, really, really want to say that. What I think is this, Cedar Hill takes this one, 28-24.

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Game 5: SGP Warriors vs. Nimitz

The Warriors vs the Vikings. This is the first district game for the Warriors, who come in with a 3-1 record. Nimitz is 1-3. The Vikings have lost there last three games, whereas the Warriors have won their last three. And the reason for both teams recent outcomes has been due to defense (or lack thereof). SGP finds itself in the Area 5A top twenty for the first time this season.

Campos had another 100+ yard passing game and McGlothen had another 100+ rushing game. The passing game was a bit more spread out this last time out, where Campos found Peace four times, Moore twice (for his first two catches of the season) and Faucett twice.

The Vikings have given up 130 points in four games this season, finding sucess when they hold their opponents under 20 points (which they have done only once). The last three games, their opponents have averaged almost 40 points a game. The Vikings have scored an average of 26 points. They have played three home games, losing every single time. They are undefeated on the road (1-0) and will be playing the Warriors in the Warrior/Gopher Bowl.

Forecast: The Warriors are hot. They are now considered a "ranked" team, and I am willing to bet that every player on the Warrior's team knows they cracked the top 20. District rival Cedar Hill is the only other team in the Warriors 7-5A district that is ranked (at #11 with a 3-1 record). The Warriors play Cedar Hill after Nimitz at Cedar Hill. This game should be a wash for the Warriors. Look for Campos to continue his string of 100+ passing games. He should be hitting Peace all night long (Peace should have 6 catches at the very least) and McGlothen should rush for over 150 yards. I would say that Campos should end up with close to 200 yards passing, and maybe go as much as 250 yards passing in a game that says that SGP is a player. Score: 48-14.

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Game 4: SGP Warriors vs. Justin Northwest

Justin Northwest is coming into this game off a bye week and has a schedule of 2-0. They have scored 23 points and given up 15 to reach this point. They do not have a solid running game, but Brysen Curb (quarterback) has decent numbers (25-44 for 192 yards with 1 TD and no interceptions). It would appear that the defense is strong for this team. They have forced 7 fumbles already this season.

The Warriors need to continue to force a passing game. In this case, Curb may have a good game or they may not. Justin doesn't have a strong rushing game, so expect the Warriors to dominate with rush defense. If the Warriors force a passing game, Curb could end up having a fairly good game, maybe over 200 yards passing is what would be needed for a Justin win. I don't think that will happen.

The key to this game will be the Warriors offense vs. the Texans defense. Justin has a really good defense and they are coming off a bye game. If the Warriors are going to get going on offense, they have to keep from turning over the ball. QB Campos has 4 TDs and 5 Interceptions in two games. RB Tyrus McGlothen has 60 carries for 254 yards in three games and DeWayne Peace has 17 catches for 293 yards in three games. Peace is considered the strongest weapon for the Warriors. Forecast: I like the Warriors in this one. It looks that even with a poor game by the Warriors (in way of turnovers), they can still put up a win. When McGlothen hits 100 yards, the Warriors are 2-0. He makes it 3-0 with this game. Score: 26-9.

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Game 3: SGP Warriors vs. Summit

South Grand Prairie is coming off a nice win, a 27-17 against the Arlington Martin Warriors. The Mansfield Summit Jags are next up for the SGP Warriors to face. Summit is 2-0 and will be playing at home for this matchup.

The Jags don't grab a whole mess of yards, but look for Richard Sanguinetti to collect the rushing yards for Summit as well as being the quarterback. Lewis Washington is the running back. Nelson Akinwande also does the carrying. The Warriors are going to need strong rushing defense to hold back this tandem. Nelson won the game for them the first week. Richard, the second, but not so much with passing as it was with rushing. If the Warriors can force the Jags to use a passing game, then things should go well.

SGP doesn't have a huge fold of players for their offense. Ryan Campos is the QB. He doesn't appear to be a rushing QB either. Tyrus McGlothen is the rusher. DeWayne Peace is the wideout. And that is what it is. And don't try to think there are any other elements, because right now, their isn't any. Campos has three interceptions in two games.

In the 38-0 Warrior loss two weeks ago, Richard Berkner threw the ball four times for 12 yards. The Warriors need to force a passing game, or they could be passed up.

Forecast: I believe the Warriors will do well. I do not think they will be "runned over", but I do believe they will do just enough to make it interesting for both sides. Look for both teams to gather some good ruching numbers. Warriors win it: 28-24.

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Game 2: SGP Warriors vs. Arlington Martin

SGP got shutout in the season opener with a score of 38-0. Embarrassing, to say the least. In fact, the Warriors did not cross midfield until the fourth quarter. Look for them to solve whatever problem happened in the opener with this game. This should be a statement game. If the Warriors are going to do anything this season and be taken seriously, it should start here.

The other team is called the Warriors. The Arlington Martin Warriors, to be exact. They also lost their opener 42-21 to Mesquite Horn. They did get more offense going in the first game, but their defense was exploited greatly.

The Warriors against the Warriors. One bad defense against another bad defense.

Forecast: Well, I can say very confidently that the Warriors will win. They will also lose. Which one will win? Well, I wouldn't be a fan of SGP if I said that Arlington would win. I really think that SGP's defense will prevail over Arlington... so I am not just saying that my fave will take it... but I am saying that SGP will win 31-24.

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Game 1: SGP Warriors vs. Richardson Berkner Rams

I have to be honest. I do not know really anything about the Warriors makeup or the Rams makeup. High School Football is a huge thing for Texas sports and it is gaining so much attention from media, that I think it probably puts too much pressure on the players of this fine game. This one is going to be a home game for the Warriors, which does give them something of an upper-hand.

Now, the Rams aren't a bad team. They are picked to win a playoff spot and finish fourth in district #9. South Grand Prairie is to finish third, but because the Warriors are strong and in a strong division, they could finish higher if the begin to gel quicker. And with this information from this wonderful High School Football website... it sure does make me feel more confident on how this one is going to shake down.
Forecast: Being that the teams are evenly placed on the standing within their districts... but also knowing that SGP has a better talent pool, SGP is my pick on this one. It feels tough to pick a score, but I would say that the Warriors win it with a score of 31-17.

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