John Tyler Among Elite 8 In 4A Football Playoffs By HAROLD WILSON

November 30, 2010

John Tyler Football


John Tyler Among Elite 8 In 4A Football Playoffs By HAROLD WILSON

Staff Writer

Eight teams remain in the race for a Class 4A Division I state football championship.

Hoping to be the one to park in the first lane, John Tyler (12-1) makes its return to the state quarterfinals at 7:30 p.m. Friday, on the road against Wylie (10-3).

The Region II championship game pits a JT team unbeaten away from Tyler (7-0) and a Wylie team perfect at home (5-0).

JT finds itself in the state quarterfinals for the 12th time in its storied history, and winners of 12 games for the ninth time.

JT holds a 6-5 all-time mark in the state quarterfinals, losing 31-7 to Klein at the same juncture last year in Class 5A.

"We don't talk about last year," said fourth-year JT head coach Dereck Rush, who has led the Lions to victories in 24 of their last 27 games. "This is a different ballclub, different players. We've moved forward."

As to who owns the inside track to the title, the following offers a glance ahead of the elite eight in Class 4A Division I.

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REGION I

Denton Ryan

Record:

13-0

Points For-Points Against: 484-146 (112-34 in playoffs)

R?sum?:

One of only two unbeatens left in the Division, Ryan rolled to an average victory of 26 points in the first three rounds, beating previously unbeaten Waco Midway (19-10) last week. Ryan reached the 4A Division I state quarterfinalists last year.

Wichita Falls Rider

Record:

9-4

PF-PA: 383-271 (106-46)

R?sum?:

Rider heated up after a sub-par regular season to get back to the same round it reached in 2008. JT defeated Rider in 2008 and 2009 during the regular season.

REGION II

John Tyler

Record:

12-1

PF-PA:

463-181 (119-75)

R?sum?:

JT allowed only 10 points per game before it averaged right at 40 in bi-district, area and regional wins. JT enters the second half of the postseason unbeaten against 4A competition (10-0). One of JT's wins came against Longview, a state quarterfinalist in 5A who played for the 4A title game the previous two years.

Wylie

Record:

10-3

PF-PA:

432-228 (108-44)

R?sum?:

Wylie opened postseason with a pair of 28-point wins, then avenged an earlier loss to West Mesquite with last week's 38-31 victory. Wylie advanced to the 2008 Class 5A Division II championship game, then went 3-7 last year before dropping down.

REGION III

Friendswood

Record:

12-1

PF-PA:

515-310 (109-38)

R?sum?:

Friendswood boasts the stingiest playoff defense of all remaining teams, but worst counting all games. Friendswood qualified for the state quarterfinals last year as well.

Montgomery

Record:

12-1

PF-PA:

533-179 (97-41)

R?sum?:

Montgomery made it to area round last year, and started the 2010 playoffs with a shutout. Montgomery played strong defense the first three rounds, giving up the second-fewest points allowed of the contenders.

REGION IV

Cedar Park

Record:

13-0

PF-PA:

587-148 (146-50)

R?sum?:

Cedar Park owns a 70-point game to its credit, and tops the field in average margin of playoff victories (32.0). Cedar Park lost in the first round of the 5A playoffs a year ago.

Lake Travis

Record:

11-2

PF-PA:

518-238 (135-90)

R?sum?:

Lake Travis slipped by its first two opponents by margins of eight and six points before last week's 31-point victory. The three-time defending state champions continue to be the team-to-beat until proven otherwise.