PREP PREVIEW: If Dublin hangs on to ball, it could be a thriller with Teague

Dublin at Albany 090817 19 — Josh Hanes was 19-24 passing for more than 300 yards last week. Can Dublin avoid shooting itself in the foot against Teague? || The Flash Today photo by RUSSELL HUFFMAN

HS VOLLEYBALL
Alavarado at Stephenville, 4:30 p.m. – Stephenville seeks 2-0 start in 8-4A action
Zephyr at Hico, 10 a.m. – It isn’t like last year, but Hico still better than most in this league
Lingleville at Gorman, 10 a.m. – Short road trip for Lady Cards
Dublin at Clyde, noon Saturday – Lady Lions wise to prepare for district slate with mid-Saturday match

HS FOOTBALL
-Hico at Millsap, 7 p.m.- It’s been a long time since Millsap has been good
-Everman at Stephenville, 7:30 p.m. – As long as the Jackets set the edge and contain, they shSPORould improve to 3-0
-Cross Plains at De Leon, 7:30 p.m. – I’ve said it before, but will someone wake me up when this really good De Leon squad gets to the likes of HIco, Godlthwaite and Crawford?
-Dublin vs. Teague, 7;30 p.m. at Mary Hardin-Baylor – See game of the week preview below
-Johnson County Sports Assn. at Stephenville FAITH, 7:30 at Three Way ISD – It’s going to be all Knights, and will probably be done before darkness settles in.
-Lingleville at Blum, 7:30 p.m. – Tough trip for the Cardinals, but they’re fresh, coming off a bye.

GAME OF THE WEEK:
Dublin vs. Teague
7:30 p.m. at Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton

(September 15, 2017) — Teague is fast, everyone knows about the east Texas speed factor and the dangerous element it provides a team from anywhere on the field.

But until a couple cheap scores before halftime, Dublin was right with an Albany team that figures to again be a 2A Division II title contender after capturing the championship in that division in 2015.

And even after intermission on the road last Friday, the green Lions still looked like they belonged on the field with the red ones, at least until they fumbled the ball away. Bob Cervetto will tell you all the stats in the world aren’t’ worth anything unless you also get to put a mark on the left hand side of the win-loss column. But Cervetto will also tell you all you can ask for in life is a chance. With numbers like this, Dublin certainly has a chance.

Josh Hanes was 19-24 passing for 303 yards and 2 TDs. If the night goes differently for dublinm, Hanes, who also rushed for 40 yards and a score, would have been in the conversation for DQ Player of the Week. Keith Wright joined him in averaging north of five yards per carry – I checked, that’s good – with 33 yards on six runs, while Jacob Stanley had a massive performance catching the ball, hauling in five receptions for 148 yards and a score. Tyshon Hopkins also scored through the air.

But six turnovers isn’t just too many, it’s six times too many. Turnovers happen, on occasion, so one is sometimes going get away from you, but two is to many. Six pretty much guarantees a loss. Dublin fumbled the ball seven times and lost five of them, and Hanes did have one pass picked. That and losing a fumble himself were the only demerits for Hanes, who was otherwise splendid against a top notch opponent.

The Lions did improve a lot from the standpoint that they moved the ball against a an Albany defense that is stronger than Hico’s, which allowed Dublin just eight points in the season opener.

So again, they’ve got a chance.

Tegue’s offense answered the bell let week after a paltry showing in week one, as well. The orange Lions, as opposed to Dublin’s green pack of big cats and the red pride from Albany, were shutout 24-0 by Madisonville before winning a 40-33 nail biter against Mexia.

When Dublin has the ball, Hanes better locate Tayvis Coleman, a talented senior moving between free safety and strong safety. And when Teague has the ball, the linebackers better find Coleman, too. It will be easier – he’s a running back. Quarterback Connor Smith also plays someone the secondary.

Other Teague athletes to watch are Tyrell Cnady, RB and CB, Dayveon Dixon, a WR and OLB, and Isaiah Bell, FB and MLB, just to name a few.

Dublin could go in and pull this one out. Dublin could also be blown out.

The difference, besides setting the edge and containing Teague then tackling well, will be turnovers. If Hanes and company take care of the ball, the Lions will hang some points on Teuage, of that you can be confident.