This year it is No. 3 Dayton vs No. 4 Friendswood

September 1, 2009

   

FRIENDSWOOD — Last season, the No. 1 area-ranked Dayton Broncos invaded Henry Winston Stadium to face the No. 2 area-ranked Friendswood Mustangs in one of the top games in the Houston area. But when the final whistle blew -- it was Friendswood who came away with a 42-21 lopsided win.

Things haven't changed that much as the two teams open up the 2009 football campaign ranked No. 3 and No. 4 respectively -- but rankings don't mean a thing except out on the field. Friendswood will travel to Dayton this coming Friday, September 4 at 7:00 p.m. for the showdown.

"It's nice to start the season considered as one of the top teams in the area, but it doesn't mean much if you can't prove it when it counts," head coach Steve Van Meter said. "If you take care of your business on the field - the rankings will take care of themselves."

Last season - the game featured two of the top quarterbacks in the state. But this year -- the two teams will each have a new field general leading the offense. Graduation hit both teams in the skill positions, but the Mustangs have already shown they have a talented team after recent scrimmages against 5A Clear Brook and 5A Ball High. Friendswood dominated both scrimmages and Van Meter is excited about the potential he sees with this group of players who are focused to defend their share of the District 24-4A crown and to repeat as 4A Region III champions.

The game will be played at Dayton this year and the two teams, except for last season, have had a history of playing close games.

Friendswood has never lost to Dayton, but every game has been extremely close including Friendswood 31-28 win in 2007. The Mustangs nipped the Broncos 17-16 in 2006 -- so there is no reason to expect this year's meeting to be anything except a hold-your-breath and hang-on-to-your-seat battle.

A look at the Dayton Broncos

Dayton won the 4A Region III Division II title last season and advanced to the 4A state title game to finish with a 13-2 mark. They lost to Sulphur Springs in a 69-49 shootout which is the state's highest-scoring 11-man final of all time. The Broncos return five offensive and six defensive starters, but

have to replace QB Cody Green (Nebraska) and A.J. Dugat (UH).

QB Payton Ploch (6-1, 200) will take controls of the offense. Sophomore RB Jakarai Delasbour (5-11, 190, 4.4) will be the featured back.

Defensively, the Broncos have one of the best linebacking units in the area as LBs Chris Young (6-5, 220) who had 55 tackles and three forced fumbles and Jordan Baxter (5-9, 205) who had 82 tackles, six tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles. On the defensive front will be Tony Hill (6-2, 255) and Aaron Jenkins (5-9, 225) with FS Xavier Baldwin (5-9, 170, 4.4) and OLB Evan Brown (6-0, 185) adding to the experienced defensive unit.

A look at the Friendswood Mustangs

Friendswood has seven returning offensive and seven defensive starters to put the Mustangs in the district title hunt.

One of the offensive standouts from a year ago was running back Andrew Andrew Cole (6-2, 190), who began the 2008 season on defense, took over the running back spot due to an early season injury to Al White. Cole led the Mustangs with 1,540 yards rushing on 141 carries for 18 TDs including over 500 yards rushing in the playoffs.

Junior QB Peter Matzold (6-2, 175) is a talented young prospect that has a strong throwing arm and the mental toughness to take over for Karam. He will also be joined by sophomore running back Jonathan Johnson (5-8, 160, 4.5) that has the break away speed that will compliment Cole.

Ben Compton (6-4, 250), Sean Golz (6-1, 240) and Hunter Ratcliff (6-4, 240) will help anchor the offensive line this coming season.

Junior kicker Zach Hardy was named to the All-District first-team after hitting 45 extra points and three field goals during the regular season for 54 points to lead the league in scoring by kicking.

Defensively, the Mustangs will be led by DE Beau Barnes (6-5, 215), LB Tanner Chidester (6-2, 215), FS Matt Kennermer (6-1, 175), SS Brandt Liufua, DT Sam Giamfortone, OLB Robert Smith, and DB Hunter McAfee.

Other players that Van Meter will look to will be: RB Matthew Lewis, FB Vincent Taylor, WR Chris O'Brien, and WR Austin Ratcliff.

There is no question that District 24-4A is one of the toughest leagues in the entire state. There is a very strong possibility that the Region III champion will emerge out of this league again.

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