AP: Texas

10/05/2005

By PAUL J. WEBER  / Associated Press

A look at five of the top games in Texas for Week Six:

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CLASS 5A

No. 3 LONGVIEW vs. TYLER LEE

Records: Longview (6-0), Lee (2-3)

Last week: Longview beat Mesquite Horn 52-14; Lee lost to Rockwall 21-14.

Why it matters: A victory all but clinches the District 12-5A title for the Lobos.

Key players: Longview — QB Carlin Freeman, RB Vondrell McGee. Lee — RB Jason Williams, WR Nathan Tucker

In the huddle: The game was moved from Friday to Thursday so it could be regionally televised on Fox Sports Southwest, though the matchup has lost some luster since Lee has drastically fallen since winning the Division I state title last year. ...Lee senior QB Preston Hall is out after suffering a knee injury in last week's loss to Rockwall. Marcus Jackson will start in his place ... It's the second televised game for Lee, which also played on ESPNU earlier this year in a loss to Cincinnati (Ohio) Colerain.

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CLASS 4A

No. 1 LA MARQUE at SANTA FE

Records: La Marque (4-0), Santa Fe (1-3)

Last week: Both were idle.

Why it matters: The first game in three weeks for both schools.

Key players: La Marque — QB Durklyn Haynes, WR Jared Perry. Santa Fe — RB Adam Garza, QB Kyle Adams

In the huddle: Because of bye weeks and non-district games canceled in wake of Hurricane Rita, neither team has played since Sept. 16. La Marque coach Bryan Erwin, previously worried that the extensive time off would his team rusty, said he's now grateful for the extra preparation a two-week layoff has afforded ...Santa Fe is better than its 1-3 record suggests: Two of the Indians' losses came in overtime, dropping one game on a missed extra point. ...La Marque will be without starting tailback J.J. Mullins, whose foot was run over on Interstate 35 during the mass evacuation of Houston.

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CLASS 3A

No. 3 SWEETWATER vs. No. 10 ABILENE WYLIE

Records: Sweetwater (6-0), Wylie (5-1)

Last week: Sweetwater beat Levelland 34-31; Wylie beat Decatur 43-33.

Why it matters: Meeting of state-ranked teams and District 4-3A opener.

Key players: Wylie — DL Jared Robertson, QB Case Keenum. Sweetwater — RB Joseph Banyard, RB Skye Green.

In the huddle: Sweetwater, which has posted two shutouts, is beating opponents by an average of 41-11. ...Wylie is trying to defend its state title with a vastly different cast. More than 30 seniors graduated from last year's team. ... ...Sweetwater has been almost unstoppable running the ball, rushing for almost 1,700 yards as a team. ...The tandem of Green and Baynard have combined to rush for more than 1,000 of those yards. ...Keenum has thrown for more than 1,200 yards and rushed for more than 400.

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CLASS 2A

No. 10 SALADO at LITTLE RIVER ACADEMY

Records: Salado (4-1), Academy (3-2)

Last week: Salado beat Lago Vista 49-7; Academy beat Rogers 19-7.

Why it matters: Salado defends its first state ranking of the season.

Key players: Salado — RB Wes Ruth, RB Tucker Wilhite; Academy — QB Jason Hubbard, WR Chris Marek

In the huddle: Salado moved into the poll this week after serving Lago Vista its first loss of the season. ...Academy and Salado, along with Lexington, are the last three unbeaten teams remaining in District 25-2A. ...The game figures to be the first real test for Academy, which beat winless Rogers and 2-3 Florence in its two district wins. ...Wilhite has rushed for almost 430 yards and eight TDs. ...Marek has three touchdown receptions.

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CLASS 1A

No. 10 BREMOND vs. AXTELL

Records: Bremond (4-1), Axtell (6-0)

Last week: Bremond lost to No. 1 Chilton; Axtell beat Valley Mills 47-14.

Why it matters: Another district loss in Class 25-A for Bremond could dash its playoff hopes

Key players: Bremond — G Rusty Scott, LB Kendrick Jones. Axtell — QB Kevin Neal, RB Ryan Felkner

In the huddle: After losing to top-ranked Chilton last week, Bremond coach Jerry Hamrick said "it's going to be for our guys difficult to get fired up for another big game. It's tough to do that twice in a row." ...Part of Bremond's success can be traced to the uncommonly hefty players the Tigers enjoy for a Class A school. Among them are Scott and guard Russell Kujawa, who both are at least 6-foot-3 and weigh more than 315 pounds. ...An Axtell win would likely sneak the Longhorns into the state rankings. With 11 votes, Axtell narrowly missed the top 10 this week.