by Justin Thomas
The Dragonsbr(1-1 in District 5-6A) will look to bounce back from its first loss in districtbrcompetition since October 16, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. Friday when they welcomebr0-2 Lewisville.
The Farmersbrhave struggled to move the ball offensively in 2017 and gave Carroll littlebrcompetition a year ago in a 49-7 loss. But they will be sporting a new look asbrthey enter Dragon Stadium for this year’s homecoming matchup.
Lewisvillebrenters Friday's contest averaging slightly more than 10 points per game,brincluding scoring just seven points total in two district games and 29 pointsbrover its current four-game losing skid.
In a 42-0brloss against Euless Trinity to open district, Lewisville posted 89 total yards,brincluding only two yards through the air on 4-of-14 attempts.
Thatbrfutility continued in last Friday's 18-7 loss to rival Marcus, promptingbrfirst-year head coach Michael Odle to shift his athletic and versatile runningbrback De'Mondrick Hunter under center.
Hunterbrresponded by firing a 66-yard touchdown pass to Daylen Clark, but struggled tobrconsistently move the Farmer offense.
He does,brhowever, bring a different dimension to the position with his game-breakingbrability as a runner. Something head coach Hal Wasson and the Dragons will havebrto be mindful of in their defensive schemes.
"We'vebrbeen challenged by athleticism and speed and Lewisville certainly brings thatbrto the table,” says Wasson. “We have to figure out who we are and adjust withbrour fits and put ourselves in better positions to make tackles."
Through fivebrgames, Hunter has gained 268 yards and two touchdowns, while Treshaun McDanielbrsaw much of the action in the backfield with Hunter at quarterback.
In thebrdefensive backfield RJ Mickens and company will have to keep an eye on Lewisville'sbrtop target in the passing game—Woody Banks (17 receptions, 157 yards).
Defensively,brThe Farmers will face one of the area's top rushers for the second consecutivebrweek.
Carrollbrjunior TJ McDaniel enters the contest second in 5-6A with 907 rushing yardsbr(6.9 per carry) and 11 touchdowns.
Last week,brthe Farmers were tasked with slowing the district's leading rusher, JustinbrDinka (920 yards, 7.8 per carry, 11 touchdowns).
The Marcusbrjunior tallied 174 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries, though much of itbrcame on a 78-yard scoring run early in the second quarter.
The Farmersbrdid manage to consistently disrupt the protection in Marcus' passing game, andbrthrough five games Lewisville has held its opponent under 20 points threebrtimes, including 10 points apiece to Rowlett (win) and McKinney Boyd (loss),brwhile creating two turnovers in every game sans the Trinity loss.
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