High school confidential

Everman taking different approach at Stephenville

In a must-win game at Stephenville, Everman will go against its own strengths tonight to try to force a playoff game for the final postseason spot in Class 8-4A. Despite the midseason loss of three players to grades -- all of whom started at some point this season -- the Bulldogs (17-14, 8-5) have won four of their past five games and are one game behind third-place Stephenville, which has lost two straight. However, the last time Everman played the Yellow Jackets, the Bulldogs were burned by guards Victor Martinez and Trey Taylor, who combined for 49 points. Stephenville had seven 3-pointers in the first half. "They really hurt us in transition with layups and kickouts for threes," Everman coach Jay Mathieson said. Look for more of a deliberate approach by the Bulldogs tonight. "If our press is going we can be very successful, but we tried that before and they sliced right through us," Mathieson said. "We're going to try to slow it down a little, even though that goes against what we typically do best."

-- Lori Dann

Final: Cleburne 54, Everman 37

Cleburne slowed down the pace on the court and accelerated its chase for a playoff spot Tuesday night, pulling away from Everman in the second half for a 17-point road victory. The Yellow Jackets (16-10, 7-1) remained one game behind Crowley in the District 8-4A race and dealt a blow to the Bulldogs (15-15, 4-4), who are now two games behind third-place Stephenville. Everman had scored at least 72 points in three of its previous four games before running into Cleburne’s deliberate attack. Chris Franklin was the Bulldogs’ leading scorer with only seven points. "We wanted to slow them down and what did they get -- 37? Yeah, we slowed them down," said Ethan Anderson, who led Cleburne with 12 points and three blocked shots and helped key a 14-2 third-quarter run. Jared Hance added 11 points, including five during the decisive run.

-- Lori Dann

Mansfield Legacy in Whataburger White Consolation semis

Mansfield Legacy held Birdville to four first half points en route to a 57-26 victory in the Consolation Bracket quarterfinals of the Whataburger White.
The Broncos will face Everman at 8:15 a.m. Saturday in the semifinals after the Bulldogs knocked off Denton Guyer 72-45

Everman in early hole

Early in the second quarter, Highland Park leads Everman 21-6. Everman has had two costly mistakes on special teams, a fumbled long snap and a muffed punt. Those two mishaps have led to Scots scores. Still, Everman had a come-from-behind victory last week against Wichita Falls Rider, overcoming a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter.

-- Drew Davison

Everman defense grows up fast

Much has changed for Everman (13-0) in the past four months. Back in August when coach Dale Keeling looked at his team, he wasn’t sure what to expect, especially with eight new starters on defense. “Honestly, we were worried,” he said. “We knew we had a good offense, but we’ve never been in this position, having an experienced offense but not having very many kids back on defense.” Turns out, his worries were unfounded. The new-look defense has been a big hit, holding opponents to only 12.7 points and 216 yards per game heading into Saturday’s Class 4A Division II regional final against Wichita Falls Rider (12-1). That’s more than enough to supplement an offense averaging 40 points and 451 yards. The Bulldogs are also plus-18 in turnover margin, forcing 30 turnovers while committing only 12.

-- Lori Dann

Everman back eager for regional final

Just 24 hours after Everman (13-0) defeated Hereford to advance to the Class 4A Division II final, Everman running back C.J. Jennings couldn’t stop thinking about this week’s matchup with Wichita Falls Rider (12-1).

“I was sitting in church, already thinking about the game,” Jennings said. “I’m thinking, ‘Man, we’re fixing to play Rider in Texas Stadium.’ Then I wake up at 6 the next morning thinking it’s game time already.’”

The nights haven’t gotten any easier since then for Jennings, who leads the Bulldogs with 1,621 yards rushing and 21 total touchdowns. He grew up watching Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith and dreaming of breaking his records. Now he gets a chance to run on the same field, with a perfect season and a state title hanging in the ballance.

“I don’t sleep too much,” Jennings admitted. “And when I do go to sleep, it’s hard to stay asleep because I wake up thinking about football. I’m ready to play now.”

-- Lori Dann

Speed vs. speed

Team speed has been one of Everman’s biggest assets this season, helping the Bulldogs (13-0) overcome significant inexperience on defense, where they have eight first-year starters. But even coach Dale Keeling envies the speed he sees when watching film of Wichita Falls Rider (12-1), Everman's opponent Saturday night in the Class 4A Division II regional final. “They just have tons of really talented kids who run fast and fly to the ball,” Keeling said. “They’re really, really good. But if you’re playing somebody in Round 4 of the playoffs, they’re supposed to be good.” Rider’s Markelle Martin (6-foot-1, 185) may be the best of the bunch. Martin, the nation’s 12th-ranked safety according to Rivals.com, committed early to Texas A&M but changed his pledge to Oklahoma and is still being recruited hard by other schools including Oklahoma State. Martin has 75 tackles, a team-high nine passes broken up and three interceptions this season while also contributing as a receiver and kick returner.
-- Lori Dann

Everman ignores snow game

Coaches at Everman (12-0) spent all weekend evaluating game film of Hereford (8-4), the Bulldogs' opponent in Saturday's region-round matchup in Canyon. But one film they didn't request was the Whitefaces' 18-13 playoff victory over Canutillo last Saturday. That's because the game was played in the snow, forcing both teams away from their normal offensive attacks. Hereford had only 235 yards of total offense but held Canutillo to 181 yards and seven first downs. "You can't really tell a whole lot about a team from a game like that," Everman coach Dale Keeling said. "They throw the ball a lot, and that's not something they could do Saturday, so it's not an accurate picture of their team." Keeling said he expects to see typical West Texas football. "They run a little power stuff and a little spread stuff," he said. "They're going to show a lot of different looks. They're not like anyone in our district."
— Lori Dann