Eustace takes on Farmersville in Mesquite Friday nite

By ART LAWLER

EUSTACE — It’s not quite the season Coach Doug Wendel had perceived when welcoming back a senior class of Bulldogs this season.

Then again, from the get-go, the goal was to make the playoffs.

That, the Dogs did, even though they lost their final two games 94-28 combined to district leaders Wills Point and Van.

Friday night’s 40-7 loss, gives the Dogs the No. 3 playoff spot in District 14-3A.

They’ll meet Farmersville Friday at Hanby Stadium in Mesquite.

Kickoff time is 7:30 p.m. Since it’s our only lake-area game, it goes without saying this is the Pilot Game of the Week.

“I think we have an excellent chance to win,” said Coach Doug Wendel.

He’s not just blowing smoke, either.

 His team has been hampered by injuries in all but three games this season.

Those were the three district games the Dogs won to open district with a 3-0 mark.

With a healthy Chris Compton at quarterback, and a healthier Trevan Johnson at running back, and a swift JoJo Bradburn at the other back, and a very quick fullback in Justin Calhoun, this is a backfield combination capable of scoring on any play from anywhere on the field.

But Johnson missed both games against the league’s top two teams. Only when this group is intact, can fans see the true strength of this team.

Farmersville won its district, but the Farmers don’t play in quite as tough a league as does Eustace.

“I think we’ve got a little advantage on them in speed,” says Wendel.

He compares Farmersville with Kemp, the team that came within a missed- extra point of beating the Dogs.

But that’s also the game where injuries again began to cripple this team.

Johnson missed the entire second half with a knee injury and is just now getting back.

No one will know until kickoff, if the knee will let him use his 4.38 speed in the 40-yard dash.

If he can go, and go fast, the Dogs backfield, should get cranked up again, the way it was against Canton and Mineola, and for a half against Kemp.

With speeds on each end, the Farmers will have to make a decision. If you the take away the quarterback and the ends, Calhoun could have a big, big night.

If they don’t, either running back could explode. If they take the corner, No. 5, CC Compton could run them silly.

All of this, of course, assumes the Dogs’ offensive line will be able to do its job, and that may be a tough assignment.

“It’s real important for Chris to have a great game if we’re going to have a chance,” Wendel said.

Nothing new there. The Dog go as CC goes. He executes all the good stuff that happens with his speed reading of the opponent’s defense.

The usual things are again vital. You know, turnovers, missed blocks, mental errors.

The Dogs have to put it all together to win this one, but it is within their reach, Wendel believes.

“They’re not Van or Wills Points,” Wendel said. “They’re more our size. Like us, most of their kids play both ways.”

Farmersville comes out in the wishbone a lot, forcing opponents to play assignment football, but then drops back into a spread formation.

Not to pass from it but to run from it.

“It should be a short game,” Wendel said. “Both teams want to run.

He said he removed Compton from the game at halftime against Van because he didn’t want to risk injury to the cog of his team.

“They are great on their defensive front. It was obvious we weren’t going to move the ball on them,and we were down 21 points.

“I didn’t see us being able to come back on them under those circumstances.”

Tory Parsons lit up the Eustace defense with 173 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown. He also caught two passes, one for a TD and had a 64-yard punt return for another score.

The Dogs had just one first down and 23 yards in the second half.

Next year, it appears the Dogs may be dropping to Class 2A, which would be much more in line with their enrollment than 3A.

Until then, they’re in the playoffs, and they’re conceding nothing to the District 13-3A Farmers Friday night.

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