For a Thursday night game, it doesn’t get much bigger. A critical game
in District 4-4A will be played tonight at Memorial Stadium in Wichita
Falls. It’s almost a playoff for a playoff spot. For Little Elm, who came
from behind to win here last year 24-21, it’s a chance for them to
strengthen their playoff position. For Wichita Falls, it’s a chance to exact
some revenge and build on the momentum coming off the Denton game two weeks
ago. The Coyotes, who are coming off their bye week, hope the extra time off
has given their players a chance to get healthy for the stretch run.
“The team that makes the least amount of mistakes is going to win the
game-period,” WFHS head coach Jayson Lavender said. “Our team is coming
together.This is a huge game for us. We have to win the game Thursday night.
These are exciting times. The next four weeks will decide if we can make the
playoffs, and we’re looking forward to the journey.”
The Coyotes will be led tonight be their quarterback, Dylan Sheffield.
He enters tonight’s contest with 1,476 yards passing with 15 touchdowns. His
favorite target, Bubba Mathis, has 43 catches for 600 yards and 5
touchdowns.
For Little Elm, it starts and ends with their big weapon, spohomore
quarterback Devonte Pullum. He enters the game as a true double threat, with
558 passing yards and 456 rushing yards. The Coyote defensive task will be
to keep Pullum off the field, and if their last time out is any indicator,
it can be done. The Coyotes had drives of 10, 11, and 13 plays, making some
people recall the days when the Coyotes were an option team, and controlled
the ground and the clock.
The Coyotes know that their playoff future is at stake in this game.
Their next opponents on their schedule are the toughest part of their
schedule, so wins will be hard to come by. With the way this district has
played itself out so far this season, another one possession game wouldn’t
be a shock. In cases like that, it’s always good to go with the home team.
I’ll take the Coyotes to defend the Memorial Stadium turf tonight, and move
to 2-1 in the district.