This Week In Football

A Fan’s Guide To Upcoming MISD Gridiron Games

Here’s the question inquiring minds want to know:

What in the world happened on Aug. 24 at Sherman?

That was the night – or nightmare – when McKinney North’s football team, fresh off a 2006 playoff run, came away from a preseason scrimmage at Sherman High School with a 49-0 loss.

North, you might remember, had quite a few kids making their varsity debuts that night. And afterward, coach Shawn Pratt told McKinneyNews.net, “Anybody that has played football will tell you that in their first varsity football game, it’s all a blur. We’ll adjust to it.”

We now fast-forward to October. Halloween is barely more than three weeks away and Pratt’s Bulldogs are where we’ve become accustomed to seeing them – atop the District 9-4A standings with a  4-0 overall record and 1-0 mark in the district following last week’s 38-31 victory over The Colony.

They take that perfect mark to Ron Poe Stadium on Friday night for their annual showdown against McKinney High.

And they’ve also proved what many NFL stars have been saying about preseason football games for years.

They’re just exhibitions.

Varsity Schedule

Click to enlarge
© 2010 McKinneyNews.net
Credit: Elise Anderson
Staff Photographer

McKinney Boyd (3-1, 1-0) vs. Frisco Centennial (0-4, 0-1)
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday
Where: Ron Poe Stadium
Boyd notes: Boyd must move on without senior running back Nate Hill, who suffered a season-ending ankle fracture early in the Broncos’ 34-13 win over McKinney High last Friday…Expect senior AJ Jones to join underclassmen Joseph Robinson, Montarius Pittman and Zach Jones in receiving most of the carries from the position…AJ Jones ran for a career-high 126 yards against Frisco Centennial last season…Boyd’s offensive line played its best half of football all season in the final two quarters against MHS. In those 24 minutes, even though Hill was already injured, Boyd ran for 181 yards and gained 12 first downs…Sophomore quarterback Daryn Alves leads the team with 654 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
Centennial notes: Titans quarterback Ryan Mossakowski led Centennial to a 47-14 victory over Boyd as a sophomore last season by passing for 372 yards to nine different receivers. He completed 31-of-48 attempts that night…The Titans have struggled defensively this season. They lost their District 9-4A opener, 35-17, at home against Lake Dallas last Thursday. In pre-district games, they lost 43-13 at Forney, 27-22 to Sachse, and 49-29 at West Mesquite…Mossakowski has struggled this season. He’s passed for 992 yards, but he has six passing TDs compared to nine interceptions. He’s also Centennial’s leading rusher with only 52 yards to go with five rushing TDs.
Tickets: Available at the Boyd Athletic Office on Tuesday (8 a.m.-noon and 1 p.m.-4) and Wednesday (8 a.m.-2 p.m.). Available at the MISD Athletic Office at Ron Poe Stadium on Tuesday (8-noon, 1-4 p.m.) and Wednesday (8-noon, 1-4) and Thursday (8-noon). Cost is $10 for reserved seating, $6 for adult general admission and $4 for student general admission. Cost at the gate will be $10 for reserved seats and $7 for all general admission tickets.

Click to enlarge
© 2010 McKinneyNews.net
Credit: Elise Anderson
Staff Photographer

McKinney North (4-0, 1-0) vs. McKinney High (2-2, 0-1)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Ron Poe Stadium
North notes: North has won two straight games against MHS, including last year’s 44-7 victory in which Eric Herbel passed for 242 yards and Chase Barrett ran for 177…The Bulldogs will be the designated home team for both of its Crosstown games this season. That includes Friday’s night and an Oct. 19 meeting with McKinney Boyd. The Bulldogs were the road team for both of their Crosstown games in 2006…The Bulldogs’ win at The Colony’s Tommy Briggs Stadium last Friday wasn’t without its frightening moments. North’s defense gave up 18 first downs, 309 rushing yards and 444 total yards, while its offense managed just 283 yards and nine first downs.
MHS notes: The Lions have to get emotionally back on their feet for another rivalry game after losing, 34-13, to McKinney Boyd last Friday night…MHS led 13-12 at halftime against Boyd, but managed no points, one first down and minus-nine total yards in the final two quarters…Matt Lipka led MHS last week with 81 receiving yards on five catches…Despite the loss, sophomore quarterback Zach Lee still completed more than 50 percent of his passes. He was 11-of-20 with a touchdown toss to Lipka and 107 yards. The game before against Richardson, he was 18-of-20 for 316 yards.
Tickets: Available beginning Wednesday at the MISD athletic department office at Ron Poe Stadium. On sale Wednesday (9 a.m.-6 p.m.), Thursday (9-6) and Friday (8 a.m.-noon). Cost is $10 for reserved seating, $6 for adult general admission and $4 for student general admission. General admission tickets available at North and MHS athletic offices on Wednesday (8-noon, 1-4) and Thursday (8-2). Cost at the gate $10 for reserved seats (subject to availability) and $7 for general admission.

SUBVARSITY SCHEDULE
Wednesday
McKinney Boyd JV at Frisco Centennial, 5:30 p.m.
Frisco Centennial at McKinney Boyd Freshman Red, 5:30 p.m.
Frisco Centennial at McKinney Boyd Freshman Navy, 7 p.m.
Thursday
McKinney North JV Blue at McKinney High JV, 5:30 p.m. (at MHS auxiliary field)
McKinney High Freshman Blue at McKinney North Freshman Orange, 5:30 p.m. (at North auxiliary field)
McKinney High Freshman Gold at McKinney North Freshman Blue, 7 p.m. (at North auxiliary field)