AUBREY CHAPARRALS
Fresh off their upset win over Decatur, the 3-3 Aubrey Chaparrals return home for their fourth district matchup against the 2-4 Ranchview Wolves on Friday.
The Wolves limp into the contest on a four-game losing streak, with their most recent losses coming against Alvarado in Week 6, 38-35, and Lake Dallas in Week 7, 69-27.
“They’re very athletic, and they certainly have some speed and weapons on the offensive side,” said Keith Ivy, Aubrey athletic director and head football coach. “… They can stretch the field, so the big point for us defensively this week is preventing the big play, and that means making sure to keep everything in front of us and making them earn everything.”
Ranchview’s offense is led by top-flight wideout Jamari Williams, who leads the team with 38 catches for 713 yards and 7 touchdowns; quarterback Rushil Allada, who has thrown for over 1,000 yards and 13 total TDs; and running back Austin Brown, with 385 yards rushing and 6 TDs.
“[Williams] is their most dynamic playmaker,” Ivy said. “He catches a lot of vertical pass routes down the field; their quarterback is quick and can throw the ball accurately, and their running back is a bit of a bruiser, so we’re going to be tested.”
Ivy added that winning the turnover battle is a major focal point for the Chaps this week.
“In all three district games that we’ve won, we’ve been in the plus margin on the turnovers, and I think that’s going to be big,” he said.
Linebacker duo Caden Leonard and Lamaj Waters spearhead the Wolves' defense, with Leonard leading the team tackles with 54, followed by Waters, who has 51 tackles and 3 interceptions.
Despite the duo’s high tackle numbers, Ranchview’s defense has allowed over 500 yards and at least 38 points through three weeks of district play.
“Offensively, we want more of the same level of production that we had last week; establish the run game in the first quarter and mix in the play-action pass to get our skill guys on the perimeter,” Ivy said. "It's important that we spread the ball around, making sure that we keep them off balance defensively and take control of the line of scrimmage.”
After back-to-back emotional wins, Ivy said he and his coaching staff are making sure the team is prepared to avoid what could be a trap game for the Chaps.
“I gave them an example from the Texas-Oklahoma game this weekend, … where Texas’ body language wasn’t good, and OU seemed to be much more engaged in the game, and it showed in their play,” he said. “We have a bullseye on our back now. When you’re sitting in first, everybody is trying to be that team that knocks you off, but we can only control ourselves, and as long as we continue to improve, we’ll eventually be playing our best and can accomplish our goal of getting into the postseason.”
The Chaparrals and Wolves will cross claws and fangs at 7 p.m. Friday at Chaparral Memorial Stadium in Aubrey.
