Midland Christian coach Phil Dawson
Danne’ Braden
It doesn’t get much easier for the Midland Christian football team this week.
For the second straight week an undefeated team comes to Gordon Awtry Field as No. 5 Fort Worth Christian (6-0, 1-0 in TAPPS Division II District 1) takes on the No. 4-ranked Mustangs.
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MCS (4-2, 1-0) is fresh off a 56-14 victory over then undefeated Fort Worth Southwest Christian and the Mustangs will look to hand the Cardinals their first loss.
The Cardinals have been explosive this season as they have averaged around 50 points per game this season and are coming off 59-14 blowout of Trinity Christian.
FWC hasn’t given up many points either, as it has allowed 17.6 points per game and is anchored by a pair of defensive ends with size in 6-foot-5, 268-pound Adam Berns, a Navy commit, and 6-4, 250-pound Tucker Ashford.
“They’re a good team,” MCS coach Phil Dawson said. “They are very well coached, they don’t make many mistakes. Their players, you can tell, know where to be, know what their assignments are and they’re in the right place, at the right time. It’s going to be a test in all three phases and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
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“They’ve got two pass rushers that are both going to play on Saturdays, so obviously protecting the pass is going to be really important. Those two get most of the attention on defense but their whole defense plays fundamentally sound.”
Dawson said the Cardinals are multiple on offense, which will be a change from last week when Southwest Christian relied heavily on the run.
“We have to be fundamentally sound and communicate and be able to handle both the pass and the run,” he said.
“It’s going to be a challenge but it should be a fun night and we know we’re going to have to play well in order to have a chance to win.”
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The Mustangs are looking to build off one of their most complete games of the season. It was especially satisfying for Dawson to see the team’s run game break out with 320 yards, led by Brody Todd’s 171 yards and three TDs, and Caleb Cruz, who added 96 yards and three more rushing TDs to go with a TD pass reception.
“Obviously the other night, being able to run the ball is not something we’ve been very effective at in the games prior to last Friday,” Dawson said. “Being able to run ball offensively will be a big plus for us if we can continue that momentum. We want to be a run-first team on offense and that just opens up everything on the back end.”
Dawson also lauded the play of the defense, which has performed at a high level all season, and was able to slow down a strong Eagles’ offense.
“That was a pretty unique plan last week, taking away a run-heavy team with a good running back,” he said. “It showed me that our coaches know how to put a plan together, our players are open to doing what it required to win an individual game, and we’re able to rep it all week in practice and go out and execute it on Friday night.
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“One of my philosophies is what do you have to do to win this week? And yes, you have core values, and you have things you believe in, but you’ve got to have some versatility to be able to adapt to the challenges you face each and every week. I was really pleased that our defense showed the ability to do something rather unique, like we did last week, rise to the occasion and go out there and execute. That’s a sign of growth to me, that we have the ability to do that.”
The Trinity football team opens TAPPS Six-Man Division I District 1 play at 7 p.m. Friday with a home game against Waco Vanguard.
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The Chargers (1-5) got their first win of the season with a 52-6 blowout at Round Rock Christian Academy over the weekend.
Sophomore Grady Whytlaw had a monster game for the Chargers 333 rushing yards and six total TDs.
Vanguard (5-2, 1-0) dropped a non-district contest last week to Keller Harvest Christian, 52-44, in a game that saw the Vikings score their fewest points in a game this season.
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