10 Observations from Malakoff’s 63-35 win over Pottsboro

(Interview with Coach Jamie Driskell above.)

By Michael V. Hannigan/HCN

MESQUITE — The Malakoff offense was red hot Friday night as the Tigers burned Pottsboro 63-35 Friday night at Mesquite E.H. Hanby Stadium in bi-district action.

Malakoff got going early, scoring 21 points in the first quarter and never trailed in the game. Pottsboro never got closer than 14.

The Tigers improved their record to 8-2 on the year and will face 11-0 Jefferson next week in the Area round (details below).

Here are my 10 Observations from the big bi-district win.

— The play of the game was actually THREE plays of the game. Wide receiver Andreas Garrett scored three times on a screen that just devastated Pottsboro. He also picked up 35 yards on two carries.

After the game, Coach Jamie Driskell said the play was a bit of an adjustment. “The one we run a lot is called Jailbreak,” Driskell said. “We knew they would have something for that, so we changed the blocking up a little bit and called it Tiger Screen. We’ve run it before, but it takes certain coverages to be able to run that.”

Kudos to the coaching staff and the players for Tiger Screen because they gained 178 yards and scored three touchdowns with it.

— While the wide receivers were working outside the numbers, quarterback Darion Peace found Parker Busch in the middle of the field or down the seam several times in big situations. The pair connected four times for 77 yards and a touchdown. The big crowd pleaser, however, was when Busch hurdled a Pottsboro defender in the first half.

— Another big key to the Tigers win was the work of running back Keevie Rose. Rose had 150 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries. He was particularly tough on the first drive of the second half when Malakoff moved 69 yards in five plays, all Rose runs.

— While the defense had some troubles with the Pottsboro aerial attack, the Tigers also came up with a pair of turnovers. Caleb Adams ended Pottsboro’s first drive with an interception and 77-yard return for a touchdown. In the second half, Dylan Stearman made a diving interception for the Tigers.

— Also give the Tiger defensive line credit. They generated pressure on Pottsboro quarterback Dylan Kulbeth most of the night and it was a good thing, too. When Kulbeth had time he was able to connect deep with his wide receivers. Kulbeth was impressive, hitting on touchdown throws of 16, 70, 29, 24, and 44 yards.

— Hidden plays are important. They are those plays that don’t show up on the stat sheet, but can swing games. So let’s give credit to the Tigers special teams, particularly the kickoff return team. Pottsboro tried three onside kicks and the Tigers recovered all three. Tanner Scholfield got the first one for the Tigers and Alex Huckabee got the other two. Great job, guys.

— I also need to recognize kicker Hector Romero, who not only converted all nine extra point attempts, but controlled field position with his kickoffs. He not only perfectly executed the high, short kickoff that has become popular, he also kicked the ball through the end zone multiple times when called on to do that.

— Scoring plays for Malakoff were as follows:

• 1Q – 5:59 – 77-yard interception return by Caleb Adams
• 1Q – 3:04 – 2-yard run by Keevie Rose
• 1Q – :20 – 39-yard pass from Darion Peace to Andreas Garrett
• 2Q – 8:29 – 12-yard run by Keevie Rose
• 2Q – 5:04 – 39-yard pass from Darion Peace to Andreas Garrett
• 3Q – 9:50 – 1-yard run by Keevie Rose
• 3Q – 1:21 – 70-yard pass from Darion Peace to Andreas Garrett
• 4Q – 9:50 – 31-yard pass from Darion Peace to Parker Busch
• 4Q – 1:20 – 1-yard run by Dedric Davis

— Next up for the Tigers is Jefferson (11-0). Malakoff will take on the Bulldogs 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, in Mineola.

— Random reminder that Coach Jamie Driskell has four-times more wins than any other coach in Malakoff history, has been to the playoffs every year he has been head coach, and the Tigers were 1-19 in the two years before he showed up. He’s pretty good.