District 26-5A is known for it’s great football, it’s also know for it’s great Volleyball, Baseball, Cross Country, Swimming and Track. Reagan High School has excelled in almost every sport since it opened six years ago except Football. This year may be the year the Rattlers break into the Football playoff scene. Reagan got off to a slow start this year dropping games to O’Connor, Churchill and MacArthur but last week they showed signs of greatness coming from behind against a tough Roosevelt team and recording their first district Victory. How important is this game for the Mavs? A Loss brings them to a tie with Reagan in the district race, a win and the Mavs are in the drivers seat for a playoff spot with 3 wins in 26-5A.
Rattlers Offence: Reagan runs the spread offence but has not had much success this year with putting points on the board. The offence has only scored 4 rushing TDs in 5 games this year and only 3 passing TDs. In comparison the Mavs have rushed for 17 TDs and has added 2 TDs through the air. Reagan has not scored over 24 points in one game all year, and 3 times they have been held under 14 points. With that said this team is very dangerous as noted last week against Roosevelt. Marcos Wright is the featured back for Reagan and he is 5th in District 26-5A with just over 500 yards on the ground this season. Wright was an all-district selection last year as a Soph. and started his first game last year vs Madison. Reagan will run the trap and sweep to try and get Wright into some space. Reagan will throw the ball but usually only the high percentage passes as they don’t posses a deep threat. Reagan will throw the ball to their starting wide out Travis Tatsch most of the time. He has nice size and some great hands. If there is one area where Reagan has struggled is at the QB position. Matt Smith started the year under center but has lost the job and is back at WR where he was a standout last year. Reagan has had a QB by committee lately with Soph. Derrick Walls and Jr. Josh York getting the most snaps. Neither one has found a good rhythm with the receivers; Walls is a converted DB and has some speed. The Rattlers do not want to get into a shoot-out with anyone as they don’t have not shown to have the offence to score 35-40 points in a contest, but last weeks second half against Roosevelt might just be the spark the Rattlers need to jump start this unit.
Rattlers Defense: Coming into this year most people figured this would be one of the best units in the city with 7 starters returning from last years team. But with the Offence not being able to sustain drives this unit has been pushed all year by time of possession. The defense backs are some of the best in the area and have picked off 5 passes on the year. They also have a nice set of Line backers and last week the defense scored a Touchdown of their own. Reagan traditionally is very aggressive and opportunistic on defense and they are usually hard hitters. The Rattler defense has not allowed over 190 yards rushing in one game all year so the Mavericks with their rushing attack will be tested. The Defense should be well motivated as they got a breath of new life last week in beating Roosevelt in come-from-behind fashion.
Rattlers Special Teams: The Mavs learned last week what a great place kicker can do in this district and they will get to see another great kicker again this week. Grant Edlund plays in the aggressive defense back field and kicks off and punts. He also is having a stellar year kicking FGs and is amazingly the team leader in points scored with 25. His 47 yard FG against Georgetown in Week 1 is the longest in 26-5A this year. He has converted on 6 FG in 5 games and is perfect in PATs. You have to figure this is one of the Rattlers best weapons and if Reagan drives inside the 30 yard line they are more than likely going to at least get 3 points. Edlund also holds down the punting duties where he is equally impressive. He averages just over 40 yards a punt and has shown the ability to pin teams inside the 10 by kicking to the coffin corner. Edlunds kick offs rarely get returned as he has enough leg to get the ball out of the back of the end zone. Kick returns and punt returns are above average.
Rangers Coaching and Extras: Head Coach David Wetzel is a young aggressive head coach. He likes the high percentage passes and running Traps and sweeps. He will try to open it up a bit but still is considered conservative with his play calling. Reagan is in a situation they are familiar with as again they have backed themselves into a corner but after winning last week they find themselves facing the Mavs with a chance to move up quickly. A loss will mean 3 losses in a 9 team district with Smithson Valley and Judson still on the schedule. A Win and they pull into a tie with Madison and hold the tie breaker over the Mavs. Seeing the importance of this game will be motivation enough for this team.
Players to Watch –
#8 – Grant Edlund DB/K
#11 – Travis Tatsch WR
#21 – Marcos Wright RB
#34 – Steven Little LB
#43 – Ben Stonestreet LB
#72 – Adam Arthur DL
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