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Sunday
March 21, 2010 Since 1922 |
‘Big play’ Mayes eyes rematch with Wildcats
By Dave Rogers
The Baytown Sun Published November 19, 2009 ANAHUAC – Last November, when Anahuac made its first playoff appearance since 2003, the game against Kirbyville boiled down to a match between Anahuac’s speed against Kirbyville’s size and speed.
Kirbyville’s team won that game 43-20 and returns as the Panthers’ Class 2A Division I area round opponent when the two teams meet at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Dayton’s Bronco Stadium.
Panther coach, leading his school to back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time since 1993, says the names have changed but the descriptions of both squads are still apt.
He’s banking on Anahuac’s speed.
“We’ve been a big play team,” he said. “We have the ability to score from anywhere. Whenever our kids touch the ball, they have the opportunity to score.”
Enter senior Braxton Mayes, Mr. Big Play for the Panthers.
The 6-foot-1, 170-pound receiver and defensive back has been in opponents’ end zones 14 times this season for Anahuac.
Even more remarkable, he’s scored 13 times on his 22 pass receptions, averaging 36.1 per reception.
“Braxton’s every bit of a 4.5 guy,” Barbay says. “He was on our sprint relay team that went to state.”
Indeed. The District 23-2A 200-meter champ, Mayes and his teammates brought back silver medals from Austin for a second-place finish in June’s Class 2A state meet.
“I don’t get that many passes,” he said, “but when I do touch it, it’s basically a touchdown.
“Once I get by the defender, I just run. And I haven’t been caught yet from behind.”
Occasionally, other teams kick the ball to Mayes. He has five punt returns this year for a 24.8-yard average, with one touchdown there, too. He has carried the ball just once, but gained 16 yards.
And he remembers last year’s playoff game against Kirbyville, which was then unbeaten and ranked No. 2 in the state. The Wildcats, 9-2 this season, lost in the state championship game to Muleshoe last season.
“We couldn’t score on offense and our defense couldn’t stop the run,” Mayes recalled.
Field position was perhaps the most important factor in last year’s game. Kirbyville started its first nine possessions of the game in Panther territory.
But the Wildcats graduated their quarterback, all-state receiver and top running back from that team and lost two of their first three games to Jasper and West Orange-Stark.
Not that the cupboard is bare for Wildcat coach Jack Alvarez. Running back LeFrederick Ford is averaging 11.6 yards per carry, with 27 touchdowns and 1,853 yards to his credit.
Overall, the Wildcats are averaging 39 points and 422 yards per game, 339 of those yards on the ground.
“Last year, they were bigger up front, but I think they run the ball better,” Barbay, the Anahuac coach, said. “I think they’re probably a little better on defense.”
Anahuac, too, has changed a bit since last year, even though Mayes, a third-year varsity player, and many of his teammates return from the 2008 game.
“I think we’re more athletically, defensively,” Barbay said. “And while we had a more dominant running back last year (Deior McNeil), we’re throwing the ball more for a higher percentage.”
While Anahuac quarterback Cody Johnson has passed for 18 touchdowns against only four interceptions, Panther running back Dewan Childress has rushed for 1,249 yards and 11 scores.
For the season, the Panthers are averaging 36 points and 355 total yards per game, with 250 yards per game rushing.
“We’ve gained a lot of experience since last year,” Mayes said. “We know what it’s like to be in the playoffs, the difference in game speed and atmosphere.
“We’ll be ready.”
The Baytown Sun Published November 19, 2009 ANAHUAC – Last November, when Anahuac made its first playoff appearance since 2003, the game against Kirbyville boiled down to a match between Anahuac’s speed against Kirbyville’s size and speed.
Kirbyville’s team won that game 43-20 and returns as the Panthers’ Class 2A Division I area round opponent when the two teams meet at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Dayton’s Bronco Stadium.
Panther coach, leading his school to back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time since 1993, says the names have changed but the descriptions of both squads are still apt.
He’s banking on Anahuac’s speed.
“We’ve been a big play team,” he said. “We have the ability to score from anywhere. Whenever our kids touch the ball, they have the opportunity to score.”
Enter senior Braxton Mayes, Mr. Big Play for the Panthers.
The 6-foot-1, 170-pound receiver and defensive back has been in opponents’ end zones 14 times this season for Anahuac.
Even more remarkable, he’s scored 13 times on his 22 pass receptions, averaging 36.1 per reception.
“Braxton’s every bit of a 4.5 guy,” Barbay says. “He was on our sprint relay team that went to state.”
Indeed. The District 23-2A 200-meter champ, Mayes and his teammates brought back silver medals from Austin for a second-place finish in June’s Class 2A state meet.
“I don’t get that many passes,” he said, “but when I do touch it, it’s basically a touchdown.
“Once I get by the defender, I just run. And I haven’t been caught yet from behind.”
Occasionally, other teams kick the ball to Mayes. He has five punt returns this year for a 24.8-yard average, with one touchdown there, too. He has carried the ball just once, but gained 16 yards.
And he remembers last year’s playoff game against Kirbyville, which was then unbeaten and ranked No. 2 in the state. The Wildcats, 9-2 this season, lost in the state championship game to Muleshoe last season.
“We couldn’t score on offense and our defense couldn’t stop the run,” Mayes recalled.
Field position was perhaps the most important factor in last year’s game. Kirbyville started its first nine possessions of the game in Panther territory.
But the Wildcats graduated their quarterback, all-state receiver and top running back from that team and lost two of their first three games to Jasper and West Orange-Stark.
Not that the cupboard is bare for Wildcat coach Jack Alvarez. Running back LeFrederick Ford is averaging 11.6 yards per carry, with 27 touchdowns and 1,853 yards to his credit.
Overall, the Wildcats are averaging 39 points and 422 yards per game, 339 of those yards on the ground.
“Last year, they were bigger up front, but I think they run the ball better,” Barbay, the Anahuac coach, said. “I think they’re probably a little better on defense.”
Anahuac, too, has changed a bit since last year, even though Mayes, a third-year varsity player, and many of his teammates return from the 2008 game.
“I think we’re more athletically, defensively,” Barbay said. “And while we had a more dominant running back last year (Deior McNeil), we’re throwing the ball more for a higher percentage.”
While Anahuac quarterback Cody Johnson has passed for 18 touchdowns against only four interceptions, Panther running back Dewan Childress has rushed for 1,249 yards and 11 scores.
For the season, the Panthers are averaging 36 points and 355 total yards per game, with 250 yards per game rushing.
“We’ve gained a lot of experience since last year,” Mayes said. “We know what it’s like to be in the playoffs, the difference in game speed and atmosphere.
“We’ll be ready.”