Submitted by admin on Fri, 2005-10-07 02:00. ::
SACHSE - Receiver Brad Patterson still isn't quite sure which Rowlett defensive back rang his bell. Patterson just knows he wasn't happy with Sachse quarterback Josh Phillips.
That was during a 28-0 loss last season, when Phillips concedes he often forced passes into tight spots in an attempt to make spectacular plays. A lot has changed since then.
For starters, Sachse isn't an easy win for the rest of District 11-5A. Sachse (5-0, 1-0) sent that message with a 26-23 win over North Garland, a playoff team last season, in the district opener two weeks ago.
Sachse is shooting for a playoff berth in its second varsity season. An upset of Rowlett (5-1, 1-0), No. 14 in SportsDay's Class 5A area rankings, tonight at Homer B. Johnson Stadium would go a long way toward making that goal a reality.
Phillips, a 6-0, 200-pound senior, is the poster boy for Sachse's turnaround. He ranks fifth among area quarterbacks with 1,186 passing yards and has thrown for 15 touchdowns without an interception. He had 1,071 yards, four touchdown passes and 12 interceptions last season, when Sachse finished with a 3-7 record and didn't win a district game.
"I thought last year I had to do everything on my own almost, so I'd ad-lib a lot," Phillips said. "This year, I'm sticking to the game plan and spreading the wealth."
It didn't help that Phillips was constantly under pressure. He was playing behind an undersized, inexperienced offensive line and on a team that was constantly in comeback mode late in games.
Sachse's offensive linemen are bigger, stronger and smarter now. Phillips no longer is thinking about scrambling as soon as he finishes a five-step drop.
"I'm not trying to put all the weight on my shoulders," said Phillips, who has learned that he doesn't have to try to win the game on every snap. "Everyone's better around me now."
The smiles come easily at McKinney North's practices these days. Coach Shawn Pratt said that is the biggest difference from last season, when the team went 2-8.
The pain of losing paled in comparison with the heartbreak. Matt Self and Austin York, who would have been senior starters last season, were killed in a quadruple murder March 12, 2004. The other victims were Mark and Rosa Barbosa, the older brother and aunt of Lynard Barbosa, the team's starting quarterback in 2003 and 2004.
Pratt's priority during spring practice was to inject enthusiasm back into the program. He made subtle changes, such as encouraging players to hoot and holler during stretching.
Irving MacArthur coach David Beaty jokes about the hair he's lost this season. That's because MacArthur (5-0), the area's No. 6 5A team, has won its last four games by a touchdown or less.
MacArthur remains undefeated after being outgained by 151 yards at Allen, spotting Garland Lakeview 20 points, getting a fourth-down sack to secure the win over Hurst L.D. Bell and returning a blocked field goal for the winning score against Coppell.
Lake Highlands' offense has been productive, averaging 27.4 points. Imagine the possibilities if two big-play threats had not transferred during the off-season.
Evan Fentriss has 14 catches for 303 yards and five touchdowns for Southlake Carroll. Andre Agers has 671 yards and seven scores on 129 carries for Bishop Lynch.
I just randomly pick some good cornerbacks or defensive players. And the games I know I'm going to end up playing receiver or quarterback, I'll put some players from those positions in there, too.
Southlake Carroll receiver Clint Renfro is past due for a breakout game. He has nine catches for 109 yards and a touchdown after leading area 5A receivers in yards (1,454) and touchdowns (23) last season. He had eight catches for 237 yards and three touchdowns last season against Haltom, tonight's opponent.
Carrollton Creekview will take another step toward the Carrollton ISD's first playoff berth since 2001 with a win over Jesuit. Gary Childress' Veer offense, led by running back U.J. Okafor, will give a Jesuit squad that struggles to tackle serious problems.
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