Seagraves’ power running game has been virtually unstoppable this season.

Caffey

The Eagles average more than 360 rushing yards per game, and they’ve had their way with just about every opponent this year. The exception was New Deal, which held Seagraves to minus-12 yards on the ground in a 41-0 rout on Sept. 18.

Springlake-Earth (10-1), which faces the Eagles (10-1) at Tiger Stadium in Wolfforth today for a Class 1A Division II Area playoff, hopes to follow the Lions’ lead. The Wolverines’ defense has been nearly as stingy as New Deal’s, having allowed only 7.4 points and 215.5 total yards per game.

“We feel like we have one of better defenses in the area, especially in 1A,” said Springlake-Earth head coach Stan Caffey, whose team is coming off its first playoff victory since 2002. “I think there’s only one school that’s given up less points than us, and that’s New Deal. We’ve played great defense all year long, and we only had one game all year where a team scored three touchdowns on us (a 20-14 loss to Texico, N.M.). Defense has been the key for us.”

The ring leader has been linebacker Devin Johnson. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound junior has 164 tackles this season — 78 more than any other Wolverine — and he has four of Springlake-Earth’s 20 forced fumbles.

Johnson insists he’s not a one-man show, however. Seven other Wolverines have at least 52 tackles this year, and the team has 15 interceptions.

“Our defensive line is really good, and they have good backups,” Johnson said. “Our linebackers are great, and so are our defensive backs. It’s all well-rounded. It’s all good.”

So are Seagraves’ staple of ball carriers. Jirus Davis is the area’s leading 1A rusher with 1,836 yards and 26 touchdowns, and quarterback Jachee Harrell has 924 yards and 14 TDs.

Both seniors rushed for at least 100 yards in last week’s 28-21 win over McCamey — the Eagles’ first postseason victory since 2005 — as did junior Abraham Wieler.

“We know we can run the ball on about any team, except New Deal,” Harrell said. “It’ll be pretty hard for them to stop the bone (formation).”

Harrell, who also starts at cornerback, said Seagraves’ defense is just as confident. The Eagles have allowed only 16.8 points and 204.5 total yards per game, and the yardage figure is second only to New Deal among area 1A teams.

But Caffey said Seagraves hasn’t “faced anybody like us all year.” The Wolverines average about 350 yards and 30 points per game offensively, and they have almost the same number of yards rushing and passing.

Quarterback Blake Betz has thrown for 1,783 yards and 17 touchdowns, and he and running back Anthony Carrasco have a combined 1,502 yards and 15 TDs on the ground. Receivers Tyler Manasco and Isaya Garcia have combined for 907 yards and 12 TDs through the air.

“They have good balance,” Seagraves head coach Armando Minjarez said. “By watching them on film, our best chance is by keeping them off the field and having some drives that will be able to take some time off the clock.”

To comment on this story:
adam.zuvanich@lubbockonline.com 766-8733
courtney.linehan@lubbockonline.com 766-8735