ORANGEFIELD — After a bye week and then a major District 12-4A Division II victory over the Hamshire-Fannett Longhorns last week, the Orangefield Bobcats turn their focus towards a big showdown on the road in Sour Lake against the Hardin-Jefferson Hawks.

The Bobcats (4-4, 1-1) basically sealed a playoff berth in a 27-16 win over Hamshire-Fannett last week while the Hawks (6-2, 1-1) shook things up in the district race with a 17-14 victory on to road against previously undefeated Liberty.

Orangefield literally grounded out the Longhorns last week with a strong performance from the big boys up front with backs Wesley Frillou and Christopher McGee taking full advantage of it.

McGee rushed for 100 yards on 17 carries and leads the Bobcat ground game for the season with 685 yards and seven touchdowns on 88 carries.

Frillou tortured the Longhorns for 177 yards on 18 carries and now has 441 yards and five scores on 55 carries.

The Bobcats will check into the contest averaging 287 yards a game and will face a stout H-J defense that has allowed just 218.8 yards a contest.

Orangefield also has extra zip in the backfield with back Christian Louvier (45-278-5) and quarterback Caleb Kress (66-259-6).

The Hawks have went back to their Slot-T formation on offense as they have a host of backs as well.

Mason Murray leads H-J’s ground game with 425 yards and a TD on 53 carries for an offense that is averaging 258 yards a game.

Cole Priddy has 408 yards and six TDs on six carries followed by Kelechi Mauchuku (27-256-4) and Talon Tilley (57-206-8).

The Hawks will tangle with a Bobcat defense that is allowing 253.5 yards a contest.

The series dates back to 1939 with H-J holding a slim 21-20 advantage. The Bobcats came away with a 24-23 victory last year.

The Bobcats will finish the regular season up next week when they host top-ranked West Orange-Stark.

 

Series history

1939: H-J 12, OF 0

1958: OF 20, H-J 12

1959: OF 28, H-J 8

1960: H-J 46, OF 18

1968: H-J 13, OF 7

1969: H-J 12, OF 0

1970: H-J 19, OF 7

1971: H-J 40, OF 0

1976: OF 16, H-J 12

1977: OF 27, H-J 14

1978: OF 13, H-J 6

1979: OF 14, H-J 12

1980: OF 13, H-J 0

1981: OF 7, H-J 0

1982: H-J 20, OF 15

1983: H-J 24, OF 13

1984: H-J 16, OF 6

1985: H-J 28, OF 21

1986: OF 7, H-J 6

1987: OF 22, H-J 6

1988: H-J 20, OF 10

1989: OF 37, H-J 34

1990: H-J 32, OF 0

1991: H-J 13, OF 10

1992: H-J 40, OF 7

1993: OF 28, H-J 22

2000: H-J 27, OF 7

2002: OF 23, H-J 6

2003: H-J 37, OF 33

2004: H-J 46, OF 8

2005: OF 26, H-J 13

2006: OF 45, H-J 32

2007: OF 42, H-J 13

2008: H-J 23, OF 13

2009: H-J 28, OF 21

2010: OF 55, H-J 13

2011: OF 34, H-J 7

2012: OF 19, H-J 14

2013: H-J 35, OF 30

2014: H-J 35, OF 28

2015: OF 24, H-J 23