Published: November 04, 2009 09:23 pm      

Rice looks to spoil Mildred’s magical run

Rice coach David Currey hasn’t had to say much to get his team fired up to play Mildred in Friday’s regular season finale at Bulldog Stadium.

First, there’s Rice’s 0-7 record against Mildred since the school re-opened. There’s the fact that red-hot Mildred, winners of four straight games, could miss the playoffs if the Eagles lose to the Bulldogs on Friday night.

So you better believe Rice is looking to be a spoiler Friday night.

“That’s what I’ve been telling them all week,” Currey said. “Everybody kind of caters to Mildred. Every time you pick up the paper, it’s something about Mildred. We’re the stepchild.

If we spoil Mildred’s party, it would be something big for our kids.”

So how is Rice, which is 1-8 on the season and 0-5 in district going to pull this off?

Well, Currey is reminding his players that they were tied with Blooming Grove, 7-7, at halftime two weeks ago. And that the Bulldogs trailed Edgewood, 13-11, right before halftime.

“We’ve done some good things,” Currey said.

Rice hasn’t been able to do it for 48 minutes. Mildred has. Just in the last two games, Rice had 10 turnovers. It really killed the Bulldogs in last week’s 46-0 loss to Kerens as two turnovers early helped the Bobcats take a 21-0 lead.

“I’d be willing to bet the team that wins the turnover battle wins 90 to 95 percent of the games,” Mildred coach Patrick Harvell said.

The Eagles (5-4, 4-1) have been playing near flawless football with only three turnovers in five district games. Mildred has a plus-17 turnover ratio the last six games.

“They’re good, don’t get me wrong,” Currey said. “They deserve it. Coach Harvell has done a great job with their kids.”

Mildred could get quarterback/free safety Daniel Folsom back from a shoulder injury Friday night, which would only bolster the Eagles on offense and defense.

“Folsom is wait and see,” Harvell said.

Whether or not Folsom plays, it appears to be a tall order for Rice to win Friday. But Currey said Wednesday there’s a way to any upset.

“We just have to play well,” Currey said “Our kids have to play well. Hold on to the football.

“If we win, they could be not playing next week. You never know. That’s why you play Friday night football.”

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Mildred at Rice

7:30 p.m. Friday

AT Bulldog Stadium

RECORDS: Class 2A Mildred is 5-4, 4-1 in District 14-2A. Class 2A Rice is 1-8, 0-5.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Mildred: WR/DE Corbin Russell, WR/DE Jesse Folsom, L Nick Barlow, WR/DE Dillon Runion. Rice: RB/DB Michael Bustamante, RB/DB Jabarrin Davis, OL/DB Matt Williams, WR/DB Dalton Pike.



OFFENSE

Eagles RB Payton Weaver has a TD run in four straight games, and QB Nic Shimonek has a TD pass in three straight. Rice rushing leader Austin Anderson (123-514, 2 TDs) is out, and RB Blake Lewis has missed the last three games.

EDGE: Mildred



DEFENSE

Mildred’s defense has helped the Eagles to a plus-17 turnover ratio in the last six games. Rice’s Shaquille Fields has given his team a lift on defense. He had 12 tackles, including 9 unassisted, last week and leads the team with 85.

EDGE: Mildred



INTANGIBLES

The two teams have met seven times, and Mildred has won all of them. Mildred will claim a share of the 14-2A title with a win. Rice’s seniors will play at home for the final time, and get the chance to play the role of spoiler, something they will relish.

EDGE: Rice



OVERALL EDGE: Mildred

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