Does Central Stand a Chance Against #10 Martin?

SAN ANGELO, TX — The argument for why the Arlington Martin Warriors are ranked #10 in 6A class is clear cut and hard to refute.  They are 9-1, 4-6A district champs, and have beaten five teams with at least seven wins.  They are the only reason why #11 Lake Travis and #25 Lamar have a blemish on their otherwise spotless records.  

Against those teams with seven wins, Lake Travis, Hebron, Lamar, Arlington, and Bowie, Martin outscored them 172-58.  The tightest margin of victory was 21-3 against Arlington in mid-October. 

Martin's only loss came in their week three game against current #24 Rockwall on the Yellowjackets home turf.  They were narrowly beaten by seven points in a fast paced, high scoring 45-38 barn-burner. 

Central needs to try to replicate Rockwall's success, and they have the personnel and scheme to do it.

Against Martin, Rockwall QB Braedyn Locke completed just over 50% of his 31 passes for 341 yards and 6 touchdowns to 2 interceptions.  They did not just air it out, though, and utilized a balanced spread attack with 46 rushing attempts.  5'9" 170 pound senior running back Khalil Catlett led the way with 34 carries and 176 yards.  In the passing game, Ohio State committ Jaxon Smith-Njigba reeled in 11 catches for 201 yards and four touchdowns. 

Central has the pieces to duplicate those performances.  Malachi Brown threw for 375 yards and four TD's in Central's must win game against Haltom last week and can certainly do it again.  Central does not have a running back like Catlett to take all the carries, but they do have Brown, Kris Jackson, and Ashton Hartsfield to split them.  The three combined for 145 yards last week, despite Brown's first carries coming in the second half when the Bobcats needed to step on the gas.

In the air, Central has plenty of viable options in Christian Gabaldon, Joseph Gathecha, and rising star Jalen Leifeste, but their biggest game changer is senior Tanner Dabbert.  Against Haltom, he had seven catches for 210 yards and 4 touchdowns.  He took over in the passing game and gained by most of his yards after the catch.  Two of his touchdowns came on screens of 60 and thirty yards, and he too a short slant 65 yards for another.

Dabbert does not have the offers and hype that Smith-Njigba does, but he has just as big an impact.  He will be the primary focus for Martin's defense, but defenses have tried to take him out of games before and failed. 

Friday nights game will be a good one, and Central has a real chance to pull off the upset.  They just have to put all the lessons they learned in the regular season and put together a complete game. 

Kickoff is set for 7:00 in Arlington's Maverick Stadium.  The winner will play either Permian or Franklin in the area round last week.