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For some reason the Birdville Hawks have received no love from the state polls this season despite a pile of evidence that suggests they are one of the top teams around. Of course coach Jim Skinner said he could care less about polls.
"I don't know how they judge that stuff, we don't even discuss that stuff," Skinner said. "We just try and win every ballgame and try and go 10-0, which is something we've never done before. We've been 9-1 about four or five times but never 10-0."
Not only are the Hawks perfect at 6-0 and 4-0 in District 6-4A, but they are routing opponents by almost 40 points a game with Saginaw Boswell putting up the best fight -- a 38-17 scare.
The Hawks didn't trail an opponent until the fourth game of the season when Fort Worth Dunbar jumped out to a 10-0 lead before Birdville rattled off 35 unanswered points in a 42-17 thrashing.
Tonight, with four weeks left in the regular season, Birdville can clinch a playoff spot by beating Fort Worth Eastern Hills (2-3, 2-1).
"I just think it's a compliment to my coaches and the kids that we're taking it one game at a time and we are taking it very seriously," Skinner said. "Fortunately, so far we have won them all."
While it takes a total team effort to defeat six consecutive opponents by an average score of 51-12, quarterback Justin Martin has led the way.
The senior has thrown for 1,440 yards, completed 70 percent of his passes, and added another 187 yards and five scores on the ground. Most impressively, he's passed for 19 touchdowns with just one interception.
"It's an amazing stat and the one interception he threw, he was trying to throw it away and just didn't get it out there wide enough," Skinner said. "He's a smart kid and so far he's made really good decisions."
Young Dragons D
Southlake Carroll coach Hal Wasson said his biggest concern heading into the season was a lack of experience on defense.
The Dragons (4-1, 2-0 in District 4-5A) replaced nine starters on that side of the ball from last year's undefeated Class 5A Division I state championship team.
Since "getting their nose bloodied," against Allen in the season opener, the young defense has allowed a total of 10 points in wins over Midland, Temple, Keller Central and Keller Timber Creek.
"I think it always starts up the middle and you have to be strong there to have a good defense," Wasson said. "They have been getting better every week, but no matter how you slice it we have a lot of room for improvement."
Wasson said that returning starters Nash Dickey at defensive tackle and Tanner Jacobson at safety have buoyed the defense while inside linebackers Steven Bergmark and Jackson Mitchell along with safety Aaron Hoagland have continued to get better.
Get to know
Kennedale running back Juwan Washington has rushed for 987 yards and 11 touchdowns through five games. The sophomore first-year starter is averaging 8.7 yards per carry in the Wildcats' ground and pound scheme.
Washington rushed for 216 yards and a score in Kennedale's 25-13 victory over Texarkana Texas last week.
Private school game of the week
Pantego Christian plays host to rival Arlington Grace Prep at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
The two schools are not only TAPPS Division II District 1 rivals but the campuses are separated by less than five miles in South Arlington. Grace Prep (1-5) has beaten Pantego Christian (3-2) two years in a row, including 46-18 last season.
Jarret Johnson, 817-390-7760
Twitter: @JohnsonJarret
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