TLN: Keller Central plays David to Denton Guyer’s Goliath, plus Week 8 picks
No one, and I mean zero, zip, nada, no one saw it coming.
When high school football followers saw Keller Central 24, Denton Guyer 21 last Thursday night, they probably refreshed their internet connection and their phones several times to make sure it wasn’t an error.
If you think those who weren’t there were in disbelief, think of those who were in the stands at the Keller ISD Athletic Complex. The district winless Chargers upset the Wildcats, who were poised to win another district championship. David slayed Goliath. Hickory’s Jimmy Chitwood hit the jumper at the buzzer to win the 1951 Indiana state basketball championship.
That’s what this game was. Not only did the improbable happen, the impossible happened. Your humble prognosticator called this game, Denton Guyer 54, Keller Central 13. This was bigger than the epic we watched between Carroll and Euless Trinity.
“It’s right up with some of the top wins in our school’s history,” Central coach Bart Helsley said. “One of the biggest without question.”
But this is only the first of a series of four one-game playoffs that Helsley’s program is experiencing. Keller Central (3-4, 1-3 in 7-6A) won this game only to get itself back into the playoff conversation. This team likely needs to win out against Keller Fossil Ridge, Northwest Byron Nelson and Keller Timber Creek to give itself a chance. Had they lost, the Chargers would have been playing out the string.
It’s been a struggle for the Chargers since district play opened. They had a rough performance against Denton Ryan in their opener (51-6), fell short to Keller (17-14) and then weren’t very good at Justin Northwest (34-18).
“I talked to the team on that Saturday and just told them that no one is giving us a chance and the only people that can believe that we can win are the ones in this locker room,” Helsley said. “My big emphasis to them was that I just wanted to know what kind of team we could be.”
The locker room before the game carried its normal feel. But Helsley sensed more of a relaxed atmosphere. In the game, the Chargers forced five turnovers and built a lead. It all looked for naught when Guyer took the lead, 21-17, late in the fourth quarter.
Then it was Central’s turn.
“When I got to the huddle, the first group I looked at was our offensive line,” Helsley said. “I didn’t see any cause for concern. We had had two bad series in a row, but they looked calm. And [quarterback] Reese [Robertson] always keeps everybody positive.”
Robertson directed the game-winning drive. Zion Purvis capped it with a six-yard run with just a little more than one minute to play. Guyer didn’t have an answer. Central had the stunner.
That’s what makes you keep coming back to watch high school sports. Usually, the script plays out like you think. But when the unexpected occurs, it reminds you that competition brings out the best in young men and women.
If Central doesn’t make the playoffs, it wouldn’t surprise us. If Central finds a way to get into the postseason, it wouldn’t surprise us.
At the very least, we have signature moment of the 2015 high school football season in Northeast Tarrant County.
High School Picks
Well, thanks to Keller Central’s monumental upset (they did it to me again), it kept us from having a perfect weekend. But we were close to having a very average week. Keller needed a frantic comeback to upend Keller Timber Creek. Denton Ryan had to fight off Keller Fossil Ridge. We’ll take the tradeoff as we move into week No. 9. Richland has the bye this week.
Last week: 7-1
Season: 58-19
Denton Ryan (7-0, 4-0) at Keller (5-2, 2-2); 7 p.m. Thursday, Keller ISD Athletic Complex, Keller: The Raiders have been living a little close to the edge in the last two weeks. They escaped one-score wins over Keller Timber Creek and Keller Fossil Ridge. And part of me believes they could be ripe to get picked off. The way the Indians rallied to beat Timber Creek told you about the character of this program. I think they are out of their fog.
Prediction: Keller 32, Denton Ryan 29
Grapevine (5-2, 2-1) at Fort Worth Carter-Riverside (5-3, 2-2); 7 p.m. Thursday, Farrington Field, Fort Worth: The Mustangs are coming off their bye. They can clinch a winning season. Carter-Riverside has had a nice season. But this game will not be close.
Prediction: Grapevine 43, Fort Worth Carter-Riverside 8
Keller Central (3-4, 1-3) vs. Keller Fossil Ridge (3-4, 2-2); 7 p.m. Friday, Keller ISD Athletic Complex, Keller: Central coach Bart Helsley pleaded with me to pick against him after I explained how frustrating his team is to gauge. But I also said this happens when I pick them to win. I have absolutely no idea how this is going to go. But I’ll defer to Fossil Ridge QB Bryce Baccarini.
Prediction: Keller Fossil Ridge 26, Keller Central 21
Keller Timber Creek (2-5, 1-3) at Justin Northwest (1-6, 1-3); 7 p.m. Friday, Northwest ISD Stadium, Justin: Both of these teams need a win to stay in the race. But even then, that win doesn’t help because the other will be out of the playoff picture. The Texans just have too many problems against the run. I don’t think they’re going to stop Timber Creek star running back Braxton Washington, who is nearing 1,000 yards.
Prediction: Keller Timber Creek 31, Justin Northwest 24
Northwest Byron Nelson (4-3, 2-2) at Denton Guyer (5-2, 3-1); 7 p.m. Friday, C.H. Collins Complex, Denton: The question for the Wildcats is how they respond to the stunning loss to Keller Central. The psyche is a fragile thing. Nelson needs this game to keep fighting for a playoff spot. But it isn’t in a difficult position if it loses because it still has Keller Central and Keller Fossil Ridge to play.
Prediction: Denton Guyer 34, Northwest Byron Nelson 21
Colleyville Heritage (4-3, 2-1) at Southlake Carroll (5-2, 2-1); 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dragon Stadium, Southlake: Colleyville Heritage’s success against Carroll in football has not existed – 0-14. I think the Panthers have a chance. But they don’t run it well enough for the Dragons to honor it. Plus, Carroll’s Lil’Jordan Humphrey is a really difficult matchup.
Prediction: Carroll 34, Colleyville Heritage 24
Euless Trinity (8-0, 4-0) at Coppell (4-3, 2-1); 7:30 p.m. Friday, Buddy Echols Stadium, Coppell: Until somebody can show me the right formula on how to stop the Trojans’ running game, I’m not sure that will happen. Coppell loves to run the football as well, so this game could end before 10 p.m.
Prediction: Euless Trinity 45, Coppell 28
Fort Worth Dunbar (4-3, 2-1) at Birdville (2-5, 2-1); 7:30 p.m. Friday, Birdville Fine Arts and Athletics Complex, North Richland Hills: As much as the Hawks have struggled on defense, they have gotten well against the Fort Worth ISD teams. This Dunbar team isn’t as good as the one that made the playoffs. The Wildcats will put up a fight.
Prediction: Birdville 37, Fort Worth Dunbar 23
Haltom (1-7, 0-3) vs. Hurst L.D. Bell (0-8, 0-4); 5:30 p.m. Saturday, AT&T Stadium, Arlington: Both of these teams are struggling. But they get the experience of playing in the home of the Cowboys. Actually, this is Bell’s second appearance at the home of the Cowboys. Haltom’s offense just doesn’t have enough going for it. The Blue Raiders will not go winless.
Prediction: Hurst L.D. Bell 34, Haltom 16
This story was originally published October 19, 2015 at 12:26 PM with the headline "TLN: Keller Central plays David to Denton Guyer’s Goliath, plus Week 8 picks."