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Updated Thursday, November 05, 2009 5:04 PM
Meet the Enemy -- Sherman
In looking at these two respective teams, I think Sherman and Denison might be more like each other than either side's fans would like to admit. Both teams enter the game at 8-1 overall and 6-0 in district. Both teams had the same non-district opponent in Little Elm and both losses are to teams with one-loss, Denison's to Big Spring and Sherman's to Lake Dallas.
Taking into account all games, Denison has outscored opponents 409-176 to Sherman's 388-205 but in district play the gap is much closer -- 298-119 for Denison and 273-114 for Sherman.
The Bearcats have the second-best defense among 9-4A teams at 348.4 yards while Denison is tops at 259.9. On offense, Denison has the second-best offense at 492.1 yards while Sherman is actually fifth at 404.4 yards per game.
Sherman's offense is led by senior quarterback Madison Carter, a second-year starter who also saw time as a sophomore, and junior running back Zac Whitfield.
Carter has completed 80-of-144 passes for 1,370 yards and 16 touchdowns, run for 614 yards and 10 touchdowns and didn't throw his first interception until last week against McKinney while Whitfield has 781 yards and 11 touchdowns on 74 carries (10.6 yards per carry). When the ball is near the end zone and J.J. Floyd is on the field expect him to get the ball since he has five carries for 13 yards and five touchdowns.
A quick aside to compare the numbers for Carter and Denison QB Jordan Taylor, keeping in mind that Taylor sat the first game with an injury:
Carter 80-of-144, 1,370 yards, 16 TD, 1 INT; 614 yards and 10 TDs on 90 carries
Taylor 86-of-138, 1,346 yards, 16 TD, 4 INT; 747 yards and 14 TDs on 74 carries
There is no one standout receiver for Sherman -- John Welborn is tops statistically with 320 yards and four touchdowns on 15 catches but Whitfield, Nathan James, Greg Jackson all have at least 15 catches and Geoff Hooker and Robert Fallon have at least three TD grabs.
Defensively Sherman is tied with Frisco Liberty at nine for the most interceptions among district teams (Denison and Wakeland are one INT behind) while Sherman has forced and recovered the most fumbles, 24-12. Hooker has three interceptions and Ben Pressley has two.
In the special teams department, Hooker is averaging 15.63 yards on punt returns and has brought one back for a score; James, Fallon and Welborn are averaging at least 22 yards on kick returns and Carter is also averaging 38.94 yards per punt.
 Comments ... 8 found!
Starters in the McKinney game : 11/6/2009
I think it was perfectly acceptable to leave the starters in against McKinney longer than they normally would, given the explosiveness of McKinney's offense (the 2nd quarter being an example, where they scored 29 points). Also, at that point in the season, they still had not come together completely on offense, so they needed the work. I don't think it was a question of running up the score. If they thought that way, you can be sure they would've scored more than 56 against Wakeland (when they had 42 at the half), 48 against North (all in the first half) and 56 against Centennial (42 in the first half).
Still Happy
D wins champuionships? : 11/6/2009
Wow. Denison has allowed almost 100 fewer yards per game? Didn't know it was that much! I remember laughing when reading a Sherman article and a player remarked they had the best defense in the district, uh....no. All this talk of pulled starters is a little irrelevant. I know Denison has pulled their's eirlier than Sherman's several times, but that's nothing . The only argument would be who pulled them sooner and that's just a ridiculous thing to argue. Higher ranked offense and defense for Denison? Wow, what a shock....(insert sarcastic face here). Denison has the better talent. That's just the truth. Anyone that would dispute that is just being blinded by homer goggles. Here is the deal though. I think Sherman is much more diciplined than Denison. In big, close games we all know what the difference maker is. Penalties and turnovers. I don't know the seasonal stats, but I'll promise you the Jackets are absolutely better than Sherman at this, shooting themselves dead in the keisters with penalties! Check the turnover margain, too. I don't think the J's would be leading that either. Talent, the swarm is loaded with. Focus, consentration and discipline, not so much.....
poster
Nothing but class from Coach White? : 11/6/2009
I think you're forgetting the McKinney game in which the starters played almost the entire game. Even after you had scored over 70 points. Sherman has yet to run up the score on a weaker opponent (ie Frisco, McKinney North, etc..) Yes, both teams have pulled starters, but Denison has kept their starters in far longer than the Bearcats. Tonight's game should be a good one. GOOOOOOOOOO BEARCATS!
Bearcat Fan
Nope : 11/6/2009
I have watched all of the Sherman games that have been on TV, and they HAVE NOT been pulling starters in the games.
DuH
Stats don't tell the story : 11/6/2009
A couple of things... First, Sherman lost to Lake Dallas, not Heath (as you state in the article, Jason). Second, I think the first nine games are a tale of two different teams as far as the Jackets are concerned. I don't think the team that played the first four games is the same team that has played the last five. One of the things that is encouraging to me is that starting with the McKinney game, this team puts it into overdrive when they meet up with a team that they feel can challenge them. Both McKinney and Wakeland were out of it by halftime. I think that's a great sign heading into tonight's game (though I think it will still be very much a game at halftime tonight).
Still Happy
Sherman Pulled starters : 11/5/2009
Sherman has been pulling its starters in the middle of the second quarter expcept for the last game against McKinney. Sounds like Shermans numbers in comparison could be significanlty better when comparing them to Denison. Might as well skip the game because Sherman should just win; statistically speaking.
Unbaised Opinion
But.... : 11/5/2009
you forgot to add that Denison's first string hasn't played a full game during these district games but once. All of the stats and scores have come in the first half compared to Sherman's stats for full games.
Jacket Dad
Meet the Enemy : 11/5/2009
Jason, I was wondering if Sherman pulled the starters out as much and as often as the Yellow Jackets?. Cody White has dumped the bench several times in district and non-district. The stats posted here for Denison are very, very deceiving. Denison could have 5500-6000yds offense and defensive stats around 220-240 per game placing them right beside Denton Guyer, another pretty good team. Yor right, We are pretty even until you notice that Cody White will not run it up!!!. Nothing but class from Coach White. Futhermore, Stats are out the window on this one anyway!!..Go Jackets make it 6 of 7...
Jacket Master
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