Lake Highlands (4-2, 3-0) vs. Berkner (2-4, 1-2), at The Boneyard, 7:30 p.m.
This is one of those games where people like to say, “You can throw the records out the window.” And with bragging rights at stake, who wouldn’t expect both teams to come out hot.
But when comparing the numbers, Lake Highlands owns this series.
Berkner started playing football in 1970 and the rivalry with the Wildcats began in 1976, a game which Berkner won 28-0. Since then, the record stands at 22-12 in Lake Highlands favor.
Berkner had a four-year playoff run in 2003 and a pretty strong team. That success was brought on by the current coach, Jim Ledford, a former Lake Highlands offensive coordinator under Mike Zoffuto.
In the last three years the Wildcats have outscored Berkner 86-48 and the Rams haven’t won since 2006 when they edged the Lake Highlands 10-9.
For the moment, Lake Highlands is undefeated in District 9-5A, while Berkner has experienced some tribulation losing its first two district games to Skyline and Jesuit before dismantling W.T. White 50-21 last week. The Rams also looked poised to beat Southlake Carroll early in the season before losing 31-24 in overtime.
Under Ledford, the Rams have been known as a solid Wishbone/Flexbone offense with talented athletes patrolling the linebacker and secondary positions defensively.
However, this season, Ledford seems to be changing it up a bit and the Rams have gone very multiple in their offensive sets.
Berkner has been seen running a spread, Wishbone/Flexbone, I-formation and a number of other offensive sets in an attempt to change things up.
“I think that’s the biggest thing about what to expect Friday night,” Scott Smith, Lake Highlands head coach said. “You don’t know what they’re going to do.”
What you do know is that quarterback Aric Stock is what makes the Rams motor run.
The Rams quarterback is the only returning starting quarterback in 9-5A and has 850 passing yards and six touchdowns, and 473 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Last year, Stock only threw for 85 yards against Lake Highlands but he rushed for 98 yards and the team’s sole touchdown of the game. Expect him to make some plays unless the Wildcats get in his face early.
Spencer Edmonds appears to be Stock’s favorite target as he leads the team with 25 grabs for 399 yards and six touchdowns.
But the Rams still like to run the ball with a handful of players. Three other backs have over 140 yards on the ground and at least one touchdown. Gerald Gafford has 187 yards and four touchdowns, Fred White has rushed for a 168 yards and one touchdown and Yedidiah Louis has 146 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
So you know a number of people will tote the rock.
Defensively, Berkner has given up an average of 292 yards per game, but minus a shutout against North Crowley, the Rams are giving up 31 points per game.
Lake Highlands on the other hand is scoring 44 ppg and has a running back who is averaging 9.14 yards per carry.
That’s right Desmond Roland, the Oklahoma State commit, has 17 touchdowns on the ground and needs a mere 77 rushing yards to crack 1,000 on the season. (Side note: Roland totaled 1,235 yards and 12 touchdowns last year. Granted he was playing with Ricky Zorn, but still his numbers this season are huge). Also last year, Roland had 100 yards on 14 carries and 51 yards on 4 catches.
The Wildcats defense was not tested last week against Sunset, but they were able to build confidence in their scheme and rested some players who should be ready to go this week.
Either way, the records probably shouldn’t be thrown out, but definitely keep in mind that this is a very storied rivalry that Lake Highlands would like to continue dominating.
