Homecoming, Part II, is coming up Friday in District Stadium as Clear Lake hosts 24-5A co-leader Galveston Ball.
Last week the Falcons (2-1 in district, 6-1 overall) recovered nicely from their Oct. 6 loss to Clear Creek as they outscored Alvin 42-24.
But, of course, the Tornadoes (2-0 in district, 5-1 overall) are going to be tougher, much tougher.
Kickoff is 7 p.m.
Ball's No. 1 ranked 24-5A defense did its job last week in a 35-14 win over Clear Brook.
It is going to be the Tor defense, which allows less than 200 yards of offense per game (197.5), against Clear Lake's No. 1 rated offense, which averages nearly 400 yards (393.3). Most of that, of course, is on the ground as Lake's rushing v. passing is about ten to one.
That means either Galveston's defense or Lake's offense won't hit close to their average.
"(Galveston) always has great athletes and they fly all over the ball," said Lake coach Troy Aduddell.
"Their defense is real good and we hope we can move the ball on them. We feel we can move the ball on anybody if we don't make any mistakes," he added.
And the distraction of the homecoming hardly ever helps the home team. Look what it did to Creek last week.
Aduddell and his staff are doing everything they can to keep the team's point of concentration on the game.
"All coaches dread homecoming," Aduddell said. "We can't allow the media distraction of homecoming to shift the focus. It's the game that's the main thing."
The Falcons will have more than enough to concentrate on from the opposing Tors to even think about the halftime homecoming festivities.
Despite the fact that Galveston is rated fourth on team offense to Lake's No. 1, Aduddell knows full well that the Tors can blow past foes when given the chance. Their offense is set to break loose at any time in the game and they don't always stick to conventional high school football.
"They'll run a no-huddle offense, which puts defenses in weird situations," Aduddell pointed out.
Even though Clear Lake's all-purpose runner Michael Grant is the district rushing leader with 886 yards, No. 2 in kickoff returns and No. 1 in scoring, it's going to be interesting to see if the Falcon offense can make a dent in Ball's stingy defense.
To find Galveston's top rusher you have to go all the way to No. 10 in district with Eddie Brown gaining 343 yards. Lake has three rushers in the district top ten.
The Tors, however, may do their own damage via the pass.
Ball's Andre Patino, the No. 3 quarterback in 24-5A, has thrown for 735 yards this season and four touchdowns. However, he has suffered 11 interceptions. Marcus Taylor is Patino's favorite target. The two have hooked up for 367 yards and three touchdowns.
It all boils down is Lake's potent option and how well it will move down the field against Galveston's defense.
The Falcons gained 451 yards against Alvin last week in the 42-24 win.
Lake held a narrow 21-17 lead at halftime but the second half told the tale.
Clear Lake's defense forced the Jackets had to punt on their first three possessions of the second half while the Falcons scored on their first three drives in building a runaway 42-17 lead. Alvin scored its final touchdown with less than two minutes to go in the game to get to 24 points. The Jackets had 292 yards, with 95 of those coming from Ashton Jefferson, who had three touchdowns.
Lake signal caller Drew Decker and Ronnie Feaster started the scoring fest as Feaster hauled in a 41-yard aerial from Decker in the first period to make it 7-0.
Grant was the game's top rusher with 196 yards on 14 carries, including two touchdowns. One was a 59-yarder early in the second period that put Lake ahead 14-7. He also scored in the fourth on a 21-yard jaunt. Decker himself added one from one yard and Joe Clark contributed an 18-yard dash into the end zone. Feaster also scored on a 19-yard run in the second period.
Galveston scored all the points it would need as the Tors romped to a 22-0 halftime lead at home against Brook. Galveston had 327 total yards and limited the Wolverines to 174.