The Lufkin (TX) varsity football team will host a playoff game against Milby (Houston, TX) today at 1 PM at Abe Martin Stadium in Lufkin. This matchup is part of the 2024 UIL Texas Football State Championships for Conference 5A Division 1.

Lufkin vs Milby Game Info:

What: Texas High School Football Playoffs
Who: Lufkin vs Milby
When: Saturday, November 16, 2024
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
Bracket: 2024 UIL Texas Football State Championships for Conference 5A Division 1
Watch here:Watch here

Game preview: Lufkin vs Milby

As the high school football season nears its dramatic conclusion, Memorial and Heights prepare to face off in a game with critical implications. Heights, with a solid 7-3 overall record and a dominant 5-1 standing in district play, looks to further solidify its position among Texas high school powerhouses. Memorial, despite a challenging season at 4-6 overall and 4-3 in district play, is eager to make a statement and finish strong.

Rankings & Records Overview

Memorial ranks 171st in the state and 128th in its section, showing promise but facing inconsistencies throughout the season. Heights, however, stands as a formidable opponent, ranked 158th statewide and 115th in its section, a testament to the team’s offensive firepower and defensive strength.

Scoring Breakdown

Memorial has struggled to put points on the board, averaging only 17.2 points per game. Heights, on the other hand, boasts a high-scoring offense, averaging an impressive 36.2 points per game, with a notable surge in the fourth quarter, where they average a staggering 20.7 points.

The scoring averages tell a story of two very different teams. Heights often finishes games with authority, while Memorial has seen challenges maintaining offensive momentum throughout four quarters. Memorial’s strongest scoring quarter has been the first, where they average 3.5 points, but they drop significantly in the second and third quarters, making them vulnerable.

Offensive and Defensive Stats

The statistical comparison between the two teams shows that Heights has a more well-rounded and explosive offense. Heights averages 278.2 total yards per game, slightly edging out Memorial’s 274.8. However, Memorial does excel in the rushing game, putting up 131.3 yards per game compared to Heights’ 105.8. Heights, meanwhile, dominates the air attack, averaging 172.4 passing yards per game compared to Memorial’s 143.5.

Defensively, both teams are fairly evenly matched, with Memorial averaging 47.6 tackles per game and Heights close behind at 46.8. The sack count is also tight, with Memorial averaging 2.4 sacks per game and Heights 2.1. Yet, when it comes to scoring defense, Heights has a significant edge, having allowed only 115 points over 10 games compared to Memorial’s 189.

Key Players to Watch

Memorial’s offense is led by quarterback Austin Alpe, who averages 139.9 passing yards per game and contributes 3.0 points per game. Alpe is also the team’s top total yards contributor, averaging 170.2 yards. Corbin Comiskey leads Memorial’s ground attack with 43.8 rushing yards per game, while Carson Wall is the primary receiving target, averaging 60.4 receiving yards.

Heights counters with quarterback Kobe Miles, who averages 122.3 passing yards per game. The offense benefits from the receiving prowess of Zaylen Cormier, who pulls in 67.9 yards per game. Corian Jacobs is the go-to player in the red zone, averaging 6.0 points per game. On defense, Dylan Ray leads Heights with 6.5 tackles per game and averages 0.7 sacks.

Record Breakdown

While Heights holds a stronger overall and district record, both teams have their strengths in key areas. Memorial has gone 4-6 overall, with all four wins coming in district play (4-3). On the road, both teams have an even split: Memorial at 2-3 and Heights showing better consistency at 4-1. Heights has also proven themselves against common opponents, securing a better win-loss differential.

The Keys to Victory

For Memorial to pull off an upset, they will need to contain Heights’ explosive fourth-quarter offense and establish a strong running game early. Winning the time-of-possession battle and keeping Heights’ high-octane offense off the field will be critical. Heights, meanwhile, will aim to exploit Memorial’s weaknesses in the passing game and capitalize on their own ability to score in bunches during the latter stages of the game.

As both teams prepare for this pivotal matchup, fans can expect a clash filled with determination, strategy, and a desire to make an impact as the season reaches its crescendo.