Stopping run key for Rider

The tough early-season schedule gave Rider a crash course in stopping the run.

How well they've progressed in that department will be a big key today as the Raiders face a speedy Killeen team in the Class 4A Division I regional semifinals at Vernon Newsom Stadium in Mansfield.

Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. between the 9-3 Raiders and 8-4 Kangaroos.

Neither team won a district championship — Rider was second in 4-4A and Killeen was third in 8-4A — but one of them will play for a regional title next weekend.

Ryan and Hewitt Midway, the 4-4A and 8-4A champs, played Friday in the other I-4A D-I semifinal. Ryan lost to Midway 19-7.

The Kangaroos averaged 413 yards of offense in the regular season with 281 of that on the ground. And it's not just one guy as Killeen rotates speedy backs into its spread set.

The regular-season leader was Victor Scott with 659 yards and 11 touchdowns followed by Naaman Young (649) and William Matthews (441). Daniel McCants joined the fray in the playoffs and gained 155 yards against Arlington Heights last week.

"Those guys can get it," Rider coach Jim Garfield said. "They'll mix it up. They really ran downhill against Arlington Heights and we've seen in other games they have a perimeter game.

"Their quarterback (Garrett Gaskamp) is a good operator with a live arm. They stay within his abilities."

Gaskamp passed for 1,288 yards and eight touchdowns in the first 10 games.

The real battle may take place in front of those speedsters as Garfield praised Killeen's offensive line, especially Reggie Harrison, Elika Sailiata and center Chase Anderson.

"That's a good war in there," Garfield said. "We have a good defensive line. We have to close the gaps down."

The linebackers making tackles on the Killeen speedsters is another key as Garfield said he's stressing getting a large group of guys where the ball is.

"It's about making tackles and pursuit," Garfield said. "Just wrapping up and having a lot of guys near the ball."

With their running prowess the Kangaroos use play-action passes, too. Akeem Harrison lines up tight sometimes but has receiver mobility. Devarri McCray and Devyn Williams are downfield threats.

Offensively, the Raiders have been on a roll with great balance. J.T. Barrett is 19-of-24 passing in the playoffs and receiver John Hatch is coming off a two-touchdown game.

The Raiders want to be a little more consistent this week in the run game. It was a big-play story against El Paso Chapin as Anthony Wagner, who leads the team in rushing touchdowns and receptions, had an 86-yard run and 104 yards on just five carries.

Barrett has 2,656 yards passing and running. He has 1,468 yards, and 12 touchdowns through the air and a team-high 1,188 on the ground.

Killeen is led up front by senior defensive ends Derriel Collins and Artez Price.

"They're very active defensively," Garfield said. "They're a lot like us.

"They played a tough schedule and they can run and play defense. We got to establish a good running game."

The Raiders were held to less than 400 yards last week for the first time since playing Denton Ryan just before their bye week. But they scored five touchdowns, three two-point conversions and a 27-point victory.

Today, the Raiders would take a one-point win and a second straight trip to the Region I-4A finals.

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FOLLOWING THE RAIDERS

Fans wanting to see Rider play Killeen on Saturday at Vernon Newsom Stadium in Mansfield will want to go to the visitor side, which seats 5,071. Tickets are $10 and there will be a $5 per car charge to park.

The game will be broadcast on radio at KQXC 103.9 FM.