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Horn expects rematch with Garland to be nothing like first meeting
By DEVIN HASSON, dhasson@starlocalnews.com
It has been more than two months since Horn and Garland met in non-district play and much has changed in that time.
The biggest question for the Owls is has it been 42 points worth of change.
That was the margin of victory when Horn rolled over Garland in a 42-0 victory on Sept. 6, making the Jaguars a prohibitive favorite in Saturday's Class 5A Division I bi-district playoff game at noon at Allen's Eagle Stadium.
"It is easy to see Garland has gotten better," Horn head coach Rodney Webb said. "Early on, it didn't look like they were playing with a lot of confidence, but now it seems like they have that swagger back."
Horn has not slowed down much since the first meeting. The Jaguars went 5-1 in 12-5A, including their first-ever win over Longview, to finish second in district play.
Horn had a bye in week nine before closing the regular season with a 42-21 victory over North Mesquite last week.
While the Jaguars' playoff future was known before then, they felt it was important to go into the playoffs on a high note.
"We've used the time (bye week) to get better," Webb said. "And that was our thought process going into North Mesquite, as well. We wanted to come out focused to play a good game against North Mesquite and not look down the road."
Horn has one of the more well-balanced offenses in the area. The Jaguars led 12-5A in rushing with 270 yards per game.
Treyvon Marsh was second among all district players with 1,064 yards and 18 touchdowns, while quarterback Destri White added 60 yards and seven scores.
The ground game opens up the passing game for White, who threw for 1,605 yards and 22 touchdowns compared with only three interceptions. Brian O'Bannon (40 receptions, 666 yards, 10 TDs) leads a deep group of wide receivers.
The Horn defense, led by D.J. Green and Colton King, is allowing 284 yards and 23.7 points per game, but had one of its best performances of the season in the first meeting against Garland.
The Jaguars put the clamps on the Owls in the shutout effort, allowing only 107 yards and three first downs.
Garland quarterback V.J. Gates has battled some injury and inconsistency, but is coming off on of his better games of the season in a win over North Garland. He has thrown for 1,045 yards while adding 538 on the ground.
E'Lon Green leads the team in rushing and Jalen Evans has 26 receptions on the outside, but it is Ja'Taveon Green that has Horn's full attention.
Green averaged better than 10 yards per rush and catch last season, but took some time to regain his stride. But he has made more of an impact as the season has progressed, especially in district.
Green has 34 catches for 458 yards, has rushed for 354 yards and four scores and came on late in the fourth quarter as an emergency quarterback to engineer the game-winning drive in a key victory over Sachse.
"We didn't see a lot of him (Green) in the first game," Webb said. "But they have found ways to get him more involved and he is a definite playmaker."
Horn has experienced both ends of the spectrum in the postseason in recent years.
Two years ago, the Jaguars made history by advancing to the regional championship game. Last season, Horn watched Copperas Cove rally from a huge deficit in the fourth quarter to pull out a 48-47 win.
They have learned that past playoff success or failure has no bearing on the future, nor does what happened in an early September non-district game.
"Garland is a lot better team at this point in the season, but so are we," Webb said. "Our guys know there are no do-overs in the playoffs. It is zero-zero when we get out on that field, not 42-0 and they are good enough to beat us.
"I think we're ready to play our best football. We are healthy and we make it by design that we are playing our best this time of the year, so we feel like we are in good shape."
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