The live broadcast will be played in the box below. Radio feed will be available inside the stadium on 104.1 FM.
Game number 771 for the Howe Bulldogs. Howe has a record of 387-359-24 since the first game on Sept. 20, 1935.
POTTSBORO
Pottsboro has been outstanding this season by starting 6-0 and 2-0 in district play. The Cardinals have scored 277 points (46.2 points per game) and allowed 103 (17 points per game). In each game, the Cardinals have been able to set the game on cruise control about 17 minutes in each contest as they average 16 points per game in the first quarter while only allowing 2.33 in the first. The second quarter is as impressive by scoring 17 and allowing only 3.5. This equates to an average lead at the half for Pottsboro of 33-6. Pottsboro relaxes in the second half where they only outscore their opponents 14-11.
The Cardinals are led by a powerful offensive line of three seniors and two juniors. Adrian Delacruz, Hunter Fulton, Daniel Graham, Landon Simpson, and Riley Deaton set everything up for quarterback Braden Plyler (73-105-4-1129, 15 TD; 79 carries for 463 yards). Plyler has thrown for at least three touchdowns in every game so far this season with the exception of Gunter where he threw two. Their air game is enough to allow the run game to flourish with Cy Shope (97 carries for 780 yards, 14 TD) who has rushed for over 100 yards in each of the last three games and averaged over 10 yards per carry during that span.
Pottsboro has four players starting on both offense and defense: Riley Deaton (OL/DL), Hunter Fulton (OL/DL), Jasek Hooker (WR/S), and Cy Shope (RB/S).
The Cardinals are led by Head Coach Matt Poe who is in his 16th year in Pottsboro accumulating a record of 121-40 there with six district championships. He’s 11-1 vs. Howe with the only loss coming in 2010 at Bulldog Stadium where Howe won, 20-13.
HOWE
Howe’s offense is much more explosive than in 2018 and able to score points much quicker than in the past. The Bulldogs have scored 174 points (29 points per game) and allowed 185 (31 points per game). The Dogs’ scoring output is much more spread out through the game as they average an 8-6 advantage after the first quarter. However, the second quarter has been the Achilles heel for Howe, where they’ve allowed 63 points (11-point average) while only scoring 28 (average of 5). The average first-half score for Howe is a deficit of three points (16-13). The Bulldogs have been a second-half team, however, in 2019 and have outscored their opponents in each of the third and fourth quarters with the fourth being their best scoring of all. Howe’s 98-80 scoring advantage in the second half gives them an average second half advantage of 16-13.
Howe is led by running back Jalen Thorton who has 82 carries for 700 yards rushing (8.5 per carry) and 20 receptions for 216 yards (10.8 yards per catch). Thornton, who averages 8.98 yards per touch, also returns punts and kickoffs. Thornton’s cousin Brandon Williams has rushed for 205 yards on 43 carries in the last four games.
It is through the air where Howe has turned from caterpillar to butterfly. Freshman quarterback Austin Haley has thrown for 879 yards in only four starts and averages 18.3 yards per completion. His favorite targets, outside of Thornton, have been Jordan Jones, Steven Waldrip, and Arturo Lowder, each with 10 catches. His big-play target is Kolby Windon who has three touchdowns. Caiden Harmon, when healthy, has been a big part of the offense both in the rushing and receiving game.
Howe’s defense is led by J.C. Helpenstell with his 80 tackles. The biggest surprise of the year has been the play of Hunter Brussow who is playing football for the first time since junior high. Brussow has two interceptions that both were returned for touchdowns. Layton Elvington leads Howe with five interceptions. Howe is averaging over two takeaways per game in 2019).
DISTRICT 5-3A-1 STANDINGS
| School Name | *W-L | *Pct. | *PF | *PA | W-L | Pct. | PF | PA | Strk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pottsboro | 2-0 | 1.000 | 111 | 41 | 6-0 | 1.000 | 277 | 103 | 6 W |
| Rains | 1-1 | 0.500 | 76 | 57 | 3-3 | 0.500 | 153 | 211 | 1 W |
| Van Alstyne | 1-1 | 0.500 | 56 | 69 | 2-4 | 0.333 | 130 | 206 | 1 L |
| Commerce | 1-1 | 0.500 | 54 | 75 | 2-4 | 0.333 | 153 | 202 | 1 W |
| Howe | 1-1 | 0.500 | 94 | 83 | 2-4 | 0.333 | 174 | 185 | 1 L |
| Lone Oak | 0-1 | 0.000 | 12 | 40 | 1-4 | 0.200 | 104 | 210 | 3 L |
| Bonham | 0-1 | 0.000 | 28 | 66 | 1-4 | 0.200 | 134 | 257 | 2 L |
HOWE VS. POTTSBORO HISTORY
Pottsboro leads the series, 20-10-1. Before Matt Poe arrived as Pottsboro’s head coach in 2006, the series was 9-10-1. Howe had scored 294 and Pottsboro 293. Since Poe, the Cardinals have won 10 of 11 and have outscored Howe, 408-99.
Howe is 4-10-1 at Pottsboro going back to the first-ever matchup on Nov. 3, 1972. Howe’s last victory at Pottsboro came 31 years ago on Oct. 14, 1988, in a 21-14 game. Since then, Howe has lost 7-straight at Jim Henderson Stadium. The Cardinals have outscored Howe in Pottsboro, 381-194. The ‘Dogs have not scored over 20 points on the Cardinals since 2006. Last year, Pottsboro won 27-0 at Bulldog Stadium.
| 11/3/1972 | 21 | Pottsboro | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 11/2/1973 | 44 | at Pottsboro | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 11/15/1974 | 0 | at Pottsboro | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 11/14/1975 | 0 | Pottsboro | 40 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 11/5/1976 | 6 | Pottsboro | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 11/4/1977 | 0 | at Pottsboro | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 9/8/1978 | 21 | Pottsboro | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 9/7/1979 | 14 | at Pottsboro | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 10/10/1980 | 20 | at Pottsboro | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 10/9/1981 | 8 | Pottsboro | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 10/15/1982 | 16 | at Pottsboro | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 10/14/1983 | 6 | Pottsboro | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 10/26/1984 | 10 | at Pottsboro | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 10/25/1985 | 28 | Pottsboro | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 10/17/1986 | 14 | Pottsboro | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 10/16/1987 | 3 | at Pottsboro | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 10/14/1988 | 21 | at Pottsboro | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 10/20/1989 | 41 | Pottsboro | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 9/13/1996 | 7 | Pottsboro | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 9/12/1997 | 14 | at Pottsboro | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 11/10/2006 | 24 | at Pottsboro | 49 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 11/9/2007 | 6 | Pottsboro | 34 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 10/29/2010 | 20 | Pottsboro | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 10/28/2011 | 0 | at Pottsboro | 34 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 9/28/2012 | 15 | at Pottsboro | 48 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 9/27/2013 | 0 | Pottsboro | 28 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 9/26/2014 | 14 | Pottsboro | 56 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 9/25/2015 | 7 | at Pottsboro | 49 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 10/7/2016 | 7 | Pottsboro | 35 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 10/13/2017 | 6 | at Pottsboro | 35 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 10/12/2018 | 0 | Pottsboro | 27 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 10/11/2019 | at Pottsboro | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 393 | 0 | 701 | 10 | 20 | 2 |
FRESHMAN QUARTERBACK
Freshman quarterback Austin Haley went 13-of-24 passing for 215 yards and one touchdown a week ago. The touchdown pass gives him 10 on the season and career. He ties Brian Freese for ninth all-time. Freese had 553 passing attempts compared to Haley’s 86.
With two touchdown passes, Haley would tie Andreas Liss (12 from 1982-85 ) for 8th all-time. With three, he would tie Josh Farris (2001-03) for 7th all-time.
With 95 passing yards, Haley would pass 2-year starter Scott Taylor in career yardage (973). 211 passing would push him ahead of Halen Kirby (1,083 career yards) for 10th all-time.
Haley’s 55.8 pass percentage ranks first all-time for any Howe passer with more than five attempts.
THIS DAY IN BULLDOGS HISTORY (4-5-1 on games played on Oct. 11)
1935 – Howe lost at Whitewright, 25-0 in the third game ever.
1940 – Howe beat Collinsville, 63-0
1946 – Howe won at Bells, 33-0
1963 – Howe lost to Wolfe City, 28-6
1968 – Howe beat Collinsville, 19-8
1985 – tied Anna, 7-7
1991 – beat Aubrey, 33-6
1996 – lost at Van Alstyne, 35-0
2002 – lost to Blue Ridge, 20-14
2013 – lost at Farmersville, 55-13