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Rolling Along: Skeeters improve to 8-0 with blowout win over rival North Mesquite
By DEVIN HASSON, dhasson@starlocalnews.com
Since the start of the season, Mesquite has played like a team on a mission.
Fueled with the desire to reestablish themselves among the area's elite, the Skeeters have steamrolled every opponent in their path.
But head coach Robbie Robinson cautioned earlier this week that rivalry games like Friday's tilt against North Mesquite can be dangerous with the added emotion involved.
Mesquite improves to 8-0 overall and 4-0 in 12-5A, while North Mesquite falls to 2-5 and 1-2.
The Skeeters did not appear to need a wake-up call, but just in case, the Stallions provided one early.
On the first drive of the game, North Mesquite called a fake punt on its own end of the field and Caleb Cross raced 51 yards down to the Mesquite 5. That led to a 22-yard field goal from Juan Mendez to stake the Stallions to an early 3-0 lead.
It was an advantage that would not last long, as Alex Cooper capped an 80-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run to take a 7-3 lead that the Skeeters would not relinquish.
"It was important," said Robinson of the quick response. "They hit us on one, and hats off to them, it was a great call and they had great execution, but the kids stepped up and responded and I thought that was big."
Mesquite was without the services of leading rusher Junior Session, putting a greater emphasis on the passing game, but that is hardly an issue with Alex Cooper taking the snaps. The senior quarterback continued his stellar season, completing 18-of-24 passes for 274 yards and two touchdowns while adding a pair of scores on the ground.
Rashard Higgins, the district's leading receiver, had his usual big game with eight catches for 111 yards and a touchdown, but Cooper spread the ball around. As if the Skeeters were not dangerous enough with four of the top 10 pass-catchers in 12-5A, others stepped on Friday, including Octayvious Miles, who had three catches for 43 yards and a touchdown, and Kylan Cyriaque, who had a pair of receptions.
"We're pretty deep," Robinson said. "We've got a lot of guys who can play, they come to practice every day so we want to give everybody a chance to get out there and contribute."
A week ago, the Mesquite defense gave up 41 points and 266 rushing yards to Horn. It was a far different story against the Stallions.
The Skeeters allowed only 46 yards in the first half while getting interceptions from Martin Simmons and Quincy Peyton. Outside of the yardage gained on the fake punt, North Mesquite averaged less than three yards per carry and completed only 2-of-14 passing attempts for 16 yards.
"Other than that third quarter last week, our defense has played great all year long," Robinson said. "We kind of challenged them this week and told them it was time to get back to playing Skeeter defense and I thought they did that tonight."
After Mesquite had taken the 7-3 lead, North Mesquite took over in good field position at its own 42, but that changed quickly as Corey Hunt was dragged down for a five-yard loss and Joseph Holmes sacked Cody Williams.
Forced to punt, the snap sailed over the head of the punter, who was forced to kick the ball out of the back of the end zone for a safety to give the Skeeters a 9-3 lead.
After a good kickoff return by Simmons, it took Mesquite only three plays to score, as Cooper threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Higgins. On the next possession, Cooper threw an 11-yard scoring strike to Miles that made it 23-3 at the end of the first quarter.
It was more of the same in the second, as the Stallions could not move the ball and the Skeeters took advantage of a winded defense.
Cooper made a nice spin move to waltz into the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown run to make it 30-3. Mesquite recorded its second safety of the game when they gang tackled a North Mesquite ball carrier in the end zone, Tyson Reed added a short touchdown run and Marco Rodriguez kicked a 27-yard field goal to give the Skeeters a 42-3 lead going into halftime.
There were plenty of new faces on both sides in the second half. Gray made the most of his role as the featured back, as his 40-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter capped a 108-yard night.
Karson Bailey then scored on a 1-yard plunge that pushed the advantage to 56-3.
North Mesquite finally got into the end zone midway through the fourth quarter when Hunt carried it in from two yards out.
It was festive atmosphere as the rivals met for the 43rd time. North Mesquite was hoping this meeting would be especially sweet as it also celebrated its Homecoming, but as the final seconds ticked off the clock, all the noise was coming from the Skeeter side of the field, as they extended their series lead to 23-19-1 and claimed their eighth victory in the last nine meetings.
"It's (the crowd) huge; they say if you are winning, they will turn out, but the Skeeter faithful has been great for us this year," Robinson said. "I hope they'll continue to come out and support us. It is always great to see all that maroon and white in the stands."
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