Even though San Antonio Lee might be the district doormat, Smithson Valley isn’t taking the Volunteers lightly.
“We strive to never overestimate or underestimate anyone,” Rangers coach Larry Hill said. “We prepare the same way, go through the same checklist and practice the same amounts of time for every opponent.”
Smithson Valley spent the week preparing for a Lee team in the midst of a rough season. The Vols have been shut out twice and outscored by an average margin of 38-14 as they’ve lost all six of their district games.
When Smithson Valley faces off against Lee at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Ranger Stadium, Hill said his team won’t be looking ahead.
“If we do not play well versus Lee, it will be because they outplayed us,” he said. “It will not be because we left some stone unturned.”
The Rangers (5-3, 4-2) control their own postseason destinies with two games remaining in the season. They are third in District 26-5A and can all but clinch a spot in the playoffs with a win tonight.
First, the Smithson Valley defense will have to tackle Lee’s offense.
The Volunteers (1-7, 0-6) are led by signal caller Noel Miller, who leads the team in both rushing and passing. Miller has run for 821 yards and nine touchdowns, while throwing for 390 more.
Along with Miller, Richard Jordan has 816 yards and six touchdowns rushing.
The Rangers, guided by defensive leaders Coker Moeller (48 tackles) and Josh Marlatt (3 interceptions), will head into the game with plenty of confidence following last week’s 31-14 victory over Churchill.
The always-reliable Robby Mecke had 62 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries and sophomore quarterback Parker McKenzie passed for 120 yards and a touchdown on seven completions.
Smithson Valley took advantage of a pair of big plays — a Zack Craig punt block return and a 75-yard touchdown pass from McKenzie to Parker Taylor — on its way to the victory.
But aside from the big plays, the Rangers were doing plenty of things right, Hill said.
“We did the things you have to do to win big games,” he said. “We scored twice in the fourth quarter, we performed in onside kick situations, avoided turnovers and avoided giving up explosive plays.
