Published: November 05, 2009 06:13 pm      

Going for the title

Cayuga looks to capture district championship with win over Grapeland

By SCOTT TYLER

Sports Editor



BETHEL — The Cayuga Wildcats already have a playoff spot sewn up.

But while they wait to find out who their next opponent is, the Wildcats still have some unfinished business — a district championship.

Cayuga can wrap up the District 20-A title and go undefeated in district play with a win Friday night over Grapeland at Scarborough Stadium in Bethel.

“It is something that is really important for us,” Cayuga head coach Tommy Allison said. “We had a share of it last year but we would like to have it all to ourselves this year.”

Cayuga (5-0, 7-1) came into last year’s game against Grapeland (3-2, 5-4) in the same position, but the Wildcats lost to the Sandies, forcing a three-way tie for the district title with Alto and Grapeland.

While the Wildcats open the playoffs next week against either Mount Enterprise or Beckville, the Grapeland Sandies’ playoff hopes are on life support.

The Sandies need to win Friday night against Cayuga but also need some big help. Grapeland needs to have Cushing, who has one win this season, to defeat carlisle. If Grapeland finishes tied for third with Carlisle, the Indians hold the tiebreaker by beating the Sandies earlier this season.

Allison wants to use Friday night’s district finale as a warmup for the start of the playoffs after Cayuga came off a big 43-36 overtime win against Alto.

“For us, last week was the start of the playoffs so we are treating this game just like another playoff game,” Allison said. “We just need to continue to do what we have been doing.”

Friday night’s game pits Grapeland’s strength on offense against the Wildcats’ strength on defense — the passing game.

Passing yards has accounted for 65 percent of the Sandies offense as quarterback Cameron Boyd has thrown for 1,758 yards and 19 touchdowns.

“They throw the ball really well,” Allison said. “They have a quarterback who is accurate and great playmakers at the wide receiver position.”

The top playmaker is Ta’Coyus Walker, who has 54 receptions for 816 yards and nine touchdowns this season.

“He has great hands, runs good routes and is hard to tackle,” Allison said of Walker. “We can’t let him get into space to move around because that is when he is dangerous.

“While we have to know where he is at all times, if we give too much attention to him, they have other players who will hurt us.”

Cayuga’s pass defense has been strong, allowing only 367 passing yards this season. In the win over Alto, the Wildcats had three interceptions.

Notes: Cayuga quarterback Malcome Kennedy only is 7 yards from having 1,000 yards rushing and passing. He has rushed for 993 yards and 10 touchdowns and has passed for 1,020 yards and 16 touchdowns. ...Cayuga running back Traylon Shead is tied for fifth in career touchdowns with 125. Shead is 11 touchdowns from tying the all-time record. ...Grapeland has discovered a running game with Donte Brown. In the last two games, Brown has rushed for 143 yards and 106 yards.

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Scott Tyler may be contacted via e-mail at styler@palestineherald.com