(excerts from 10/14/99 GHB)
By David Claybourn
Herald Banner Sports Editor
Two undefeated matchups involving top 10 teams highlight an interesting weekend of high school football in the Greenville area.
Royse City, which is 6-0, will entertain 6-0 Commerce at 7:30 p.m. Friday in a battle for supremacy in District 10-3A.
Royse City is ranked No. 2 in Class 3A by the Associated Press. Commerce just moved into the top 10 this week at No. 9.
Royse City upset No. 4 ranked Commerce 27-13 in last year's game to end a seven-year unbeaten streak in district play for the Tigers.
The two teams wound up tied for first place in 10-3A last year at 6-1, prompting a lively debate between the two schools over who was the true district champion. The district by-laws state in the event of a tie for first place the two tying teams are declared co-champions. Royse City earned the top seed in the playoffs with its head-to-head win over the Tigers.
The big question for this year's game is if Royse City's talented quarterback Mitch Morris can play. The all-district standout has been sidelined since suffering a fractured collarbone during the Bulldogs' 35-18 victory over Gladewater on Sept. 17.
Fred Mahan has taken over at quarterback and has guided the Bulldogs to district victories over Frisco (13-12), Bonham (19-6) and Quinlan Ford (42-21). Mahan threw three touchdown passes last week.
Royse City running backs B.J. White and Joe Watkins have taken over the load in Morris' absence. White has rushed for 698 yards. Watkins has dashed for 640 yards and has scored 12 touchdowns. Watkins caught three touchdown passes last week and ran in for another.
Quarterback Chad Anderson is 34-of-51 passing for Commerce for 615 yards and four touchdowns.
Avin Johnson has rushed for 615 yards for the Tigers, scoring 11 touchdowns, and Anderson piled up another 470 yards rushing.