By David Claybourn
Herald Banner Sports Editor
One team's averaging 48.7 points per game, while the other is scoring at a 30.8-point
clip.
One team's giving up just 6.2 points per game, while the other has allowed only 8.9.
One team reached the state finals in 2000 while the other team reached the state title
game in 1995, 1997 and 1999, winning it all in 1999.
One team is ranked No. 1 in the polls, while the other is seventh.
The Forney-Commerce District 11-3A match-up in Commerce tonight has all the ingredients
necessary to be a classic. In fact, the 7:30 p.m. contest at Memorial Stadium is being
billed as one of the top games in the state this week.
Forney, led by speedy running back DaBryan Blanton, brings an 8-0 record and the No. 1
state ranking into the game. The powerful Jackrabbits have been outscoring their opponents
by an average margin of 42 points per game.
Commerce has relied on a stingy defense and an improving offense to outscore its opponents
by a 22-point margin. The No. 7 state-ranked Tigers are 7-1 for the season and at 3-0 are
tied with Forney for the top spot in District 11-3A.
Commerce nipped Forney 15-14 at Forney on a 25-yard field goal by Bart Bryant with 1:17
left to win the district title last year.
But the Jackrabbits beat Commerce 24-14 in a state quarterfinal playoff game at Texas
Stadium on their way to the Division II state title game. Forney lost 20-17 to LaGrange in
the finals.
Blanton is the fastest high school sprinter in the nation, having clocked times of 10.30
and 20.37 seconds in the 100 and 200-meter dashes while winning state titles last season.
He's used that speed to dash for 1,656 yards and 25 touchdowns this season on just 113
carries. That's an average of 14.6 yards per carry.
Forney coach Mel Maxfield said it's a pleasure to coach a player like Blanton, calling him
a special athlete and a special person.
Commerce also has a 1,000-yard rusher in halfback Tommy Wright, who is averaging 8.4 yards
per carry. Wright's rushed for 1,004 yards and 12 touchdowns on 119 carries.
Maxfield said the Tigers' offense is definitely getting better every week.
"I see them improving and expanding offensively every week," he said.
"Their starting point has been defense."
Commerce quarterback Shawn Droddy has given Terry Cron's Tigers a passing threat to go
with Wright's rushing. Droddy is 28-of-63 for 545 yards and six touchdowns.
Antonio Burrell leads the Tiger receivers with 14 catches for 255 yards and six
touchdowns.
Bryson Brown gives Forney another rushing threat with 573 yards and 12 touchdowns on 80
carries.
Wide receiver T.J. Gilmer leads the Jackrabbits' receivers with 10 catches for 309 yards
and five touchdowns.
While both teams are nearly certain of making it back into the playoffs the 11-3A title is
still something they're both shooting for.
"It's everybody's goal to have a district championship season," said Maxfield.