TNG Division 2 Bracket: Ranking the Offenses
Ranking the offenses 1-64 in the Division 2 bracket
Let’s take a look at the Division 2 bracket, specifically, and how all 64 teams rank in adjusted offensive scoring. Not only against each other following this regular season’s performance, but also against last season and their 3-year average on this side of the ball.
DeSoto Eagles at the top of this list shouldn’t surprise anyone who has been following our offensive leaders all year. The headliner that powers this explosive offense is the junior QB DJ Bailey to Texas verbal commit WR Johntay Cook connection. This duo has connected 45 times and 13 of those have gone for a TD. In the backfield, they employ a committee approach with senior transfer and also Texas verbal Tre Wisner, junior Jaden Trawick, and soph Deondrae Riden Jr.
The Katy Tigers had two down offensive performances to start district play, but outside of those two they’ve posted nothing but 20+ adjusted offensive scoring performances. You likely don’t need us to tell you what the Katy offense looks like at this point, we’ll just confirm that it’s the same Katy you’ve seen for the last 30 years. Mississippi St. verbal commit RB Seth Davis is once again the gamebreaker that dots the I-formation for the Tigers. The offensive line is a really good, big, and a deep unit that is battle tested already against some really good fronts.
Byron Nelson enters the playoffs with a very talented, balanced, and highly experienced offensive unit. This core group of QB Jake Wilson, RB Aaron Darden, WRs Gavin McCurley and Landon Ransom has been giving defenses fits now for 2-3 years. These are largely the same guys that put up 36 points in the 3rd round last season during a one score loss to eventual state finalist and top defense, Denton Guyer. Darden is a 1,000+ yard back, McCurley and Ransom are 1,000+ yard, double digit TD type wide receivers.
The Southlake Carroll Dragons enters the playoffs breathing fire in the form of a career four year starter, 7,500+ yard, 105+ touchdown back in Owen Allen. Talk about an absolute machine. In their game a couple weeks ago against a good defensive team in Byron Nelson, Allen ran for over 200 yards and 5 TDs. SLC lost their starting quarterback, senior Kaden Anderson, around midseason, but as long as they have #2 in the backfield, they’ll be just fine. Junior WR Jacob Jordan is really, really good.
Dripping Springs is another example of an offensive unit that has a lot of games together under their belts. Senior QB and Baylor verbal Austin Novosad, along with WRs Kyle Koch (junior) and Garon Duncan have connected for 40+ TDs in their careers together. The combo of senior RB Kade Curry and soph Jack Tyndall don’t garner a ton of headlines, but they’ve produced over 1,000 yards and around 20 touchdowns.
Highland Park just polished off an undefeated regular season due in large part to the Scot’s aerial attack led by senior Western Michigan verbal commit QB Brennan Storer. He has a wealth of options that are all matchup problems for any defense they face in 6’3 Jackson Heis, 6’3 Luke Herring, and 6’2 Beau Lilly. Then, you have speed options inside like Grayson Shrank. Like most offenses these days, they’re going to spread you out, but unlike most, they can go empty with five legit athletes with size and speed. Senior RB Jay Cox is in a similar mold to all of the spread running backs on the list above, does damage in all of the space afforded given the threats on the outside.
What more can be said about Denton Guyer’s senior QB and Oklahoma verbal Jackson Arnold. Of all the quarterbacks that have been featured heading into the playoffs, he could be the best. The arm talent is well documented, but what makes him so difficult to defend is his overall football IQ and competitiveness. His top target is Landon Sides and this connection performs their best against their toughest competition. Over 40 points against Allen and McKinney in recent weeks is a great indications this unit will easily outperform it’s #7 adjusted offensive scoring metric come playoff time.
Alvin Shadow Creek might be the youngest offensive unit in the playoffs. They’re led by soph Jacorey Watson, two of the top three running backs are juniors, as well as several underclassmen on the outside. There isn’t one dominating force on this unit, but there’s a wealth of options they can go to on any given play and that makes them a tough scout. The Sharks enter postseason play having scoring 45+ in five of their last six contests.
Humble Summer Creek is at their best when they feature do-it-all athlete Corey Nichols all in the offensive game plan. He’s highly effective as a wide receiver, a wildcat quarterback, and/or getting carries from the backfield. Move him around and get the ball in his hands. Senior RB Lloyd Avant is fantastic and a given to carry a large load of the offense, but when both guys are going, this is a difficult offense to defend. Jahrik Jones is a returning starter at QB with a lot of big game experience and WR Roriyon Richardson is another outside threat at his disposal.
Austin Vandegrift features a Senior QB Brayden Buchanan to junior WR Miles Coleman connection that has accounted for over 50% of Buchanan’s 2,000 passing yards. Buchanan is a multi-year starter who is similar to Guyer’s Jackson Arnold in the sense that he’s a tough, bigger guy that is an effective runner when needed. This group won’t kill you with speed, but certainly will with execution.