Scouting report Q&A: One area where Fort Bend Marshall could give Aledo fits, and two Buffalos to keep an eye on

The Houston Chronicle's Adam Coleman recently talked with The Dallas Morning News about the upcoming Fort Bend Marshall-Aledo championship game. Here is our back-and-forth about Marshall.

Fort Bend Marshall varsity football player Drew Conley was killed a few days following the team's fourth-round victory over Huntsville. What do we know about the case so far, and how did you see the team fight through that tragedy in its semifinal victory last week?

Conley was shot in the leg by his uncle following a dispute at a southwest Houston home. Conley was taken to the hospital, where he died. The uncle is in custody but no charges had been filed yet.

He was only 17. This was a huge blow to this team. I remember seeing receiver Korey King after the win over Calallen standing alone while holding Conley's jersey. It looked like amid all the celebration, he needed a moment to himself. Conley meant a lot to a lot of people on this team.

I admire the way Marshall has balanced grieving and trying to prepare for a state semifinal and now a final. Drew's funeral was Wednesday.

This is team with a lot of senior leadership in the locker room. They police themselves well through a heartbreaking situation like this. Situations like this prove it's bigger than football. But the team believes football is the best way to honor Drew. They want to win this for him.

===More scouting reports=== 

When people think of Aledo, they think of dominance: Aledo will be making its 10th state title game appearance and can win the program's eighth state title with a win on Friday. Meanwhile, Fort Bend Marshall is trying to become the first Fort Bend team to win a state title since 1982. What do the Buffalos have going for them that could stop Aledo in its tracks?

Speed, speed and more speed. Marshall has to be one of the fastest teams Aledo will see this year. So if it needs to turn into a high-scoring track meet, Marshall can do that. In fact, that might play in its favor.

Aledo may have some dynamic playmakers on offense, but so does Fort Bend Marshall in dual-threat QB Malik Hornsby and RB Devon Achane. In what is expected to be a shootout between two high-powered offenses, what or who will be the determining factor in who wins the title?

Hornsby is important here. He plays well and Marshall will be hard to stop. It's interesting. If Marshall wins on Friday, Hornsby's transfer might be one of the most impactful of all-time (he transferred from Houston Austin High, had to be cleared by UIL before playing). Marshall didn't really need him, but this team has no ceiling with him in the fold.

Achane has been outstanding this postseason. He's a huge reason Marshall came back to beat Calallen and he's a gamebreaker. Give him a little space and he'll outrun the defense.

Here's the thing: Jase McClellan can do all of that, too. I'm not sure Marshall has seen a team -- Manvel perhaps -- where the star power is identical at key positions like running back.

Aledo's tightest games this season were decided by 14 points (against South Oak Cliff) and 10 points (against Frisco Reedy). Meanwhile, Fort Bend Marshall has eked out several close wins in the regular season and playoffs. What, if anything, from SOC's and Reedy's tight games against Aledo can Fort Bend Marshall look to replicate in its own game plan? Is Fort Bend Marshall a team that simply knows how to win, and how much can that help the Buffalos take down a team as good as Aledo?

I think a good start is imperative, especially on defense. That's what Reedy and SOC did before Aledo eventually found its footing.

There is an incredible opportunity for Marshall's defense to set the tone in this game. If it can do that, then everything else might fall into place.

And again much like Shadow Creek against Highland Park, a good start is imperative because it's dangerous to give Aledo a lead and expect to climb back later.

Aledo doesn't make many mistakes.

Are you willing to offer a final prediction for the game? Who do you got, and by how much?

I like Marshall in this game. Really close. Less than a touchdown. I have no particular reason. Just a feeling they'll find a way.

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