With just three weeks left in the regular season, district races are starting to take shape. In some districts, top teams will clash in the final games of the year before playoff spots are set. Here’s a look at three quarterback and receiver pairs to keep an eye on in the coming weeks, chosen based on their production and their remaining games.
Jake Wilson and Landon Ransom-Goelz, Trophy Club Byron Nelson
Jake Wilson has consistently been one of the top quarterbacks in the area in terms of yardage. He currently leads local 6A quarterbacks with 2,562 yards. But Wilson has also thrown 14 interceptions, the most of any top-20 area quarterback in 6A.
With the amount of passing Byron Nelson does, however, the high pick rate makes sense. Wilson has thrown 306 attempts so far, about 40 more than the passer with the second-most throws. He’s completed 61% of those passes.
Receiver Landon Ransom-Goelz has received 50 of those 306 passes. The junior ranks third among Dallas-area 6A players in receiving yards with 837, along with eight touchdowns.
Byron Nelson has another player not far behind Ransom-Goelz on the list of top 6A receivers. Gavin McCurley has 46 catches for 804 yards and 11 touchdowns.
After a Week 9 bye, Wilson and his top targets will face Keller in Week 10. Both Keller and Byron Nelson are 2-2 in district play, and the matchup will be key in determining the third and fourth playoff spots from District 4-6A.
Jaxxon Warren and Dallas Dudley, Flower Mound Marcus
Flower Mound Marcus currently sits in third place in District 6-6A with a 3-1 district record. In two of its final three games, Marcus will play the current No. 1 and No. 2 teams, Lewisville and Hebron. Marcus has a path to playoffs, but if it wants to shake things up in its district, it will need strong performances from its passing game leaders.
Quarterback Jaxxon Warren’s 1,625 passing yards put him at No. 11 among Dallas-area 6A passers. He’s one of two quarterbacks in the top 20 with just one interception on the year. Almost half of those yards have come on receptions by Dallas Dudley.
Dudley’s 815 yards on 47 receptions make him No. 5 among area 6A players. He leads Marcus in receptions and yards. Leading the group in touchdowns, however, is Ashton Cozart, who has 28 catches and nine scores.
The combination of Warren and Dudley plus receivers like Cozart and backup quarterback Cole Welliver has made Marcus the third-most productive passing offense in Dallas-area 6A, behind only Garland and Trophy Club Byron Nelson.
Jackson Gilkey and Gracen Harris, Ennis
Along with a solid defense, Ennis’ balanced offense has propelled it to its current 7-0 record and the No. 7 spot in the Dallas Morning News’ ranking of area 5A teams.. Ennis has run the ball more than it has passed, but with Jackson Gilkey and Gracen Harris leading its attack through the air, Ennis averages almost 200 passing yards per game.
Gilkey has thrown for 1,440 yards through seven games, putting him in the top 15 among area 5A passers. Of Gilkey’s 14 touchdown passes, Harris has caught eight. Harris leads all area 5A players in receiving yards with 841.
In addition to Ennis, two more teams in District 8-5AII have yet to lose a district game. Ennis plays both of those teams in the next two weeks, starting with Forney on Friday.
The Forney defense has allowed an average of about 11 points per game in district play. An even tougher task for Ennis will be 7-0 Royse City in Week 10. That game could determine the district champion.
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