By Rob Tate
SportCast Media
C.E. King (3-3, 1-2) at Humble (4-2, 1-2)
The details: 7 p.m. Thursday, Turner Stadium
History: Since 2012, the Panthers are 8-1 against Humble with four straight wins. Last year, C.E. King won 31-24 after trailing by a touchdown at halftime. Humble’s last win over the Panthers came in 2019 in the playoffs.
Key player for C.E. King: Junior running back Dionne Sims is a D1 prospect with five major offers so far, including Houston. Sims has rushed for 720 yards in six games with four 100-plus yard games and seven touchdowns.
Key player for Humble: Senior kicker/punter Ernesto Avila missed a game earlier this year and it showed the value he brings to the team. Avila hit a season-best 41-yard field goal for the Wildcats’ only points last week in a loss to Atascocita. He is 4-for-5 on field goals, 15-for-15 on extra points and is averaging 40.4 per punt on 22 attempts.
Stat attack: The Wildcats have 41 tackles for loss the season, a sure sign that the run stopping and pass rushing prowess is there. Juan Lolesio leads in that department with nine tackles for loss while Demoy Carr has six.
Notables: This is a must-win for both teams if they want to keep playoff hopes alive as District 23-6A is stacked at the top with three state-ranked teams in North Shore, Atascocita and Summer Creek … In last year’s tightly-played game against C.E. King, McAtrhur Baker III threw for 171 and two touchdowns while rushing for 49 yards … The Panthers took a 53-7 loss to No. 8 Summer Creek … C.E. King opened district play with a 54-7 loss to No. 4 Atascocita before bouncing back a week later with a 48-0 win over Goose Creek Memorial … C.E. King has made the playoffs six straight seasons … Juan Lolesio leads Humble with three takeaways (two interceptions, one fumble recovery).
DISTRICT 23-6A STANDINGS
Team, District Record (Overall Record)
North Shore, 3-0 (6-0)
Astacocita, 3-0 (6-0)
Summer Creek, 2-1 (5-1)
Kingwood, 2-1 (4-2)
Humble, 1-2 (4-2)
C.E. King, 1-2 (3-3)
Channelview, 0-3 (0-6)
Goose Creek Memorial, 0-3 (0-6)
