UIL GIVES MAVS A NEW DISTRICT HOME

The University Interscholastic League announced the new alignment for 2010 and 2011 and there were plenty of changes for the next two years for Mavs fans and their neighbors. 

Changes included seeing Longview return to class 5A, while Texas High, Mount Pleasant, and Sulphur Springs were sent down interstate 30 to join eastern DFW schools.

Marshall joins these schools for the new alignment beginning next fall: John Tyler, Hallsville, Pine Tree, Kilgore, Jacksonville, Whitehouse, and Nacogdoches. 

This will mean multiple schedule changes for the Mavericks.

The Longview game will be moved to one of the first three games to be included in the non-district portion of the season. Kilgore and Jacksonville were non district games in 2008 and 2009. With the Longview game set in stone, that leaves only 2 slots for Marshall to fill. The new 2010 schedule will be posted ASAP.

MAVS BEAT HVILLE; PT & LONGVIEW UP NEXT

Marshall throttled Hallsville Friday night 83-41 Friday night at Maverick Gymnasium, giving the Mavericks the season sweep over the Bobcats, whom they have beaten four times this season. Twice in district play. The win kept Marshall all alone in third place. The game opened the second half of district 13-4A play for the Mavs. 

Marshall (21-7) now enters a critical portion of their season with a stretch of their biggest games of the season.

It starts Tuesday when they face Pine Tree who is currently the district leader. PT has suffered only one district loss and that was at the hands of Marshall several weeks ago.  Marshall will then face off against their arch rivals from Longview on Friday night. The Lobos pulled off a minor upset over Marshall in the first round of district play with a dominating win over the Mavs. The following Tuesday the Mavericks will face Texas High, whom they trail by only one game for second place. It's a critical three game stretch that could place Marshall as high as tied for first all the way to fifth place and sinking out of the playoff picture.

In other 13-4A action Friday: Longview got an OT win over Sulphur Springs, while PT beat MP. Texas High had the night off. Complete district standings are posted on the left column.

LADY MAVS CAN CLINCH WITH A WIN TUES

The Lady Mavs may have lost to Hallsville Friday night, but that does change the fact that Marshall is in firm control of their own playoff destiny heading into the final games of district play.

Marshall can clinch a playoff spot with a win over Pine Tree on Tuesday night. The Lady Mavs have already beaten the Lady Bucs once in district play back before the first of the year.

The Lady Mavs have a one game lead over MP for third place. A win Tuesday would put PT 2 games behind Marshall, clinching no lower than a 4th place finish for Marshall. MP still has a chance to catch the Lady Mavs for the #3 spot.

Marshall will be off Tuesday night before they face state ranked Hallsville on Friday night. Only four district games remain for the Lady Mavs.

In other district action: PT beat Texas High to keep their playoff hopes alive, while Hallsville smashed Sulphur Springs to stay within striking distance of the Lady Lobos.  Longview had the night off. Complete district standings are posted on the left column.

MAVS FALL IN REGION SEMI-FINALS 35-26

The Mavericks (9-4) saw their 2009 season come to a close with a heartbreaking 35-26 loss to the Denison Yellow jackets before some 11,000 fans at Hanby Stadium in Mesquite.

Marshall jumped out to a 19-7 lead at halftime but saw it slip away in the second half thanks to a dominating run game by the 'Jackets.

The Mavs trailed 28-26 with 5 mins remaining in the game. Marshall was driving in Denison territory and looking to pull off a wild come from behind victory. However, a failed fourth down conversion ended the threat.

Marshall again had a shot late in the fourth, but an interception ended the final hope of a come back. Denison cashed in a late touchdown to seal the win for the Yellowjackets.

The Mavs end another successful season with a region II semifinal appearance, their deepest run since back to back title games in 2004 and 2005.

MAVS CLAIM AREA CHAMPIONSHIP 34-14

The Mavericks rolled up 354 yards of offense while racking up 34 points in Friday night's win over Corsicana in second (Area) round of the UIL class 4A Division II state playoffs.  The game was played before 9,000 fans at a cold and soggy Rose Stadium in Tyler.

This marks the fourth time this decade Marshall has advanced to at least the region semifinals of the playoffs. 

Corsicana was held to 262 total yards.  83 of that came on their first drive and 70 of it came on their final drive after Marshall had claimed a 26 point lead late in the game.  The Mavs improve to (9-3) on the season.

BI-DISTRICT CHAMPS!! MAVS ROLL KILGORE

Marshall powered their way to a 44-7 win over Kilgore Friday night in a Bi-District playoff game in front of 8,500 at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium.

The win avenged last year's playoff loss to the Bulldogs at Maverick Stadium.

Marshall (8-3) now advances to the 4A Division II Area round where they will face the Corsicana Tigers (6-5).

The game is set for Friday night at 7:30 at Trinity Mother Francis Rose Stadium in Tyler.