Jalen Walthall during the Manvel Mavericks warm-up
Being a 5A school the Manvel Mavericks knew they were in for a tough ride Friday night with the defending 6A State Champion North Shore Mustangs. Though the game didn't go as planned for the Mavericks, with a 49-14 loss to the Mustangs, the Mavs are going to do great things in Class 5A football this year.
Here are some things you can look forward to watching this season.
Dual Threat Quarterback Gabriel Larry
The new transfer QB Gabriel Larry is a dual-threat guy. He isn't only able to take off with the ball when he needs to, but he also has an amazing arm. He had two passing touchdowns against the Mustangs, and has passed for 562 yards in just three games. Alongside some great wide receivers and running backs, Larry and the Mavs offense are going to make some big plays this season.
Jalen Walthall
With every great QB comes a great wide receiver. Though Walthall didn't have many receptions this week, all those he did have were great. Just this year he is averaging nearly 30 yards per reception. He is quick on his feet, and will give any cornerback covering him a run for their money this season. He is also on the kickoff return team, and had returned a few kicks against North Shore. With Walthall and Larry in the works, you can expect some great highlights this season.
Justin Medlock
The highly recruited junior outside linebacker for the Mavs is averaging 8.1 tackles per game. He is a truly important piece on the defensive side of the ball for the Mavs. On Friday night he recorded ten total tackles, including two sacks. He is a big body, yet is able to cover ground quickly. If he gets loose he is definitely going to make a play.
These certainly aren't the only players that make up the Mavs team. They are full of talent and are a team that will do big things this season. After a little hiccup this week, you can expect the Mavs to come out hard in their upcoming game when they begin District Play against the 3-0 Angleton Wildcats.
