Argyle football coach Todd Rodgers said it best: his team is out to make a statement.

    The Eagles (12-0) bullied Lake Worth 45-7 in the area round last week and will face Texarkana Pleasant Grove (8-3) at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at Royse City in the Class 3A Division II Regional Semifinals.    

    “There are still four more (games to play), so you have to keep a short memory and play this out one play and one game at a time,” Rodgers said. “Each week you get one chance to make a statement. And if you do well, then you can play for another chance.”

    Argyle comes in as the clear-cut favorite. They are the No. 1 ranked team in Class 3A and are in the playoffs for the fourth-straight year since joining 3A. Of course this year holds higher expectations.

    One major reason Rodgers said he thinks this team is unique is that they have been able to pull out victories over teams like Prosper and Celina – programs they’ve been unsuccessful against in years past. This year also marked the program’s first unbeaten regular season and first outright district championship.

    Perhaps more important has been their dominant run thus far in the post-season. In their two playoff games, the Eagles have outscored opponents 97-21. Last week, the Eagles used eight different running backs to pound Lake Worth, three of which rushed for 55 yards or more. Layton Lowry ran for 109 yards and three touchdowns.

    Lowry scored on runs of 33 and 41 yards in the first half as Argyle built a 24-0 halftime lead. His play was particularly important considering quarterback Austin Aune had trouble connecting with his receivers for the bulk of the first half. Aside from finding Justin Hommel for a pretty 52-yard touchdown pass, Aune was a pedestrian 3-for-7 for 68 yards prior to halftime.

    Aune had much better luck in the second half, and that’s when the offense really took off. Aune finished 8-for-20 for 137 yards and one touchdown as the Eagles exploded for 21 points in the third quarter.

    “We knew they would stack the box early and we were just trying to find the right mix of plays to run,” Rodgers said. “We had to make the adjustments with the pass protection, and I think we did that.”

    Defensively, Argyle forced three turnovers off fumbles and two more off interceptions. As a result, Lake Worth recorded just 62 yards through the air and didn’t get on the scoreboard until 1:52 left in regulation. Their only bright spot was running back Joel Rockmore, who rushed for 145 yards on 33 carries with one touchdown run.

    Texarkana Pleasant Grove comes into Friday’s game having beat Farmersville 30-24. Austin Brooks looks to be their main cog on offense as he carried the ball 21 times for 285 yards and two scores in the latest win. Texarkana has won four of its last five.