Ducks ready for Homecoming showdown
ANDREW SALMI
Members of the Taylor High School varsity football team happily gather around for a photo on Sept. 1 during the Ducks’ 39-6 blowout victory at home vs. rival Rockdale High School.
Homecoming week is here at last for Taylor High School and the Ducks varsity football team will start off 4A-1 District 13 play at 7:30 p.m. on Friday against a high-quality San Antonio Davenport High School squad.
Taylor senior standout quarterback Joshua Mikulencak, who suffered a seasonending injury in last year’s 32-29 loss at Davenport, has put up incredible numbers through five games in 2023. Mikulencak enters this week with 13 touchdown passes and zero interceptions on 80-of-121 passing attempts, 1,233 yards through the air, 208 yards rushing and seven touchdowns on the ground. As for senior wide receiver Jacob Mikulencak, he continues to be a big target for his brother to throw to downfield with 28 receptions for 415 yards and four touchdown catches, while fellow senior wide receiver Jackson Meller leads the Ducks’ receivers with 33 catches for 490 yards and four touchdown receptions.
Behind a stellar offensive line unit with senior Syris Corley, senior Hesston Cranor, junior Ernest Alderete, junior Harrison Tate and junior Eric Camacho, the protection for the quarterback as well as opening up lanes for junior running back Andrias Fisher continues to be a strong point of this team. Fisher continues to run wild as of late and has rushed for 585 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, while Meller has also rushed for 137 yards and one score. Taylor also got a huge boost on offense in its last game at Jarrell High School from Ducks senior wide receiver Jordan Pickerill, who hauled in three touchdown receptions and had five catches for 82 yards in the victory against the Cougars.
Although this defense has given up some points on occasion, they do have a knack for forcing turnovers and giving the Taylor offense more opportunities to score.
The Duck defense is consistently improving but will need to bring its A-game in order for Taylor to come out on top in the district opener against the Davenport Wolves.
However, the offense is clicking at the perfect time as Taylor has scored a whopping 111 points in its last two games with victories over Smithville High School and Jarrell.
Photo by Andrew Salmi
Ducks varsity football senior quarterback Joshua Mikulencak runs down the sideline for a long touchdown run on Sept. 15 during Taylor’s lopsided 49-19 home win over Smithville High School.
Photo by Andrew Salmi
andrew.salmi@granitemediapartners. com
