Robert E. Lee's David Antunez holds his ground in preparation of making the stop on Rockwall's A.J. Blacknall during Friday's game. (Patrick McGown/Correspondent)

MESQUITE – Robert E. Lee is making its third trip to E.H. Hanby Stadium in five weeks.

The Red Raiders (2-6, 0-5) want the third time to be the charm and yield their first District 11-6A win. Kickoff between Lee and North Mesquite (3-5, 2-3) is slated for 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Lee’s last two district setbacks were decided in the final minute of play. The first came at E.H. Hanby Stadium against Mesquite (57-56) with last week’s gut punch occurring at home at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium against Rockwall (42-35).

“We have suffered some difficult losses here, especially in the last two weeks and I have been proud of our kids’ resiliency,” REL coach Clayton George said. “They have come back each Monday for practice and if you watched our practices’ (intensity and enthusiasm) they don’t reflect our record.

“We all want these kids to achieve some success to make all of their hard work pay off.”

REL now faces a North Mesquite squad that has dropped three of its last four games, including being overwhelmed in the second half of a 42-14 loss to John Tyler. The Stallions are similar to the Red Raiders in that they’ve scored 35 and 49 points in their last two ball games and lost both.

North Mesquite was upended by Mesquite Horn 63-49 last week with the Stallions allowing 371 yards passing and 176 rushing. The Stallions and Jaguars were tied 21-21 at halftime, but Horn outscored North Mesquite 21-0 in the third quarter.

Stallions quarterback Ja’Quez Gooch passed for 140 yards and a TD with tailback Jawuan Clark rushing for a season-high 122 yards and a touchdown in the loss. North Mesquite had four different players score rushing touchdowns.

For the season Gooch is 72 of 112 for 1,046 yards and 12 touchdowns with one interception while Dreshawn Minnieweather leads on the ground with 110 carries for 910 yards and eight touchdowns. Gooch’s main receivers are Ja’marzeyea Arvie (30-458) and Zavyar Swain (40-410).

“Each night in this district we are going to face someone who is really good and you have to be at your best to execute and come out with a win,” George said of Friday’s test.

The Stallions defensively have been very hospitable, allowing 41.4 points per game in district play.

REL has scored 35 points or more in its last four league outings and the Red Raiders are enjoying a resurgence from a healthy Ladarius Wickware.

After the sophomore burst onto the varsity landscape with 200 yards in Lee’s season-opening win over Marshall, nagging injuries limited Wickware’s effectiveness. Through five games, Wickware had rushed for 358 yards and two touchdowns. In REL’s past three games, he has carried the ball 69 times for a jaw-dropping 702 yards and nine touchdowns.

Teams that focus on Wickware risk being torched by junior quarterback Chance Amie, who enters with 1,052 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns to go along with 1,091 yards passing and seven scores.

The biggest discrepancy in scoring by quarters for REL is the fourth, with the Red Raiders outscored 88-45.

George said he believes that has played the biggest role in the Red Raiders falling short in their last two games. REL had the lead in the final minute against Mesquite and was driving to tie or take the lead in the final minute against Rockwall.

“The last two games we’ve played 47 minutes and some change and a lot of good is going in that (time period), but we have yet to finish out that last part,” George said. “If we play a full 48 minutes we will (be in position) to get that first district win.”

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Robert E. Lee Red Raiders at North Mesquite Stallions

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Where: E.H. Hanby Stadium, Mesquite

Radio: ESPN East Texas 92.1-FM, Tyler

Records: Robert E. Lee 2-6 (0-5 in 11-6A); Corsicana 3-5 (2-3 in 11-6A)

Last Week’s Results: Rockwall 42, Lee 35; Mesquite Horn 63, North Mesquite 49

Last Year: Did not play.

All-Time Series: Red Raiders lead 6-4.

Players to Watch: Robert E. Lee – RB Ladarius Wickware; DB Triston Wesley. North Mesquite – QB Ja’Quez Gooch; LB Dillon Owens.

Quick Slant: If at first you don’t succeed. Robert E. Lee has been on the cusp of achieving its first district success the past two weeks, but had the rug pulled out from underneath it in game’s final minute. REL running back Ladarius Wickware is coming off a second-straight 200-yard, multi-touchdown rushing effort with the Red Raiders as a team averaging 338 yards rushing per game. Wesley is also coming off a career-best effort with the safety racking up 18 tackles last week, 12 of which were solo, and enters this game as the team’s leading tackler with 73 stops. North Mesquite QB Gooch missed the Stallions’ first two league games, but since returning from injury has passed for 660 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Quotable: “We have to tackle, we have to tackle and not bust any of our assignments. We have to trust our keys, play to our keys and when we get to the football, make sure we don’t miss those tackles.” – Aaron Babino, REL defensive backs coach.

Stadium Address: 410 E. Davis, Mesquite.

Next Up: John Tyler vs. Robert E. Lee, 7:45 p.m. Friday; North Mesquite at Rockwall, 7:30 p.m. Friday.