ENNIS — D.J. Betik passed for 345 yards last week and Kyle Guinyard caught seven passes for 154 yards in a 56-13 victory over Cleburne, the kind of numbers we've gotten used to for the last 14-plus seasons of Ennis Lions football.

At Texas Tech, Graham Harrell completed 20-of-25 passes for 284 yards in a 37-31 overtime win over Nebraska last Saturday, and the Red Raiders were rewarded with the No. 5-ranking in the latest USA Today coaches poll, the highest ranking in Tech football history.

And somewhere in his quaint office in Ennis, coach Sam Harrell smiles with pride at two of his greatest projects — the Lions’ Spread offense and his son, a Heisman Trophy candidate.

Funny story: my brother, Jeff, covered Lions football for the Daily Sun when Sam Harrell first arrived at Ennis back in 1994. He used to call me and tell me what a crazy fool Harrell was for trying to run “this helter-skelter offense” called the “Spread.”

Three state championships later — 2000, 2001, 2004 — no one laughs at Ennis football.

And while the Lions have taken a semi-hiatus the last few years, including a 7-5 season last season, there is no doubt that Harrell is still considered to be one of the state's best coaches, and as long as he is there, the potential for another Ennis dynasty always will always be in reach.

Seeing Ennis scoring 48 points a game and the numbers for Betik and Guinyard entering tonight's game against Corsicana at Tiger Stadium certainly gives reason to believe it could be happening now.

“We finally have what we've enjoyed,” Harrell said in a recent interview in his office next to Ennis’ Lion Stadium. “A quarterback that understands the system and has some weapons out there. When you have that it’s fun.”

Ennis (6-0, 3-0), the No. 8-ranked team in the state, is led by Betik is fourth in the Metroplex in passing with 1,507 yards and 19 touchdowns. Yes, those are Graham and Clark Harrell-type numbers.

Betik has two great receivers to work with, and doesn't that flash you back to the days of Vincent Marshall and Anthony Jenkins.

Junior WR Kyle Guinyard is having a breakout season with 40 receptions for 709 yards and 11 touchdowns. Senior WR Deonte McDade, who has committed to SMU, has 37 catches for 402 yards and 5 touchdowns.

“Kyle's one of those guys who can hit it out of the ballpark,” Harrell said. “Deonte is one of those slot guys who can do things there and make plays.”

Of course, receivers need a quarterback who can get them the ball. So it made sense to move McDade, last year’s starting quarterback to receiver, where all 11 players on defense aren't focused on him. Harrell turned the ball over to Betik, who has bloomed into a top quarterback.

Harrell's offenses have always been built around the quarterback, and these days his life is built around them.

When Friday night’s game is over, Harrell and his wife, Kathy, go home and pack and prepare to fly wherever to see Graham play in this his senior season. This Saturday it will be short drive down to College Station for the Red Raiders game against rival Texas A&M.; The Harrells have missed one game — at Nevada — because they were moving to a new home.

Graham is having another great season. He leads the nation in passing yardage with 2,311 yards. He has the eighth-best passer rating at 164.94, which is amazingly fifth-best in the Big 12 behind Oklahoma Sam Bradford (No. 2), Oklahoma State's Zac Robinson (No. 3), Texas' Colt McCoy (No. 4) and Missouri's Chase Daniel (NO. 5).

The Harrell-to-Michael Crabtree combination is exciting to watch. Harrell also probably leads the nation in fist pumps, which drives his rivals crazy, but fires up the Red Raider Nation.

“He loves being on the field," Sam Harrell said. “He’s very competitive.”

The Harrells have also started dealing with the NFL Draft —Graham is the 11th-ranked quarterback by ESPN's Scouts Inc. And Clark is a sophomore at Abilene Christian, where he transferred from Tulsa.

And what does the future hold for their 53-year-old father?

There's always been the thought that Harrell might go to bigger high school or to college ball. His record of 137-44 at Ennis speaks for itself, even though it is interesting to note he was 24-22 in his first four seasons. (Corsicana coach Dave Henigan, who is some corners started this year on the coaching hot seat, was 29-17 before starting his fifth season this year).

Harrell, who grew up in Brownwood and played for Gordon Wood, fits in a small town like Ennis and the idea that he would leave for a Plano or a Southlake Carroll probably will never happen.

Seeing Art Briles get a head coaching job at Houston and now Baylor makes you wonder if Harrell could have followed the same path. He does admit to at one time having opportunities as a college assistant. But the timing wasn't right with Graham in college and Clark about to be in college.

Harrell, who is as laid back as they come in the high school coaching profession, takes things at a slow pace.

“In two years, I’ll be 55,” Harrell said. “Then we’ll see what the future holds.”