The scuttlebutt heading into last week’s District 24-6A showdown between Cedar Park and Rouse was this: Cedar Park’s high powered offense should score a lot of points; the jury was still out as to how well the Timberwolves’ defense would hold up against a Rouse offense that was more than capable of scoring points of their own.
Question asked; question answered as Cedar Park gradually pulled away in the second half for a convincing 37-23 win over Rouse in the VYPE Austin CenTex Game of the Week.
Senior Lucas Viloria (22-147, 6.7 YPC, 2 TD) set the tone on Cedar Park’s opening drive, capping off a 6-play, 75-yard drive with a 35-yard touchdown run. Senior David Cooper’s toss to senior Wesley Hebert put the T-wolves up 8-0. They scored again after the Black Rain defense recovered a fumble. This time it was a 24-yard pass from Cooper (10-17, 123 Yds., 2 TD, INT) to senior Brayden Jahns followed by another conversion pass to senior Jonah Johnson to make it 16-0 Cedar Park.
The defenses dug in for a while before the Raiders finally got untracked. After a previous 18-play drive stalled on the Cedar Park 5-yard line, Rouse’s senior quarterback Chase Whitten (26-37, 245 Yds., 2 TD) connected with senior Aubryn Davis from 11 yards out to pull Rouse within 16-7 at the half.
The teams traded scores in the 3rd quarter. Cooper’s second touchdown pass, this one a 27-yarder to Hebert, helped Cedar Park open up a 23-7 lead. But the Raiders’ Davis (15-65, TD rushing; 10-47, TD receiving) scampered in from 7-yards out to cap off a 9-play, 67-yard drive as Rouse pulled within one possession at 23-15.
And then the Timberwolves took command.
A 75-yard drive ended with Viloria punching it in from 1-yard out to nudge the lead back to 30-15. The Black Rain forced a punt to break serve before senior Kycen Pham’s 18-yard run midway through the 4th quarter put the game away.
Whitten, however, connected with senior Coen May (8-159 Yds., TD) on a 45-yard touchdown to make the score look more respectable.
Rouse (1-1, 3-3) looks to rebound at Bible Stadium against Leander Friday night (10/9). Cedar Park (2-0, 6-0), meanwhile, puts its undefeated record on the line against powerful Hutto (2-0, 5-1) in a game that may see 100 points scored. VYPE Live will broadcast that game.
6:30PM - Volleyball: Bastrop vs. Cedar Creek
5:30PM - Volleyball: Foster vs. Fulshear
6:30PM - Volleyball: Hastings vs. Taylor
