2019-2020 Kickoff: Ready For Another Rodeo

Jul 29, 2019

Photo by VYPE Media's Bradley Collier.

A year ago, VYPE was preparing to launch its Austin and San Antonio sites. Now, look at us. We're preparing for our second year of high school coverage in Central and South Texas. I was involved with many of the steps along the way, so it's been awesome to see how far the markets have come in such a short time.

It starts with the support. I remember inviting area football players to the 2018 VYPE Hill Country (yes, that's what the region was called back then) Preseason Photoshoot when the VYPE Austin (@VYPEATX) and VYPE San Antonio (@VYPESATX) Twitter accounts had zero followers. The athletes, as well as their parents, coaches and communities, took a chance on VYPE, and we're forever thankful.

Y'all came out in droves when we hosted the first shoot at Texas State, and have supported us ever since. That's evident in your visits to the VYPE sites, social media accounts and polls, as well as your continued interest in our preseason shoots. In case you haven't been counting, the local combined Twitter follow count has risen to over 4,000 in 14 months, and our five other shoots have produced better and better turnouts.

Some will say that numbers tell part of the story, and that's true. That's why the following was another great sign. Athletes tweeted their excitement when they were invited to this summer's VYPE preseason football and volleyball photoshoot. They, along with their parents, coaches and communities, also tagged us in their behind-the-scenes photoshoot tweets.

That tells me that we've left a positive mark on this part of the state. Lucky for you, more great content is ahead. Our 2019-2020 coverage begins with volleyball and football previews, which will be released daily over the next few weeks.

I am looking forward to watching your athletic best, so push yourself in your classes to stay eligible and play out of your minds when you see my cowboy hat at your sporting events. You may end up as the next VYPE Player of the Game.

Looking forward to the interview,

Thomas Bingham (@Texan8thGen)

VYPE Austin/San Antonio Editor/Reporter

vype media san antonio austin satx atx 2019-2020 2019 preseason photoshoot volleyball football coverage high school sports south texas central

Card's Return, Lake Travis Too Much For Judson; Rematch With North Shore Awaits

Photo by VYPE Media's Bradley Collier.

For the second straight year, the UIL 6A Division I Region IV final featured Lake Travis and Converse Judson and was played at San Antonio's Alamodome. The Cavaliers won 38-21 in 2018 and earned a come-from-behind 48-35 victory on Saturday.

A big part of that was Texas 2020 quarterback commit Hudson Card, who played in his first football game since he suffered a foot injury in Lake Travis' 26-25 rivalry win against Westlake on October 11th. The VYPE Player of the Game finished with three passing touchdowns and a rushing score.

"I've always wanted to come back ever since I got hurt, so that was my mission the past couple of weeks," said Card. "The team around me stepped up and the O-Line did an unbelievable job keeping me protected."

Card's team, Lake Travis, flexed its muscles early and took the game's first lead on Hays McCannon's 27-yard field goal. The Cavaliers would then fall behind by 11 points because Mike Chandler found Amarea Bailey-Davis on a 43-yard touchdown connection and added a 10-yard touchdown run towards the end of the first quarter.

But, Lake Travis got back on track in the second quarter, and made it a one-possession game going into halftime. Card found Weston Stephens for a 70-yard score with 2:25 left, and the Cavalier defense forced a Chandler fumble that nearly set up a go-ahead score on the final play of the first half.

The trend continued in the third quarter. Card launched a pair of touchdown passes to Kyle Eaves, and Stephens added a 44-yard touchdown run to make it a 31-14 advantage with 3:43 left in the period.

"You just got to stay with it," Lake Travis coach Hank Carter said of his team's comeback. "It's a 48-minute ball game. You can't freak out at the beginning of it and you gotta keep your cool and make some adjustments and we were able to do that."

Lake Travis' streak of 28 consecutive points would come to an end on De'Anthony Lewis' nine-yard touchdown run, but the Cavaliers immediately responded with Stephens' 52-yard touchdown run to make it a 38-21 game before the end of the third. They were followed by a pair of Chandler touchdown runs, but Card's rushing score, McCannon's 32-yard field goal and DJ Johnson's late interception wrapped up the Cavs' win in the fourth.

Lake Travis will now prepare for North Shore in the teams' second straight state semifinal meeting. The Cavaliers suffered a season-ending loss to the Mustangs when the teams met in 2018, but hope to avenge that defeat in next week's game.

For more sports coverage, follow Thomas (@Texan8thGen) and VYPE (@VYPEATX) on Twitter.

Looking to get more involved? Check out ShopVYPE for fresh gear that supports local schools and the VYPE U Ambassador Program. To sign up for the VYPE U Program, apply at VYPEU.com.

vype media austin san antonio central south texas 2019 season football recap txhsfb uil 6a regional final championship region iv division i lake travis converse judson player of the game interview hudson card hays mccannon mike chandler amarea bailey-davis weston stephens kyle eaves hank carter de'anthony lewis north shore state semifinal rematch austin texas high school sports austin high school sports san antonio texas high school sports dj johnson sports

INSTANT REACTION: Rockwall Shakes Off Slow Start, Downs Prosper

Courtesy Rivals.com

FRISCO - Another banner night for JSN. If you aren't familiar with those initials, you should probably get acquainted real quick because he's going to be a force come Saturdays next year at Ohio State.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba had a huge night for Rockwall in a 59-42 win over Prosper to advance to the 6A Division I State Semifinals, despite the terrible start.

By the 7:40 mark of the first quarter, Rockwall was already in a 14-0 hole. Prosper took the opening drive and scored in nine plays. On Rockwall's next possession: pick-six. Rockwall sophomore Braedyn Locke settled in and went to his go-to man, Smith-Njigba to get Rockwall on the board.

A punt and a JSN TD run tied the game. Another Prosper punt and a 53-yard JSN touchdown and the lead was gone by the midpoint of the second quarter.

All said an told, JSN simply dominated when his team needed it to the tune of 11 catches for 218 yards and 4 receiving scores; add in two rushing scores on the night, too.

Prosper hung tough with Rockwall in some stretches, but the scoring prowess of Rockwall was just too much to overcome, and Rockwall advances to meet Duncanville (14-0) next week in the state semifinals - time, date and location still to be determined.

rockwall prosper braedyn locke jaxon smith-njigba texas high school football high school football playoffs uil playoffs dfw high school sports dallas fort worth high school sports texas high school football playoffs

Shadow Creek Ends Manor's Magical Run; Will Play Wagner In State Semifinal

Photo by VYPE Media's Bradley Collier.

Shadow Creek (14-0) faced an unexpected challenge when it took on a hot Manor (8-6) squad during Saturday's UIL 5A Division I Region III final at San Antonio's Alamodome. The Sharks, who were the classification's state runner-up in 2018, faced a Mustang program that won its first three playoff games after a 5-5 regular season, but proved to be the better team in a 59-14 victory.

"They're all tough at this point in the year, so we just wanted to come out and try to protect the football and be great tacklers and solid on special teams," said Shadow Creek coach Brad Butler. "That's kind of our thing week in and week out."

Shadow Creek jumped at the opportunity to slow down its opponent, and took the game's first lead on VYPE Player of the Game Kyron Drones' two-yard touchdown run with 6:50 left in the opening quarter. He finished the game with three passing touchdowns and a pair of rushing scores.

Manor answered with a Che Nwabuko nine-yard touchdown run at the 4:22 mark of the quarter, but Chanceller Byers forced an interception with 47 seconds left in the period to set up the Sharks' go-ahead field goal and 10-7 lead at the 10:40 mark of the second frame.

Manor then jumped ahead on the scoreboard for the first and only time in the game when Matthew Hill connected with Lavonte Benford on a 47-yard touchdown. That gave the Mustangs a 14-10 edge with 5:10 left in the first half.

Even though Shadow Creek trailed at this point, it was all Sharks the rest of the way. Drones found Kelvon Brown and CJ Guidry on a pair of offensive scores, and Jaylen Lane's late pick six added to the 31-14 halftime advantage.

The second half was more of the same. The third quarter saw a Drones five-yard touchdown run and a 16-yard touchdown to Seth Jones, as well as a Jay'Veon Bell 22-yard touchdown run. Shadow Creek ultimately wrapped up their scoring with a Thomas Davis pick six at the 3:46 mark of the fourth.

Shadow Creek now turns its attention to San Antonio Wagner (13-1), who it beat 41-24 in the same state semifinal round in 2018.

"They know it's the rematch and they [are] going to try to have a redemption game, but we can't let that get to us, and we just gotta get over there and win," Drones said of next week's opponent.

For more sports coverage, follow Thomas (@Texan8thGen) and VYPE (@VYPEATX) on Twitter.

Looking to get more involved? Check out ShopVYPE for fresh gear that supports local schools and the VYPE U Ambassador Program. To sign up for the VYPE U Program, apply at VYPEU.com.

vype austin houston central texas 2019 football txhsfb season game recap regional final uil public school 5a region iii championship alvin pearland shadow creek brad butler media player of the game interview kyron drones manor che nwabuko chanceller byers matthew hill lavonte benford kelvon brown cj guidry jaylen lane seth jones jay'veon bell thomas davis san antonio judson wagner uil state state semifinal rematch vype houston high school sports houston high school sports austin texas high school sports austin high school sports sports

FAVORITES

CONNECT WITH US

Connect With Us

2019-2020 Kickoff: Ready For Another Rodeo

Card's Return, Lake Travis Too Much For Judson; Rematch With North Shore Awaits

INSTANT REACTION: Rockwall Shakes Off Slow Start, Downs Prosper

Shadow Creek Ends Manor's Magical Run; Will Play Wagner In State Semifinal

2019 VYPE Austin Girls XC Runner of the Year Poll

2019 VYPE San Antonio Girls XC Runner of the Year Poll

VYPE DFW Private School Volleyball Player of the Year Poll

Beck's Prime Poll: VYPE Houston Preseason Boys Basketball Player of the Year

VYPE Live High School Football Finals: Liberty Hill vs. Lampasas

Card's Return, Lake Travis Too Much For Judson; Rematch With North Shore Awaits

Shadow Creek Ends Manor's Magical Run; Will Play Wagner In State Semifinal

Lake Travis Not Skipping A Beat With Yarnell Under Center

ATX/SA Football Teams Chase 5 UIL 6A/5A Regional Titles

ATX/SA Football Rematches Set For UIL 4A & 3A Region Finals

Gatesville High football coach headed to join Art Briles at Mount Vernon

Michael Rose hired as Midland High boys' and girls' Tennis coach

Zachary High track star Sean Burrell overcomes injuries to win Louisiana Gatorade boys track award

Longtime assistant Mike Fullen 'unanimous' choice' as Abilene High football coach

Rudy Contreras introduced as newest Del Valle head football coach