VYPE Austin Central Texas Game of the Week Recap: Rouse outlasts Liberty Hill in overtime
It was every bit as intense and wildly entertaining as predicted.
Rouse’s London Morgan hit Coen May for a 15-yard touchdown strike in overtime to lead the Raider’s to a scintillating 49-43 win over Liberty Hill Friday night (9/5) at Gupton Stadium in our VYPE Austin Central Texas Game of the Week.
The offenses dominated all night, although they were mirror images of each other. For Rouse, it was Morgan getting it done through the air. The senior signal caller was outstanding, completing 29-40 passes for 422 yards and five touchdowns to four different receivers with one pick. Senior Alfredo Lopez (6-143 yds., 2 TDs) and junior Aubryn Davis (6-109 yds, TD) led the way with senior Anthony Reyes hauling in the fourth scoring strike. The Raiders had just 85 total rushing yards, 61 of that courtesy of Morgan who hauled one carry into the end zone.
Liberty Hill, on the other hand, did all their damage on the ground where they amassed 471 yards on 69 carries with six rushing touchdowns as a team. Junior Pierre Dylan Belinga led the Panthers with 162 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries. (That’s 9.5 yards-per-carry, or nearly a first down with every carry, in case you’re scoring at home.) Seniors Preston Benefield (26-167, TD) and Bryce Muchaw (25-138, 2 TDs) also cracked the century mark. Panthers junior quarterback Hudson Prior threw just two passes, completing one of them for a 35-yard touchdown to junior Cayden Timmons.
Neither team led by more than a touchdown the entire night. The game was tied 14-14 after the first quarter and 28-all at the half. Rouse held a slight 34-28 edge heading into the fourth quarter after a missed PAT.
With the teams trading punches, the Panthers fought back to take a 43-40 lead late in the fourth quarter – but the Raiders mounted one last drive, capped off by Matheus Zocca’s 30-yard field goal with 0:20 left to send the game to overtime.
Ironically, after all the offense, it was a defensive play – a fumble recovery by Rouse on the first play in overtime -- that set up the Raiders for Morgan’s game-winner.
Rouse (2-0) faces a stiff Thursday night test at Gupton Stadium against a vastly improved Waco Midway squad. The Panthers (0-2), meanwhile, will make the long trek to Andrews (north of Midland-Odessa) on Friday for a neutral site rematch of last year’s game vs. El Paso Eastlake. VYPE Live will broadcast that game with an early 4:45 pregame and 5:00 kickoff.