• Home
  • Texas
  • Kansas
  • Louisiana
  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Mississippi
  • New England
  • Communities
  • Log in
SUBSCRIBE
LOG INSIGN UP
Markets:
  • Texas
    • Houston
    • DFW
    • Austin
    • San Antonio
    • West TX
    • Panhandle
    • The Valley
    • SETX
    • Deep East
    • Central TX
    • Private Schools
  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Kansas
  • Louisiana
    • Public Schools
    • Private Schools
  • Mississippi
  • Oklahoma
  • VYPE Media
  • VYPE Live
  • VYPE U
  • Video
  • Magazine
  • Recruiting
  • Photos
  • Polls
  • Shop
  • Events
  • Scores
  • VYPE Campus
  • Home
  • State
  • City
  • Type

Experienced Shadow Creek squad set for State Semis

Joshua Koch
Dec 13, 2019

HOUSTON - A year ago as Shadow Creek was making its historic run to a state championship game in the inaugural year of the program playing UIL football, Brad Butler was posed with this question.

Do these guys even understand the historic run they are on?

Butler at the time laughed and jokingly said he hoped they didn't figure that out until after the season was over. The Sharks finished 2018 at 15-1, with its lone loss coming to Highland Park in the 5A Division I State Championship game.

Fast forward to today, Shadow Creek is doing it again. The Sharks are 14-0 heading into Friday's state semifinal rematch with San Antonio Wagner, hoping for a second-straight trip to AT&T Stadium with a win.

But there's a difference between this year's team and lasts but it doesn't all show up in the box score.

"We had so many guys returning off last year's team that there's definitely a different maturity among our team," Butler, the 2019 Touchdown Club of Houston Coach of the Year, said. "They've been pretty focused and you know they set some goals and is really one of the more mature teams that I've coached, to be honest with you."

The maturity comes from the senior class, which is the first group that has walked the halls of Shadow Creek High School all four years.

This current seniors went through the first two years of the program, during which they weren't in a UIL district at that time having to travel all over the state just to build a 10-game schedule.

From those experiences, the group became tight, which has carried them to this moment.

"I just think the relationships that were built and the chemistry that was built, I think is paying off for us now," Butler said.

If Shadow Creek wants to return to Arlington in a week, it will have to beat San Antonio Wagner, again.

Last season the road to their first state title game appearance went through the Thunderbirds inside NRG Stadium, which the Sharks won 41-24.

This time, Shadow Creek travels to the Alamo City to face them and their triple-option offense anchored by LJ Butler, who has rushed for more than 2,200 yards this season.

"We've got a lot of respect for them," Butler said. "That game we had last year here in NRG was a good game. Last week, I don't know how many yards they rushed for but it was a bunch. They put 74 points on the board, so we know they are tough ball-control offense, they are a challenge to get off the field.

"We've got a real challenge, they've been playing extremely well."

The defensive unit heading into this rematch is almost the exact same as last year, minus a couple of seniors that graduated. But the Division I filled talent core is still wearing the black and blue, led by Alec Bryant and company.

What San Antonio Wagner didn't have to defend against in 2018 was the rising talent of Kyron Drones.

The junior quarterback, who took over for the speedster Jamarian George, has really shown his ability to sling the pigskin down field, as well as run, just in a different style, when need be.

Drones has passed for 2,998 yards and 43 scores, while rushing for another 705 yards and 15 touchdowns in 14 wins this season for the Sharks.

"[He's grown] a bunch, even feeling more comfortable and stepping into a leadership role for us," Butler said about Drones' growth. "It's been exciting just to watch him get more comfortable and improve all year. We're a little bit different looking offensively than we were last year just because of the different skill sets between what Jamarian brought and what Kyron brings. Not that one is better than the other but it is different. We feel like we're fairly efficient now."

What can't be argued is the success of Butler's Sharks since arriving on the scene in 2018.

Heading into this state semifinal showdown, the Sharks are looking with a win to improve to an incredible 30-1 overall and advance to the program's second-straight title game.

"I know they do," Butler said about them realizing what they've accomplished. "It's not something we talk about too much. The last two years we've mapped out a playoff plan at the beginning of the playoffs each year. I think that's helped keep us focused on the next step.

"They've done a great job of not getting too far ahead of themselves and taking care of each week at a time."

shadow creek high school alec bryant brad butler vype houston high school sports houston high school sports kyron drones texas high school football texas high school football playoffs alvin isd uil state football championship san antonio texas high school sports shadow creek football

Remembering Lancaster's Tony Evans Jr.

Shana Willeford
11 Apr, 2021
Tony Evans Jr.'s Twitter Account (@TonyEvansJr1)

The community in Lancaster is mourning Sunday after the news broke on the death of Lancaster High School football star, Tony Evans Jr.

The talented 17-year-old wide receiver was reportedly shot about 1:30 a.m. on Sunday morning in a room at the Hawthorn Suites hotel near Dallas Lovefield airport. There was one other victim. Evans Jr. and the other victim were taken to the hospital where the three-star athlete was pronounced dead. As of Sunday afternoon, the other victim has been reported to be in stable condition.

Read More... Read Less
dallas fort worth high school sports dfw high school sports lancaster lancaster football lancaster tiger football lancaster tigers lancaster tigers football tiger football tigers football tony evans jr.

DFW Soccer Playoffs: State Semifinals

Stephen Peters
11 Apr, 2021
It's the last week of the 2020-21 UIL soccer season, and we're down to the penultimate set of games. The DFW area is in great shape to bring home a lot of hardware this week with five boys teams and five girls teams remaining across all classifications.
The DFW area is guaranteed to have a representative in the State Title game in four of the six classifications. Let's check out the schedule.
Records are based on MaxPreps.com
Read More... Read Less
dfw high school sports uil playoffs uil soccer uil texas high school soccer texas high schoool boys soccer texas high school girls soccer dfw high school soccer allen rockwall-heath frisco wakeland fort worth diamond hill-jarvis celina flower mound midlothian heritage grapevine

VYPE Live - Middle School Boys Lacrosse: St. Andrew's vs. Regents

VYPE Live
11 Apr, 2021

Join our VYPE Live crew for this Texas Middle School Lacrosse match-up on Saturday, April 11:

2PM - Middle School Boys Lacrosse: St. Andrew's vs. Regents

TRENDING

Freddy's Poll: VYPE Houston 2022 Offensive Football Recruit of the Year Fan Poll

VYPE Live Lineup - Saturday 4/10/21

Girls Soccer: Memorial, The Woodlands, Friendswood advance to State Semis

Unfinished Business: Kingwood Park punches ticket to State Semifinals with 6-2 win

VYPE Live Lineup - Friday 4/9/21

GAMES

VYPE Live Lineup - Saturday 4/10/21

VYPE Live - Middle School Boys Lacrosse: St. Andrew's vs. Regents

VYPE Live - Softball: Kempner vs. Foster

VYPE Live - Baseball: Cedar Park vs. Marble Falls

VYPE Live - Baseball: Dripping Springs vs. Boerne-Champion

VYPE Live - Softball: Cedar Park vs. Leander

VYPE Live - Boys Lacrosse: Episcopal Houston vs. Friendswood

VYPE Live - Baseball: Liberty Hill vs. East View

VYPE Live - Boys Lacrosse: St. Andrew's vs. Greenhill School

VYPE Live - JV Baseball: Episcopal Houston vs. College Station

VYPE Live Lineup - Friday 4/9/21

VYPE Live - Baseball: Liberty Hill vs. Glenn

VYPE Live - Lacrosse: Anderson vs Smithson Valley

VYPE Live - Lacrosse: Westwood vs Regents

VYPE Live Lineup - Thursday 4/8/21

VYPE Live - Baseball: St. John's vs. Kinkaid

VYPE Live - Middle School Girls Lacrosse: St. Stephen's vs. The Trojans

VYPE Live - Softball: Cedar Park vs. East View

VYPE Live - Baseball: Vista Ridge vs. Westwood

VYPE Live - Baseball: Vandegrift vs. Cedar Ridge

Join the #VYPETEAM

Get up to date news from all over the country! 

FROM THE WEB

VYPE Football 2020 Preview: Class 6A - No. 1 North Shore

Inside the Program: John Cooper School Girls Cross Country

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

CONNECT WITH US
Connect With Us
Copyright Ⓒ VYPE - All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy - Terms and Conditions - Board Directory