This year's Battle of Yazoo was expected to be a competitive matchup between equally matched teams, but Yazoo County had other plans.
The Panthers pulled off one of the biggest wins in the history of the local rivalry matchup with a 46-8 victory.
Yazoo County took a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back.
Kory Gainwell scored first for a 6-0 lead with 9:36 to go in the first quarter.
Yazoo City's Christopher Burnett grabbed an interception on County's next drive to bring the Indians offense back on the field, but the Panthers defense would give no ground.
Corey Rucker the Panthers' second touchdown of the night for a 14-0 lead.
Rucker then built on the lead with a 90-yard reception for a touchdown that gave Yazoo County a 21-0 advantage with 1:56 to go in the first quarter.
The VYPE Thursday Night Showdown powered by Daspit Law Firm returns on the @spacecityhn main channel as we have a great week three matchup between the Ridge Point Panthers and the Bridgeland Bears!
Cedar Park and Rouse have been going at it since Rouse opened its doors in Leander ISD in 2009. Those matchups have all recently been at the 5A level, where both the Raiders and especially the 2015 State Champion Timberwolves have seen considerable success. This Friday night (10/2) will mark their first clash as 6A foes when Cedar Park meets Rouse in a District 24-6A showdown at Gupton Stadium in our VYPE Central Texas Game of the Week.
All signs point to a plethora of points at The Gup. Sixth year head coach Michael Quintero’s Timberwolves (1-0, 5-0) have lit up the scoreboard to the tune of 50.8 point-per-game throughout the first half of the season. Senior quarterback David Cooper (86-114, 1,344, 15 TD, 0 INT) has picked apart opposing defenses through the air while tacking on just under 200 yards and 4 more touchdowns on the ground.
Senior Brayden Jahns (35-545, 15.6 YPC, 3 TD) has been Cooper’s favorite target, supported by fellow seniors Jonah Johnson and Kysen Pham. Lucas Viloria (93-455, 4.9 YPC, 8 TD) paces the T’wolves’ ground attack.
It’s been feast or famine on the other side of the ball. The vaunted Black Rain defense has shown signs of its championship heritage in back-to-back shutouts of Leander and Neu Braunfels and a 7-point effort vs. Clark. Yet they’ve also given up 35 points to A&M Consolidated and 34 to Midway. Senior Deshaun Stewart (50 tackles, 3.0 TFL, 2.0 Sacks) and junior C.J. Rogers (42 tackles, 2.0 TFL) anchor a unit that could help propel Cedar Park to a long playoff run with a little more consistency.
New Rouse head coach Mark Hopkins, who took over from founding coach Joshua Mann, has the Raiders (1-0, 3-2) thinking playoffs. Senior Chase Whitten (59-88, 724 Yds., 9 TD, 2 INT) guides a Raiders offense that will test Cedar Park’s defense, averaging 33.8 points per game. Like Cedar Park’s defense, the Rouse offense has been hit or miss, piling up points in wins over Georgetown, McNeil and Vista Ridge – but getting shut out by Midway and scoring 16 vs. Cedar Ridge.
Sophomore Amauri Dickson (55-531, 9.7 YPC, 6 TD) and senior Aubryn Davis (42-413, 9.8 YPC, 4 TDs) have gashed opponents on the ground with Davis also leading the team in catches and receiving yards.
Junior Dylan White (68 tackles, 5.0 TFL, Sack) and senior Greyson Simpson (51 Tackles, 9.0 FTL, 7.0 Sacks) drive a defense that’s allowed 23.4 points per game.
Each district game takes on added importance with just seven teams in the newly reconfigured District 24-6A. Just a little added significance for longtime rivals Cedar Park and Rouse.
What: Cedar Park vs. Rouse When: 6:45 Pregame, 7:00 Kickoff Where: Gupton Stadium Who: Josh Willard, Brad Cone, Cecil Coconougher Watch:https://www.vype.com/7pm-football-cedar-park-vs-ro... and also streaming on the KVUE+ App
