GAMES
RANKINGS
Championships and State Semis on the Line for Austin/San Antonio Area Schools
Championships are on the line at the TAPPS level, while for UIL schools a spot in the state semifinals is on the line. We've got rematches and intriguing matchups across the board. We take a look at 11 matchups happening across the Austin/San Antonio area.
HILL COUNTRY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL VS LOGOS PREP
Thursday, December 1st, 7:00PM | Waco ISD Stadium, Waco Texas
Hill Country Christian had it's closest win of the year since their win against Heritage Christian early in the season. They came away with a 4 point win over Emery Weiner and will now look to play Logos Prep who defeated Veritas 62-52 in the semifinals.
SHINER ST. PAUL VS LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN
Saturday, December 3rd, 12:00PM | Waco ISD Stadium, Waco Texas
The 5-peat is on the line against Lubbock Christian on Saturday after their 37-21 win over Sacred Heart last week. Lubbock Christians first year in TAPPS Division IV after being in Division III last season has seen them go 11-1 behind QB Bax Townsend who we have covered on our VYPE Recruit Spotlight show. The Cards will want to limit him if they want to win it all once again.
SHINER VS REFUGIO
Friday, December 2nd, 7:00PM | San Marcos' Rattler Stadium, San Marcos Texas
Don't be surprised to see the stands packed to capacity Friday in San Marcos. These teams almost seemed destined to meet year after year in the playoffs. This year, and next year too at least, they are also district foes. Refugio got the better of Shiner in that one 38-27 with a 19 point 4th quarter. Dalton Brooks will be looking to get one more title before leaving for College Station, while for Refugio they are looking to win a state championship for the first time since the 2019-2020 season.
POTH VS TIDEHAVEN
Friday, December 2nd, 7:00PM | San Marcos' Bobcat Stadium, San Marcos Texas
I've said it since the beginning, this Poth team has the chance to go all the way this year. Standing in their way now? Tidehaven. Poth came away with an impressive 55-13 win last season. This round last year saw their team come up short against Franklin, and now they will need to get past a good Tidehaven team to make the Semi's. Their defense will have to make some huge stops as Tidehaven comes in averaging over 35 points per game.
LLANO VS EDNA
Thursday , December 1st, 7:00PM | San Marcos' Rattler Stadium, San Marcos Texas
12-1 Edna squares off against undefeated Llano with a trip to the state semi-finals on the line. For Edna their were some tight games against Randolph and Blanco to get here while Llano has cruised fairly easily to get here. The key to this one will be making Llano uncomfortable. They have only been in a few close games this year so what happens if Edna can get up on them early.
WIMBERLEY VS LAGO VISTA
Friday, December 2nd, 7:30PM | Hutto's Memorial Stadium, Hutto Texas
In a rematch from Week 10 Wimberley and Lago Vista face off once again. This time with way more on the line. In the Texans 31-28 win over the Vikings in the regular season, Lago Vista had a lead heading into the 4th quarter before a touchdown by the Texans sealed that one. This one is a coin flip and I will look to how will Cody Stoever plays for the Texans. If he can play like he did against the Vikings last time I can see a state semi-final appearance in their future.
BOERNE VS CALALLEN
Friday, December 2nd, 7:30PM | Alamo Stadium, San Antonio Texas
Somebody is about to have their first loss of the season. Both of these teams have look great all season behind their quarterbacks. For the Greyhounds Sophomore Jaxon Baize has been phenomenal throwing for over 3,000 yards and 46 touchdowns to only 4 interceptions. Meanwhile, Senior quarterback Bryce Burrnett has gotten it done in the air on the ground with over 1,500 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing. Whichever defense can hold the opposing quarterback in check will be the key.
LIBERTY HILL VS CORPUS CHRISTI FLOUR BLUFF
Friday, December 2nd, 7:00PM | Farris Stadium, San Antonio Texas
3 points. That is all Alamo Heights allowed from the Panthers in the first half of last weeks game between Liberty Hill and Alamo Heights. But that still wasn't enough as Liberty Hill would score 34 2nd half points to escape with a 37-32 win. As always the Panthers leaned on the trio of Juniors Joe Pitchford, Noah Long and Ben Carter. Meanwhile after a close game of their own in the area round, Flour Bluff rebounded last week with a 66-42 win over Veterans Memorial behind 7 touchdown passes from Sophomore quarterback Jayden Paluseo (22/33 for 325 yards). If you go off of similar opponents this one should be a barn burner that could come down to a final possession.
SMITHSON VALLEY VS COLLEGE STATION
Saturday, December 3rd, 2:00PM | The Pfield, Pflugerville Texas
Marquise Collins may have missed the entire season with an injury but that hasn't stopped College Station from getting back to the Regional Finals. Meanwhile Smithson Valley has continued it's dominate season by beating a really good offensive squad in Fulshear 31-13. The biggest question going into this game is the status of Senior Quarterback Chase Senelick who went down with an apparent shoulder injury early in the 4th quarter of their game against Fulshear. Junior Ryland Walker was great in replacement, but at that point the Chargers already had a comfortable lead. What's going to happen when it's 0-0. Good thing for the Rangers they have a whole week to prepare. Plus if the defense can play like they did last week it may not matter.
DRIPPING SPRINGS VS VANDEGRIFT
Friday, December 2nd, 7:00PM | Gupton Stadium, Cedar Park Texas
This one has been on everyone's radar since Week 1. It was then that Dripping Springs won on a game ending field goal 23-20. But make no mistake, neither of these teams are the same as they were in Week 1. Both of these teams have played exceptionally well since then with both playing dominate football. A potential favor for Vandegrift though? They've played some tight playoff games, in bi-district against Bowie and last week against Harlan. They were actually down last week before having a stellar second half performance. Performing under pressure and having revenge on their mind has to favor the Vipers. But if you're asking me to pick against Austin Novosad, I don't know if I can at this point in the season.
BRENNAN VS WESTLAKE
Saturday, December 3rd, 2:00PM | The Alamodome, San Antonio Texas
Brennan made history last week by for a San Antonio team by beating Lake Travis something that hadn't been done in a long time (Lake Travis was 14-0 over the last few season as well against SA schools). Brennan relied on their defense which shut down Lake Travis for most of the game. They will need to do that against a team that hasn't lost in 53 games. The key to this one will be the Westlake offense against Brennan's defense. The Chaps offense has taken it's time in some games to find a rhythm. If the Bears defense can have one of those games and the Brennan offense can put up some points, the pressure will be on Westlake to respond. Ashton Dubose and Avron Carter will be key to making that happen as they were last week against the Cavs. This one may be a close one similar to the Chaps games against Dripping Springs and Lake Travis. Can the Bears do what the Tigers and Cavs couldn't?
5-To-Watch: Austin/San Antonio- Week 4
Week 4 of the Texas High School Football season is here and with that it's time to look at 5 of the top games across the San Antonio and Austin area this week. And this week there may be a reoccurring theme
Lockhart vs Davenport
What some may consider two surprising 3-0 starts, one team will finally earn a loss this Friday as Lockhart and Davenport battle to remain undefeated in non-district action. After their 7 point victory in Week 1, Lockhart has been rolling with big victories against Pflugerville Connally and Lehman. Meanwhile Davenport has had to battle for every win with one score victories against Victoria West and Tivy and a 14 point victory over San Antonio Pieper. This matchup may come down to which defense can stop the run. Both teams are finding success on the ground with Lockhart's Sean Mckinney and Ashton Dickens averaging over 100 yards a game while for the Wolves it is Shastin Golden carrying the load averaging 161 yards a game. But at the same time, this could be a slight edge for Davenport who can lean on Triston Hamlin in the passing game if the running game gets bottled up. Hamlin has thrown for almost 800 yards on the year. If Lockhart can't stop the run it could open up the passing game for the Wolves which could lead to their 4-0 start.
Stony Point vs Vandegrift
Week 4 begins district play for Stony Point and Vandegrift as the 3-0 Tigers face the 2-1 Vipers. After a Week 1 loss to Dripping Springs, Vandegrift has not only clamped down on defense, allowing 0 points the last 2 weeks, their offense has averaged 45 points a game behind the arm of Brayden Buchanan who has put up over 700 yards in the air with 10 TDs. On the other side you have one of the best Running Backs in Texas in Stony Point's Cameron Cook. The TCU commit is averaging over 150 yards a game for the Tigers and though I haven't seen all 3 games, if the scores are any indication that is 150 yards a game while probably sitting most of if not all of the 4th. The Vipers defense has done a great job stopping the run thus far this season, even in their loss, but have not faced a back like Cook thus far. This could come down to Stony Point's passing game and if Vandegrift can contain that like Killeen did against the Tigers in their lone close game this one could be a nail-biter.
Manor vs McNeil
Is the theme of the week rushing attack? Because that is what McNeil will have to be facing when the 3-0 Manor Mustangs take on the 2-1 McNeil Mavericks tonight at 7PM. The key to this game will be Quinten Joyner. After a tough Week 1 game against Austin LBJ, Joyner has rushed for nearly 200 yards a game in weeks 2 and 3 while already scoring 9 touchdowns on the ground. If McNeil has any thought of winning the game they will have to contain him. Meanwhile the Mavericks have a running game of their own with the Running Back duo of Joshua Williams and Kaleb Cooper. McNeil is coming off a close loss to Hendrickson and I feel like Manor may just be on another level this week. The key to this game could be which quarterback makes the fewest mistakes.
Brennan vs Taft
Taft has carried over it's strong 9-3 season last year to a 2-1 start to the 2022 campaign. Meanwhile after Week 1's thrilling 1 point loss to Steele, Brennan has been on fire defeating Brandeis 42-6 and Harlan 48-10. As I've said in previous articles earlier in the year Brenna will go as far as Ashton Dubose can take them and he has looked absolutely phenomenal to start the year. Even in the Week 1 loss he put up 347 yards and 5 touchdowns. Since then? He has gone for 630 yards and another 6 touchdowns. Taft will most likely have to keep him under 250 yards if they hope to come out on top. For Brennan to win they are going to have to...stop me if you heard this before; stop the run. Taft put up 465 total yards rushing in their win versus SA Veterans Memorial and 325 yards in their win against Victoria East. Led by TJ Andrews and Johnie Lott, Brennan can expect a healthy dose of the run. And if that's effective for Taft that could spell trouble for Brennan as Taft as worked in the pass game to perfection with their run game going 18/19 for 278 yards and 4 touchdowns in their 2 games.
Cuero vs Calallen
Stop me if you have heard this one before, the key to this game will be stopping the run. Cuero has been putting up ridiculous numbers on offense so far this year going for 415, 268 and 312 yards on the ground respectively. Calallen after their Week 1 slugfest victory over Gregory Portland has likewise gone for 238 and 346 yards. If both defenses can contain the running game this one may come down to the quarterbacks where I like junior quarterback Mason Notaro of Cuero. His numbers may not jump out like some QBs above, but his game last week (12/17 for 316 yards and 4 touchdowns) showed he can sling it if need be. With that being said you have to feel like Cuero is the favorite in this one. Their running game is on point and can turn to their passing game when needed. Regardless, the outcome of this game will go a long way in showing what both teams are going to be capable the rest of the season.