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Defense Shines Late As Weiss Earns 1st Playoff Win
On Friday, The Pfield in Pflugerville hosted a UIL 5A Division II bi-district football matchup that included two Austin area teams that didn't make the 2018 postseason. Pflugerville Weiss (9-2) bounced back from an 0-10 inaugural season record to earn a share of the 13-5A Division II title in 2019. It played a motivated Lockhart (6-5) squad that earned this year's 14-5A Division II three-seed after falling two wins short of the postseason in 2018.
The teams got off to a slow start on Friday, as evident by Pflugerville Weiss' turnover on downs at the 7:28 mark of the opening quarter and Lockhart's fumble at the 6:01 mark of the period, but the Wolves bounced back for a come-from-behind 24-14 win.
"It's a pretty emotional moment," Pflugerville Weiss coach Tommy Aultman said of his program's first playoff win. "I'm just so proud of these kids for buying in from the first day that we started in January of 2017. We told them all along if you just stick to the process, stick with us, stay coachable, be a good kid, do what we ask you to do [and] work hard that you're going to have a chance to do something special with this first senior class."
Lockhart took the game's first lead on Jayden Garza's touchdown at the 1:13 mark of the first quarter, but Pflugerville Weiss started to heat up in the second period. Its defense was attentive enough to force and recover a fumble on the same play its offense recorded an interception, and its offense later tied the score when Jeremiah Robinson hung on for a touchdown catch with 49 seconds left in the first half.
The momentum stayed on Pflugerville Weiss' side in the third quarter. The Wolves were successful on a field goal attempt that gave them a 10-7 lead with 8:20 left in the period. Their defense also forced its second fumble recovery at the 4:13 mark and VYPE Player of the Game Edric Whitley's first pick six made it a 17-7 game with 10 seconds left in the period.
Tay Andrews cut into the deficit with a touchdown at the seven-minute mark of the fourth quarter, and Lockhart's defense forced its second turnover on downs with 2:39 left in the game, but Whitley's second pick six at the 2:03 mark wrapped up Pflugerville Weiss' win.
"Our defense is the heart of this team," said Whitley. "So we dominated today, and here are the results."
Pflugerville Weiss now turns its attention to its next postseason test. The Wolves will travel to Corpus Christi ISD's Cabaniss Sports Complex for next Friday's UIL 5A Division II area round playoff game against 16-5A Division II's Sharyland Pioneer (10-1). Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
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Locker Talk ATX/SATX: Kyra Gaddy Interview + Week 10 Pick 'Em, Playoff Races & Area Sports Recap
VYPE editor Thomas Bingham and Hill Country Indoor sports director Evan Beyer continue their 2019-2020 sports coverage with the 11th Locker Talk Austin/San Antonio episode. The show includes VYPE's exclusive interview with Buda Johnson multi-sport freshman Kyra Gaddy, who discussed the school's first district championship, her plans to compete in high school cross country, soccer and track, and what it's like to attend the area's newest high school.
The hosts also take a look at the UIL 12-5A Division I, 13-5A Division I and 14-5A Division I football playoff races, recap exciting Texas high school football action from Week 8 and 9, and participate in their weekly pick 'em.
Locker Talk ATX/SATX Episode 11 (Click the box below to watch the show.)
For more sports coverage, follow Thomas (@Texan8thGen) and VYPE (@VYPEATX/@VYPESATX) 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.