GAMES
RANKINGS
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.
VYPE DFW Football Game of the Week Preview: North Crowley vs. DeSoto (Week 2)
Friday, September 5 – 7:00 PM // Crowley ISD Multi-Purpose Stadium -- Fort Worth, TX
Two of Texas high school football’s heavyweight programs collide this Friday night, as nationally ranked North Crowley welcomes perennial contender DeSoto for a marquee Week 2 matchup.
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NORTH CROWLEY
North Crowley enters the game riding high after a historic 2024 campaign.
Since head coach Ray Gates took over in 2022, the Panthers have steadily risen to national prominence — culminating in last season’s dominant run to the UIL 6A Division I state title. Currently ranked No. 20 in the country and third in Texas by MaxPreps, the Panthers are showing no signs of slowing down.
Despite graduating a talented core — including Chris Jimerson (North Texas), Quentin Gibson (Colorado), Cornelius Warren III (Arizona), and Ja’Brelle Asberry (Incarnate Word) — North Crowley opened the 2025 season with a gritty 22-18 win over Lancaster.
The victory wasn’t as flashy as last year’s 50-21 dismantling of Westlake in the title game, but it was a strong early test passed by a reloaded roster.
Junior QB Hayes Cloutier, a promising three-star prospect, looks poised to lead the offense. He’s quickly developing chemistry with sophomore wideout Damarion Mays — a four-star recruit with offers from blue-blood programs like Ohio State, Georgia, and Texas.
In the trenches, senior offensive lineman John Turntine III (Texas-commit) anchors a unit that should give Cloutier -- as well as tailbacks G'yrell Smith (Jr. RB) and Cam Russell (Sr. RB) -- the time and space they need to operate.
On the defensive side, Gates' squad remains stacked.
Junior DB Elijajuan “Fat” Houston is coming off a breakout season that earned him District 3-6A Defensive Newcomer of the Year. He's joined the by 6-foot-4 three-star safety Aaron Bradshaw (Texas Tech), forming a scary duo in the NoCro secondary.
Up front, 6A-D1 State Defensive MVP Derrick “Big D” Gleason III headlines a punishing defensive line that also features senior standouts DeMorey Beasley and Jurwone Irvin.
Add in linebackers like Avery Dotson and Colorado State-bound cornerback Thomas Cook Jr., and it’s easy to see why the Panthers remain elite on both sides of the ball.
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DESOTO
DeSoto, meanwhile, is looking to rebound after a tough opening loss to Creekside (GA).
Under the leadership of head coach Claude Mathis, the Eagles captured back-to-back 6A-Division II State titles in 2022 and 2023 before falling to Longview in last year’s Region 1 Final.
Despite the early stumble, DeSoto remains a dangerous threat — and Friday’s clash offers a prime opportunity to reassert themselves.
Senior wideout Ethan “Boobie” Feaster will be central to that effort. The USC-commit and returning unanimous all-district selection is a dynamic playmaker capable of changing a game in an instant.
Up front, DeSoto boasts one of the state’s most coveted defensive linemen in junior K’Adrian “Big Juicy” Redmond, who holds offers from Notre Dame, Texas, USC, and more. Junior edge rusher DJ Rumph adds to the pressure, with programs like Michigan, Georgia, and Pittsburgh already showing heavy interest.
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Both teams have something to prove: North Crowley is looking to defend its crown against a familiar powerhouse, while DeSoto is aiming to bounce back and regain momentum. Expect intensity, physicality, and no shortage of big-time talent on display when these two collide.