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THE FINAL 48: UIL Football State Championship Preview -- Highland Park vs. Smithson Valley (5A-D1)
This Saturday at 11:00 a.m., AT&T Stadium will play host to an exciting showdown between the Highland Park Scots and the Smithson Valley Rangers, as both teams vie for the title of UIL-5A-D1 State Champions.
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Highland Park enters the championship with a 14-1 record, nearly perfect this season. The Scots’ journey to this point has been impressive, highlighted by a thrilling 24-21 come-back victory over Denton Ryan last Friday, which was sealed by a field goal in the final seconds.
This is a familiar stage for Highland Park, as they are making their 10th appearance in the State Final. The Scots last claimed the title in 2018, completing a historic three-peat with a win over Shadow Creek, marking their sixth state title overall.
Now, under the leadership of head coach Randy Allen, the Scots are aiming to build a new dynasty.
On both sides of the ball, Highland Park has been firing on all cylinders. The offense is averaging over 36 points per game, while the defense has held opponents to just 16 points per contest.
At the helm of the offense is sophomore Buck Randall, who has been nothing short of spectacular. Despite his youth, Randall has shown remarkable poise, throwing for over 3,600 yards and 38 touchdowns. He has also added 322 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground.
In the backfield, senior running back James Lancaster provides steady leadership, having rushed for 865 yards and 10 touchdowns. Junior Matthew White has added 459 yards and 5 touchdowns, providing a dynamic second option.
When it comes to the passing game, Randall’s favorite target is junior wideout Cannon Bozman, who has caught 11 touchdowns on 63 receptions and is just one yard shy of reaching the 1,000-yard milestone for the season.
Even if Bozman is double-covered, the Scots have other reliable weapons in seniors Benton Owens (36 receptions, 726 yards, 7 TDs) and Brandon Lilly (38 receptions, 554 yards).
Defensively, the Scots are led by Jack Morse, a senior linebacker and Brown-commit who has been a game-changer. Morse, the 2023 District 7-6A Defensive MVP, leads the team in tackles (102), sacks (9.5), and interceptions (3). His versatility makes him a constant threat. Senior linebacker Anders Corn – a first-team, all-district selection – is another player capable of stepping up when it matters most.
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On the other side, the Smithson Valley Rangers are making their second consecutive appearance at AT&T Stadium. After suffering a heavy loss to Aledo in last year’s championship, the Rangers are eager to avenge that defeat and claim their first-ever state title.
Under the direction of coach Larry Hill, the Rangers are a formidable force. They come into the final with a 13-2 record, having won their last 10 games in a row. In last week’s State Semis, they defeated Angleton 21-14, securing their place in the championship.
Smithson Valley has been an offensive powerhouse this season, averaging 43.5 points per game, and if they continue their high-scoring ways, they could very well end the season with a title.
A key player for the Rangers is Cade Spradling, a senior who excels both as a quarterback and linebacker. Spradling’s ability to contribute on both sides of the ball makes him one of the most dangerous players in the game. Whether he's leading the offense or anchoring the defense, Spradling’s impact is undeniable.
On defense, the Rangers have been suffocating, allowing fewer than 12 points per game.
Senior safety Diego Davila, an SFA-signee, has been a standout in the secondary, while 6-foot-3 edge rusher Hudson Woods has been a dominant force on the defensive line. Both will play critical roles in limiting Highland Park’s high-powered offense.
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In what should be a battle of momentous proportions, Highland Park and Smithson Valley stake their claim for the title this Saturday (11:00 AM) at AT&T Stadium.
VYPE SATX Football Game of the Week: Smithson Valley vs. Pieper (Wk. 5)
The 2023 UIL-5A-D1 State Finalists, Smithson Valley, responded to their Week 2 loss against Brennan by absolutely trouncing Madison (65-0) and Boerne-Champion (42-10), bringing their record to 3-1.
After securing a first-team, all-district nod a year ago, senior running back Bradley Sowersby has picked up right where he left off, as he has now become the focal point of coach Larry Hill's offense.
Despite the fact that a large of their offensive production has since graduated, the Rangers have maintained a steady influx of points on a weekly basis, evidenced by the team's 41-point average.
That could also be a result of their stifling defense, which has held opponents to just under 9 points a game, which is always a recipe for success.
Unanimous first-teamer Cade Spradling (Sr. LB) commands the group and only seems to be improving on his monster 2023 campaign.
He is complemented by the talents of Hudson Woods (Jr. DL/first-team) and District 12-5A-Defensive Newcomer of the Year Parker Moeller (Sr. DB).
However, there are few teams hotter on the San Antonio-area gridiron than Pieper, entering the fifth week of the season.
Under the direction of coach Nick Rogers, the Warriors have surged to a 4-0 start, most recently toppling a formidable district opponent in SA Wagner, by the score of 35-21.
Offensive has been the team's calling card thus far, primarily through the passing game.
Senior WR Isaiah Champagne is the top target for senior signal-caller Cayden Keeth, as the pair have connected for nearly 350 yards and five scores to begin the Fall.
That doesn't mean Keeth (1148 passing yards/13 combined TDs) hasn't spread the wealth among his other weapons.
Andrew Grinestaff (Jr. WR) has registered over 200 yards through the air, while junior RB Brady Hopper has 358 all-purpose yards and six touchdowns to his name.
On the other side of the ball, returning first-team, all-district selections Jackson Hopper (Sr. DB) and Raja Lopez (Jr. DB) have been holding down the secondary for the Warriors, with junior Bennett King currently leading the team in tackles (42).
Furthermore, Laiton Springer (So. LB), Kylor Scheppler (Sr. LB), and Thor Myklebust (Jr. DL) have played pivotal roles as well.
The victor of this decisive battle might very well end up claiming the district title in the coming months.
Don't miss out when these two power-houses face off at Warrior Coliseum this Friday (9/27) at 7:00 pm.