It’s true that whichever team wins when Austin High and Del Valle clash Friday night (9/26), they will be tied for the lead in District 26-6A. It’s also unlikely they’ll stay there for long. Not in a compact 7-team district that features perennial state powers Westlake and Lake Travis, emerging power Dripping Springs and a seemingly resurgent Bowie. Heck, even Akins emerged unscathed with a 4-0 mark after non-district play.
So, yes, the winner has the best shot of displacing Bowie for the final playoff spot – like Austin High did last year – assuming they can also get past Akins. But more to the point, this is one of those games that gets to the essence of high school sports. Not every game is dripping with playoff implications. You’re only “guaranteed’ 10 games in Texas high school football, injuries notwithstanding. And each of these two teams feels as if this is a winnable game. So, you’d better believe that for the 50 or so guys who suit up for either of these two programs, each searching for its identity under a new head coach, this is the most important game of the week. Which is precisely why the Austin High Maroons traveling to Del Valle’s Veterans Stadium to take on the Cardinals is this week’s VYPE Central Texas Game of the Week.
Austin High (0-4) is looking for some offense. Coach Jason Cecil’s squad has scored just 26 points in its first four games, with 14 of those coming in last week’s loss vs. Temple. Del Valle’s offensive numbers look better on paper. A closer look, however, reveals that Coach Colin Williams’ Cardinals (1-3) scored 47 of their 129 points in their season-opening 47-0 at Cedar Creek.
On the other side of the ball, Austin High is giving up 42 points-per-game while Del Valle is surrendering over 32 PPG. It seems as if the question will be, which offense finds its footing against their opponents’ struggling defense.
Austin High vs. Del Valle ultimately may not matter a bit when it comes to the playoffs. It should nonetheless be a hard-fought game between two proud programs hungry for a win. And sometimes that’s all that matters.
What: Austin High @ Del Valle
Where: Del Valle Veterans Stadium
Who: David Roy, T.J. Vela
Watch: https://www.vype.com/7-30pm-football-austin-high-vs-del-valle-2674019895 OR https://vypelive.com/web/g/16048
