Liberty Hill won back-to-back state titles in 2006 and 2007 under legendary Head Coach Jerry Vance, fell in the 2021 state championship game to South Oak Cliff and reached the semifinals again in 2022. Bastrop has been on the upswing the past couple of seasons and remains one of just three Austin area unbeaten teams – along with Lake Travis and Anderson – heading into the regular season finale.
In what should be one of the best regular season games of the year, these two 5A powerhouses will clash for the District 11-5A-2 title in this week’s VYPE Austin Central Texas Game of the Week.
It took Liberty Hill a minute to adapt when former assistant David Seaborn was tapped to become the Panthers’ new head coach. Liberty Hill (6-0, 7-2) dropped its first game to a powerful 6A Cibolo Steele squad, then stubbed its toe against a now-surging Rouse team in overtime to start the season 0-2.
Then they became Liberty Hill again.
The Panthers have ridden their ingrained-since-toddlerhood Slot-T offense to some 53.2 points-per-game and an eye-popping 498.6 yards per game. Literally 96% of those yards are on the ground. (Panther quarterbacks collectively are 4-14, 168 yards, 3 TD, INT. For the season). Junior Pierre Dylan Belinga (92-1043, 11.3 YPC, 15 TD) has wracked up the most yardage, but senior Bryce Muchaw (102-705, 6.9 YPC, 9 TD), senior Preston Benefield (69-718, 10.4 YPC, 11 TD) and many others have all powered the offense.
The Panthers score so fast and so often, it puts a huge strain on the defense. On paper, Liberty Hill has given up 20.6 points per game – but that number has plummeted to 13 PPG since those first two losses. Seniors Orrin Cole (8.4 TPG, 14 TFL, 2 Sacks) and Kaden Cockburn (7.9 TPG, 10.0 TFL, 2 Sacks) have anchored the Panther defense.
Bastrop has overwhelmed opponents with a balanced offense and a suffocating defense. Coach Jake Griedl’s Bears (6-0, 9-0) have averaged an astonishing 63 points and 485.3 yards per game. The Bears have scored 70+ points three times, 60+ points four times, and scored “just” 55 and 48 points in their first two games. While impressive in its own right, consider: most games have essentially been over by halftime – with a couple of running clocks in effect – meaning the bulk of those numbers came in a little over one half in each game.
Junior quarterback Weston Nielsen (136-204, 2,446, 37 TD, 6 INT) has guided the Bastrop offensive juggernaut, adding 317 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns and catching a TD pass for good measure. Senior Gary Jefferson Jr. (102-1,082, 10.6 YPC, 20 TD) has punished opposing defenses on the ground and is also the second leading receiver (26-406, 6 TDs). Juniors Dallas Crescenzo (29-660, 7 TD), Diego Rangel (20-424, 5 TD) and Zac Wilkinson (33-430, 11 TD), and senior Brent Carter (24-488, 9 TD) have all been on the receiving end of Nielsen’s throws.
As with Liberty Hill, Bastrop’s defense is on the field a lot because their offense is so efficient. Even so, the Bears’ defense has allowed just 16.7 points-per-game. (Defensive stats were not available at press time).
It’s been a while since either team has faced stiff opposition. What better way to close out the season – and get ready for the playoffs – than to face off against a powerful foe with a district title on the line. That will be the case when Bastrop meets Liberty Hill in our VYPE Austin Central Texas Game of the Week.
What: Liberty Hill vs. BastropWhen: 6:45 Pregame, 7:00 Kickoff
Where: Panther Stadium, Liberty Hill HS
Bastrop Broadcast: Jake Herman, Harley Hudson
Liberty Hill Broadcast: Trevor Hargrove, Matt Lorenz
Watch: https://www.vype.com/7-30pm-football-bastrop-vs-liberty-hill
Also watch on the KVUE+ mobile app.
