Wharton, Sweeny, Washington have eyes on District 11-4A-DII title

Aug 15, 2019

Booker T. Washington

Last season was a big year for the Wharton Tigers. A big one. For the first time since 2003, Wharton captured the district championship and made its first playoff appearance since 2016. The Tigers are the favorites in the district followed by Sweeny.

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District 11-4A-DII

Wharton

Sweeny

Washington

La Marque

Kashmere

Scarborough

(Bold Denotes Playoff Teams)

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VYPE PRESEASON AWARDS

MVP

Donovan Krushall, Wharton

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OFFENSIVE MVP

Demarcus Nelson, La Marque

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DEFENSIVE MVP

Trey Fields, Sweeny

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BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Armond Robinson, La Marque

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SLEEPER TEAM

Washington

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Wharton Tigers

Heading into last season, Wharton hadn't won a district championship in 14 years but had finished as runner-up seven times. No more runner-ups in Wharton. The Tigers went 5-0 in district play to claim the title. Head coach Chad Butler is going in to 2019 with QB Donovan Krushall (2,391 passing yards, 28 passing TDs) leading the offense and outstanding DE JaShawn Nickerson (94 tackles) leading the way for the defense. The Tigers have several talented starters returning and have a chance to win back-to-back district crowns for the first time since the 2002-2003 campaigns.

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Sweeny Bulldogs

The Bulldogs had a strong 2018 season finishing with an overall record of 10-2 and 4-1 in district, but fell one game short of a district championship. Sweeny fell a field goal short, losing to Wharton 17-15. Head coach Randy Lynch had a talented defense last season (giving up an average of 96.6 yards per game in the regular season). Lynch expects more of the same in 2019 with defensive playmakers LB Trey Fields (77 Tackles, 3 sacks, 3 INTs) and DL Logan Page (29 tackles, 4 sacks) returning. Sweeny will need to find an answer in the running game after losing 1,000-yard rusher Cameron Adams to graduation. Justice Clemons could make some noise at the receiver position after registering 15 grabs for 348 yards last year.

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Washington Eagles

Houston Washington was a tale of two teams in 2018. On offense, the Eagles had the second-best unit averaging 317.5 yards per game. On defense, they gave up a district-worst 429.9 yards per game. Last season, Washington got into the playoffs with a 2-3 mark and finished 3-8 overall. With some solid weapons back on offense, they could make some noise. Glen Hogan (895 yards) and Bobby Betts (829 yards) return as a solid one-two punch. Also watch for receiver Israel Viser and two-way player Marletto Johnson. The Eagles have anchors on the offensive line in Tremaine Lemons and Lavar English. Phillip Kent enters his second season at the helm and has 14 starters back to help continue the build-out.

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La Marque Cougars

Consistency has been a staple of La Marque's reputation the past few seasons, not to mention decades. The Cougs have been a power program dating back to the mid-1980s as they have five state titles to show for their success. Finishing third last year clinched the program's ninth-straight playoff appearance. Coach Shone Evans is heading into this second season with the Cougars and returns 12 starters. Youth will lead this team as sophomore Armond Robinson and junior DeMarcus Nelson will be the tandem in the backfield at quarterback and running back. Nelson rushed for 182yards last year. Defensively, Jacobe Wagner (83 tackles) returns to lead the charge.

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Kashmere Rams

The Kashmere Rams are heading into the 2019 season after a tough year in 2018 that saw the Rams win one game. The Rams have a new leader of the team with the hiring of James Laster as their new head coach. He replaces legendary coach Garry Dunham, who was the beacon for the community. The Rams have 12 starters returning and among those returning starters are impactful players Donald Thomas (LB/RB) and Ty'Colbiy Houston (TE/DE). Before the season starts, Laster has a decision to make at the QB position between Christopher Nathan (808 yards, 4TDs passing) and Daniel Limbrick (413 yards, 2 TDs passing). They will play a big role in turning the Rams around in 2019. Also watch for Damonte Boyd (391 yards) at the wide-out position.

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Scarborough Spartans

Scarborough is looking to change the culture starting this season. The Spartans have failed to win more than one game since the 2007 season. Second-year coach Gary Howard returns 12 starters to hopefully turn the tide. Players to watch include Payton Joseph (RB), Patrick Johnson (OL/DL/DE/FB), Deandre Howard (WR), Kenny Dordies (WR), Danny Hernandez (OL/DL) and Jose Hernandez (QB)

Card's Return, Lake Travis Too Much For Judson; Rematch With North Shore Awaits

Photo by VYPE Media's Bradley Collier.

For the second straight year, the UIL 6A Division I Region IV final featured Lake Travis and Converse Judson and was played at San Antonio's Alamodome. The Cavaliers won 38-21 in 2018 and earned a come-from-behind 48-35 victory on Saturday.

A big part of that was Texas 2020 quarterback commit Hudson Card, who played in his first football game since he suffered a foot injury in Lake Travis' 26-25 rivalry win against Westlake on October 11th. The VYPE Player of the Game finished with three passing touchdowns and a rushing score.

"I've always wanted to come back ever since I got hurt, so that was my mission the past couple of weeks," said Card. "The team around me stepped up and the O-Line did an unbelievable job keeping me protected."

Card's team, Lake Travis, flexed its muscles early and took the game's first lead on Hays McCannon's 27-yard field goal. The Cavaliers would then fall behind by 11 points because Mike Chandler found Amarea Bailey-Davis on a 43-yard touchdown connection and added a 10-yard touchdown run towards the end of the first quarter.

But, Lake Travis got back on track in the second quarter, and made it a one-possession game going into halftime. Card found Weston Stephens for a 70-yard score with 2:25 left, and the Cavalier defense forced a Chandler fumble that nearly set up a go-ahead score on the final play of the first half.

The trend continued in the third quarter. Card launched a pair of touchdown passes to Kyle Eaves, and Stephens added a 44-yard touchdown run to make it a 31-14 advantage with 3:43 left in the period.

"You just got to stay with it," Lake Travis coach Hank Carter said of his team's comeback. "It's a 48-minute ball game. You can't freak out at the beginning of it and you gotta keep your cool and make some adjustments and we were able to do that."

Lake Travis' streak of 28 consecutive points would come to an end on De'Anthony Lewis' nine-yard touchdown run, but the Cavaliers immediately responded with Stephens' 52-yard touchdown run to make it a 38-21 game before the end of the third. They were followed by a pair of Chandler touchdown runs, but Card's rushing score, McCannon's 32-yard field goal and DJ Johnson's late interception wrapped up the Cavs' win in the fourth.

Lake Travis will now prepare for North Shore in the teams' second straight state semifinal meeting. The Cavaliers suffered a season-ending loss to the Mustangs when the teams met in 2018, but hope to avenge that defeat in next week's game.

For more sports coverage, follow Thomas (@Texan8thGen) and VYPE (@VYPEATX) on Twitter.

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INSTANT REACTION: Rockwall Shakes Off Slow Start, Downs Prosper

Courtesy Rivals.com

FRISCO - Another banner night for JSN. If you aren't familiar with those initials, you should probably get acquainted real quick because he's going to be a force come Saturdays next year at Ohio State.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba had a huge night for Rockwall in a 59-42 win over Prosper to advance to the 6A Division I State Semifinals, despite the terrible start.

By the 7:40 mark of the first quarter, Rockwall was already in a 14-0 hole. Prosper took the opening drive and scored in nine plays. On Rockwall's next possession: pick-six. Rockwall sophomore Braedyn Locke settled in and went to his go-to man, Smith-Njigba to get Rockwall on the board.

A punt and a JSN TD run tied the game. Another Prosper punt and a 53-yard JSN touchdown and the lead was gone by the midpoint of the second quarter.

All said an told, JSN simply dominated when his team needed it to the tune of 11 catches for 218 yards and 4 receiving scores; add in two rushing scores on the night, too.

Prosper hung tough with Rockwall in some stretches, but the scoring prowess of Rockwall was just too much to overcome, and Rockwall advances to meet Duncanville (14-0) next week in the state semifinals - time, date and location still to be determined.

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Shadow Creek Ends Manor's Magical Run; Will Play Wagner In State Semifinal

Photo by VYPE Media's Bradley Collier.

Shadow Creek (14-0) faced an unexpected challenge when it took on a hot Manor (8-6) squad during Saturday's UIL 5A Division I Region III final at San Antonio's Alamodome. The Sharks, who were the classification's state runner-up in 2018, faced a Mustang program that won its first three playoff games after a 5-5 regular season, but proved to be the better team in a 59-14 victory.

"They're all tough at this point in the year, so we just wanted to come out and try to protect the football and be great tacklers and solid on special teams," said Shadow Creek coach Brad Butler. "That's kind of our thing week in and week out."

Shadow Creek jumped at the opportunity to slow down its opponent, and took the game's first lead on VYPE Player of the Game Kyron Drones' two-yard touchdown run with 6:50 left in the opening quarter. He finished the game with three passing touchdowns and a pair of rushing scores.

Manor answered with a Che Nwabuko nine-yard touchdown run at the 4:22 mark of the quarter, but Chanceller Byers forced an interception with 47 seconds left in the period to set up the Sharks' go-ahead field goal and 10-7 lead at the 10:40 mark of the second frame.

Manor then jumped ahead on the scoreboard for the first and only time in the game when Matthew Hill connected with Lavonte Benford on a 47-yard touchdown. That gave the Mustangs a 14-10 edge with 5:10 left in the first half.

Even though Shadow Creek trailed at this point, it was all Sharks the rest of the way. Drones found Kelvon Brown and CJ Guidry on a pair of offensive scores, and Jaylen Lane's late pick six added to the 31-14 halftime advantage.

The second half was more of the same. The third quarter saw a Drones five-yard touchdown run and a 16-yard touchdown to Seth Jones, as well as a Jay'Veon Bell 22-yard touchdown run. Shadow Creek ultimately wrapped up their scoring with a Thomas Davis pick six at the 3:46 mark of the fourth.

Shadow Creek now turns its attention to San Antonio Wagner (13-1), who it beat 41-24 in the same state semifinal round in 2018.

"They know it's the rematch and they [are] going to try to have a redemption game, but we can't let that get to us, and we just gotta get over there and win," Drones said of next week's opponent.

For more sports coverage, follow Thomas (@Texan8thGen) and VYPE (@VYPEATX) 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.

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Wharton, Sweeny, Washington have eyes on District 11-4A-DII title

Card's Return, Lake Travis Too Much For Judson; Rematch With North Shore Awaits

INSTANT REACTION: Rockwall Shakes Off Slow Start, Downs Prosper

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