Timberwolves Trounce Wildcats, 48-7

By Sam Bohmfalk

Click the visualization to see how Cedar Park spread the ball around against Weslaco East

The stat sheet may show that Brian Hogan has been Cedar Park’s most important player this season, and maybe he has. But don’t let that fool you, because the Timberwolves have had more balance than any other team in the state all year long.

With Hogan nursing a knee injury on the sideline, coach Chris Ross called not on one player, but the team to step up. And step up they did.

How’s this for balance? Nine different players had at least three rush attempts for the Timberwolves, which had success on the ground all day, running for 393 yards on 49 carries.

That, combined with Cedar Park’s always-stingy defense, was more than enough as the Timberwolves romped, 48-7.

In last week’s 28-23 closer-than-it-should-be victory, Cedar Park fumbled six times; against Weslaco East, Cedar Park didn’t seem to want to relinquish the pigskin. Ryan Roberts’ 39-yard fumble return just before halftime was the figurative nail in the coffin for Weslaco East, as the Timberwolves took a 35-7 lead into half.

Cedar Park didn’t do anything fancy to get to that point. Ethan Fry scored the first of his three touchdowns early in the first quarter to put Cedar Park up. The lead was only brief though, as Weslaco East marched down the field before Aaron Munguia ran one in from 23-yards out. It was the only sustained offense for the Wildcats on the night.

While Cedar Park seemed content to change running backs every two plays, Weslaco East was a one-trick pony. Bobby Gonzalez, Weslaco East’s star running back, got his yards—138 of them—but he didn’t have enough help around him to move the chains consistently.

Sandwiched between Fry’s first two touchdowns for the Timberwolves, were scores from Efren Collier and Michael Watterfield. Watterfield was the Timberwolves’ leading rusher on the night, springing for a season-high 124 yards on just 12 carries.

The win by Cedar Park sets up a re-match with district foe Lake Travis. In a week 10 match-up, the Timberwolves handed the three-time defending state champions their first loss since 2007, 35-21.

Regional Round Preview: Cedar Park vs. Weslaco East

By Sam Bohmfalk

Saturday November 28, 4 p.m., Alamodome

Click to see how Bobby Gonzalez has faired against the competition this year

Over the last five years, the state of Texas became enamored with the spread offense passing game. These two teams, however, buck the trend, as they combined to only average 19 passes per game.

Weslaco East relies on the legs of senior Bobby Gonzalez. Whereas most running backs aim to gain 100 yards per game, Gonzalez sets a goal at averaging 200. And he accomplished that goal nine times this year, and thus has over 2,600 yards rushing this season. The Wildcats will depend heavily on Gonzalez, as quarterback John Arevalo has just 155 yards passing over the last four games combined, throwing no touchdowns and two interceptions.

Unfortunately for Weslaco East, stopping the run is Cedar Park’s specialty. In last week’s area round game against Smithson Valley, the Timberwolves held the Rangers’ running backs to 34 yards on 22 carries. Smithson Valley had limited success through the air, but was given short fields to work with due to Cedar Park’s inability to hold on to the ball.

While Gonzalez guns for 200 yards per game, the Timberwolves tend to give up less than 100 yards rushing per game. The last opponent to break 100 on Cedar Park was Dripping Springs, and they had to grind out 33 carries on the ground at 3.8 yards per carry to do that.

The Timberwolves offense is heavily dependant on the run itself, with quarterback Brian Hogan proving to be somewhat of a dual threat. Hogan left last week’s game against Smithson Valley, and his status for this week’s game is up in the air. If he cannot go, the onus will most likely fall on Matt Posey.

Cedar Park will attempt to grind this game out on the ground, using their rusher-by-committee that has seen eight different players rush for over 170 yards this season.

Series: Neither team has ever made it this far, and the two teams have never played.

Prediction: Weslaco East’s defense has proven time and time again that they are able to stop the pass, but Cedar Park’s downhill running approach will be too much. Cedar Park 40, Weslaco East 21

Cedar Park Stumbles On; Vista Ridge, Marble Falls Fall

By Sam Bohmfalk

Click to see how area quarterbacks stacked up.

Cedar Park 28, Smithson Valley 23

The Cedar Park Timberwolves rumbled, bumbled and fumbled their way into the third round, beating Smithson Valley 28-23 in a game in which the Timberwolves almost beat themselves. As they’ve done all year, the Cedar Park defense made the opposing offense look inept. Smithson Valley completed just 40% of its passes and rushed for only 34 points, but managed to stay in the game thanks to a Timberwolves rushing game that was all to happy to put the ball on the ground.

The Timberwolves exhibited a ground-it-out approach from the get-go—rushing 51 times on the night—but put the ball on the ground six times, losing three of those. The Timberwolves’ problems started late in the second quarter, when quarterback Brian Hogan injured his knee on a 1-yard touchdown run. Matt Posey, who had attempted just 16 passes all season, calmed the offense down and led it to 14 second-half points, just enough to overcome the Rangers.

San Antonio Alamo Heights 52, Vista Ridge 24

Alamo Heights scored 28 unanswered over a 12-minute span over the third and fourth quarters to turn a close 24-17 game into a route. Mules’ quarterback Steven Elder had his best game of the year, completing a remarkable 25 of 28 passes for 375 yards and four touchdowns. Down 31-17 in the fourth, Vista Ridge had three consecutive drives end in interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns as they fell to the Alamo Heights Mules, 52-24.

Boerne Champion 42, Marble Falls 28

When Marble Falls stacked the box against the Travis Rebels in their bi-district game, the Rebels were not able to take advantage through the air. Boerne Champion is no Travis, however. Quarterback John Free completed just seven passes, but three went for touchdowns including two in the last three minutes of the second quarter that re-established the Chargers’ 14-point lead, one that the Mustangs could not overcome for a second time.

The Mustangs made the game much closer than many thought it would be, considering the Chargers’ 24-point victory early in the season that was hardly close.  In this game, the Zed Woerner to David Morgan connection was working, but it was not enough for Marble Falls to overcome their foes from Boerne.

Area Round Preview: Cedar Park vs. Smithson Valley

By Sam Bohmfalk

Cedar Park warms up before a game. Photo by 50%chanceofrain.

LBJ quarterback Darius Collins proved that there are some holes to be found in the Cedar Park defense, as he rolled up 330 yards and a touchdown in last week’s game. The Timberwolves’ offense proved though, that it really doesn’t matter.

Cedar Park turned a 14-14 game into a laugher, riding the legs of quarterback Brian Hogan who finished with 299 yards and four touchdowns on the night. It was all part of a Cedar Park effort that saw the Timberwolves rack up 521 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground.

Points might be hard for Cedar Park to come by this week, as they are opposed by a Smithson Valley team that hasn’t allowed an offensive touchdown in five games, a span in which an interception return by Lockhart is the only blemish on a string of goose eggs. The Rangers held five of their eleven opponents under 100 rushing yards, a feat that may be hard to accomplish against the run-heavy Timberwolves.

The Rangers are a rush-first team themselves, with over 64% of their offense coming on the ground. They are led by running backs Lach Labanna and Lawrence Mattison, who have combined for 1905 yards and 31 touchdowns this season. The offensive gameplan is reminiscent of one from an earlier age, as both teams use the run to set up the pass. Quarterback Parker McKenzie may need to play like he did against Uvalde (11-12, 177 yards, TD) as the Cedar Park defense has proven to be adept at stopping the run this season.

Series: The two teams have never played.

Prediction: Cedar Park’s defense may be just as good as Smithson Valley’s, but I think their offense is what sets them apart. Cedar Park 27, Smithson Valley 21

Bi-District Preview: LBJ vs. Cedar Park

By Sam Bohmfalk

Cedar Park Cornerback Ryan Roberts makes a tackle in last year's game against Round Rock. Photo by Henry Huey.

Thursday, 7:30 p.m., Gupton Stadium, Leander

After a slow start to the season, LBJ hit its stride winning 5 of its last 6 contests. LBJ has a lot of talent on the offensive side of the ball, and must get out in a hurry if they are to keep up with Cedar Park. Much of the onus will fall on quarterback Darius Collins, who accounted for over 1400 yards passing, especially if star running back Dante Price remains out.

Key for the Jaguars will be containing their emotions, a problem for a team that was penalized over 100 yards in just one half in last week’s game against Reagan. They won’t want to give free yards to an explosive Cedar Park offense that scored at least 31 points in all ten games. Offensively, the Timberwolves are led by the legs and arm of quarterback Brian Hogan, who accounted for 25 touchdowns (13 passing, 12 rushing) this season. Against Lake Travis last week, Hogan struggled through the air managing a paltry line of 6-19, but ground out 159 yards on the ground en route to a 35-21 upset.

Hogan shouldn’t have much difficulty against an LBJ defense that looked vulnerable against Reagan backup quarterback Robert Crawford last week. Although the Raiders managed just 14 points, Crawford passed for 276 yard and 2 touchdowns in his quarterbacking debut.

All time series: The two teams have never met.

Prediction: Cedar Park 52, LBJ 13