Archive
Class 4A Playoff Schedule – Week 4: Quarterfinals
Austin area schools will be in bold.
By Luther Xue
Friday, December 3
| 7:30 PM | Wylie (10-3) vs. Tyler John Tyler (12-1) | Wylie ISD Stadium |
| 7:30 PM | Corpus Christi Calallen (12-1) vs. Boerne Champion (12-1) | Alamodome |
| 7:30 PM | Aledo (13-0) vs. Stephenville (8-5) | Floyd Casey Stadium (Waco) |
Saturday, December 4
| 1:30 PM | Cedar Park (13-0) vs. Lake Travis (11-2) | DKR Memorial Stadium |
| 2:00 PM | Wichita Falls Rider (9-4) vs. Denton Ryan (13-0) | Collins Athletic Complex (Denton) |
| 2:00 PM | Bastrop (10-3) vs. Mesquite Poteet (11-2) | Waco ISD Stadium |
| 2:00 PM | LaMarque (9-3) vs. Manvel (11-2) | Wildcat Stadium (Angleton) |
| 7:00 PM | Montgomery (12-1) vs. Friendswood (12-1) | Rice Stadium |
Lake Travis Romps, Setting Up Rematch with Cedar Park
By Sam Bohmfalk
Lake Travis had no problem finding the end zone against Victoria East.
For an eight-minute stretch of time between the third and fourth quarters, Victoria East showed why it was a playoff team. For the other 40 minutes, it was all Lake Travis.
As the final horn sounded, Victoria East was left to ponder a season that no one saw coming, while Lake Travis was already gearing up for a rematch with district foe Cedar Park.
Things started off on the wrong foot for Victoria East, as they muffed the opening kickoff, giving Lake Travis a short field to work with. The 26-yard drive would end with quarterback Michael Brewer rushing it in from 4 yards out, his first of three on the day.
Much like in the Cedar Park-Weslaco East game, the opposition would hit right back. For Victoria East, it was Jonathan Garner who took the ball 75-yards to pay dirt, tying the game at 7.
But the next 15 minutes for Victoria East were, in a word, hell. Colin Lagasse caught sandwiched two touchdown catches around a Brewer 7-yarder and a Dannon Cavil 17-yard run as Lake Travis took a 35-7 halftime lead.
Victoria East was plagued by a bevy of mistakes after their first touchdown, including a fumble and penalties that derailed drives. Quarterback Ervin Yates tried to right the ship, especially after Garner left the game with an injury, but he didn’t have the ability to carry the team.
Looking deflated as the third quarter started, the Titans quickly surrendered two more touchdown runs as the Cavaliers pulled their starters.
For eight minutes, Victoria East looked like a team that belonged as Yates connected on a 74-yard touchdown to Steve Martinez and two separate 9-yarders to pull the Titans within 21 with 7 minutes remaining. The ensuing onside kick just eluded the Titans, who didn’t have enough left in the tank to stop Lake Travis from scoring twice more.
The win by Lake Travis sets up a fourth round matchup with district rival Cedar Park, a team to whom the Cavaliers fell earlier this year, 35-21.
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.
Class 4A Playoff Schedule – Week 3: Regional Round
Austin area high schools will be in bold.
Friday, November 26
| 12:00 PM | Boerne Champion (11-1) vs. Port Lavaca Calhoun (9-3) | Alamodome |
| 1:00 PM | Denton Ryan (12-0) vs. Hewitt Midway (12-0) | Cowboys Stadium (Arlington) |
| 4:00 PM | Wylie (9-3) vs West Mesquite (10-2) | Cowboys Stadium (Arlington) |
| 4:00 PM | Cedar Park (12-0) vs Weslaco East (11-1) | Alamodome |
| 4:00 PM | Canyon Randall (10-2) vs. Stephenville (7-5) | Grande Communications Stadium (Midland) |
| 5:00 PM | SA Alamo Heights (10-2) vs. CC Calallen (11-1) | Alamo Heights |
| 7:00 PM | Hereford (9-3) vs Aledo (12-0) | Sweetwater |
| 7:00 PM | Frisco Liberty (12-0) vs. Bastrop (9-3) | Cowboy’s Stadium (Arlington) |
Saturday, November 27
| 12:00 PM | Lake Travis (10-2) vs Victoria East (11-1) | Alamodome |
| 1:00 PM | Montgomery (11-1) vs Pearland Dawson (8-4) | Turner Stadium (Humble) |
| 2:00 PM | Dayton (9-3) vs. La Marque (8-3) | Tully Stadium |
| 2:00 PM | Humble (11-1) vs Friendswood (11-1) | Houston’s Thorne Stadium |
| 2:00 PM | Carrollton Smith (7-5) vs Tyler John Tyler (11-1) | Waco ISD Stadium |
| 2:00 PM | Wichita Falls Rider (8-4) vs Birdville (9-3) | Pennington Field (Bedford) |
| 7:00 PM | Highland Park (12-0) vs. Mesquite Poteet (10-2 | Cowboys’s Stadium (Arlington) |
| 7:00 PM | Port Neches-Groves (8-4) vs. Manvel (10-2) | Stallworth Stadium (Baytown) |
Regional Round Preview: Lake Travis vs. Victoria East
By Sam Bohmfalk
Click to see who the rushing and receiving threats at Victoria East.
Saturday, November 27, 12:00 p.m., Alamodome
One hails from a program that started booking hotel rooms at the state championship site before the season begins. He hails from a program that is developing a lineage of sorts within the college football quarterbacking ranks.
The other hails from a small town two hours southwest of Houston. He plays for a program that is in its first year of existence.
And yet both of them will gather at the Alamodome Saturday, with eerily similar numbers. One has thrown for 2090 yards, the other for 2189. One has thrown for 22 touchdowns, the other just 20. Both lead their teams in rushing.
Michael Brewer, of Lake Travis, and Ervin Yates, of Victoria East, will square off in a game that no one would have expected to happen at the beginning of the season.
The three-time defending state champion Cavaliers have barely scooted by in their first two playoff games, winning each by just a touchdown. Now they’ll face off against a team that seems to have caught fire at the right time, averaging 58 points a game thus far in the playoffs. Maybe most impressive about their 54 points last week, was the fact that they turned the ball over four times.
Turning the ball was not a problem for Lake Travis last week, as they defeated Kerrville Tivy 48-42. Any turnover might have been enough for Tivy quarterback Johnny Manziel to swing the game, but he wasn’t given that opportunity. Brewer rebounded from a tough bi-district game against McCallum to combine for 440 total yards, having a hand in four of the Cavaliers’ touchdowns.
A week after dealing with Manziel, Lake Travis will once again have its hands full with an athletic quarterback in Ervin Yates. Unlike Manziel, Yates has a cast of characters who can step up and carry the load when needed. Running backs Roderick Warren and Jonathan Garner split carries, and each went for over 1000 yards this season. In last week’s game against Veterans Memorial, Garner ran for a season-high 217 yards and two touchdowns as Victoria East rolled 54-40.
Series: The two teams have never met.
Prediction: Lake Travis has too much experience and strength. They prevail in another close one, 35-31.
Brewer bests Manziel as Lake Travis Edges Tivy, 48-42
By Sam Bohmfalk
If it was possible to out-Manziel Kerrville Tivy quarterback Johnny Manziel, Lake Travis quarterback Michael Brewer did it. The Cavaliers’ senior quarterback passed for 248 yards, but it was his 192 rushing yards that propelled Lake Travis to a 48-42 victory over Tivy.
None of the drives was more important than the 19-play drive at the end of the fourth quarter that ran out the clock. On that drive, Brewer steadily moved the Cavaliers down the field, depriving Manziel of a chance to win the game.
And win the game he just might have. Manziel was largely unstoppable on the night, accounting for all but 15 of the Fighting Antlers’ yards. Manziel got Tivy on the board early, marching the team down the field before finding Sean Kibbett from 31-yards out.
Brewer responded in style, capping off a drive with a 1-yard plunge to tie the game and then leading the Cavaliers on a second first-quarter scoring drive that ended in a Michael Pojman 1-yard run. The lead was one that Lake Travis would not relinquish for the rest of the game.
It looked as if the two offenses were going to match each other touchdown-for-touchdown. The Cavaliers got the last laugh of the second quarter, however, returning a kickoff 100-yards to pay dirt, giving them a 42-28 halftime lead.
Manziel immediately brought the game closer, scoring his first of two rushing touchdowns on the night from 6-yards out.
The Fighting Antlers’ defense—to use the old adage—bent but did not break in the second half, holding Lake Travis to two fourth quarter field goals. Unfortunately, the defense bent a little too much on the last drive, and was unable to give Manziel a shot to defeat Brewer.
The two senior quarterbacks haven’t seen the last of each other, as they’re soon-to-be Big XII rivals, with Manziel having a verbal commitment to Texas A&M and Brewer to Texas Tech.
Area Round Preview: Lake Travis vs. Kerrville Tivy
By Sam Bohmfalk
Click the graphic to see Kerrville Tivy’s offensive breakdown by player.
Lake Travis’ come-from-behind victory over bi-district foe McCallum last week was in many ways similar to a regular season victory they had in week 4. That win, 37-33, was against area opponent Kerrville Tivy.
In that September 17 affair, Tivy jumped out to a 19-0 lead thanks to two rushing touchdowns and a passing score by workhorse quarterback Johnny Manziel. However, just as they did against McCallum, the Cavaliers’ defense sured-up some of its holes and managed to hold the opponent scoreless in the 4th quarter—with both games including a late goal line stand—while picking up a 4th quarter touchdown that proved to be the difference maker.
Although this will be the teams’ second meeting of the season, Lake Travis will have star quarterback Michael Brewer on the field for this matchup. He will have to be better than he was in last week’s bi-district game in which he struggled mightily, completing just five passes. His fill-in in week 4, Colin Lagasse, threw four touchdown passes against Tivy, but his biggest contribution in that game was a goal line interception with just over two minutes remaining that effectively sealed the result.
This matchup will hinge on which of the soon-to-be Big XII quarterbacks comes through in the end: the A&M commit Manziel, or the Tech-commit Brewer. Brewer comes in cold, while Manziel accounted for all seven touchdowns in last week’s 49-21 victory over Hays.
Series tied, 2-2
2000: Kerrville Tivy 13, Lake Travis 10
2001: Kerrville Tivy 54, Lake Travis 0
2007 (Area): Lake Travis 45, Kerrville Tivy 29
2010: Lake Travis 36, Kerrville Tivy 33
Prediction: Lake Travis knew what to expect last week against McCallum, and struggled. They know what’s coming this week, but I think Tivy quarterback Johnny Manziel is going to show the magic that has put him in the running for the Texas 4A Player of the Year. Kerrville Tivy 34, Lake Travis 31
Class 4A Playoff Schedule – Week 2:Area Round
Austin area high schools will be in bold.
Thursday, November 18
| 7:00 PM | Saginaw Boswell (7-4) vs. Waco Midway (11-0) | Cowboys Stadium (Arlington) |
Friday, November 19
| 6:00 PM | Sherman (10-1) vs. West Mesquite (9-2) | Cowboys Stadium (Arlington) |
| 7:00 PM | Carrollton Smith (6-5) vs. Dallas Carter (6-5) | Irving Schools Stadium (Irving) |
| 7:00 PM | Houston Worthing (5-6) vs. Pearland Dawson (7-4) | Wildcat Stadium (Angleton) |
| 7:00 PM | Humble (10-1) vs. Beaumont Central (7-3) | Thomas Center (Beaumont) |
| 7:00 PM | Houston Washington (6-5) vs. Manvel (9-2) | Butler Stadium (Houston) |
| 7:30 PM | Vista Ridge (9-2) vs. Alamo Heights (9-2) | Bob Shelton Stadium |
| 7:30 PM | Port Lavaca Calhoun (8-3) vs. Edcouch-Elsa (8-3) | Wildcat Stadium (Corpus Christi) |
| 7:30 PM | Highland Park (11-0) vs. Dallas Hillcrest (8-2) | Highlander Stadium |
| 7:30 PM | Sulphur Springs (9-2) vs. Bastrop (8-3) | Panther Stadium (Waco Midway High School) |
| 7:30 PM | Frisco Liberty (11-0) vs Dallas South Oak Cliff (10-1) | Hanby Stadium (Mesquite) |
| 7:30 PM | Fort Worth Southwest (8-3) vs. Stephenville (6-5) | Ram Stadium (Mineral Wells) |
| 7:30 PM | Clint Horizon (7-4) vs. Canyon Randall (9-2) | Wigwam Stadium (Seminole) |
| 7:30 PM | Aledo (11-0) vs. Waco (5-6) | Bearcat Stadium (Aledo) |
| 7:30 PM | El Paso Riverside (6-5) vs. Hereford (8-3) | Grande Communications Stadium (Midland) |
| 7:30 PM | Lake Travis (9-2) vs. Kerrville Tivy (10-1) | Heroes Stadium (San Antonio) |
| 7:30 PM | Cedar Park (11-0) vs. Smithson Valley (10-1) | Bobcat Stadium (San Marcos) |
| 7:30 PM | Houston Wheatley (6-5) vs. Friendswood (10-1) | Galena Park ISD Stadium (Galena Park) |
| 7:30 PM | Wylie (8-3) vs. Dallas Kimball (9-2) | Standridge Stadium (Carrollton) |
| 7:30 PM | Birdville (8-3) vs. Mansfield Summit (9-2) | Pennington Field (Bedford) |
Lake Travis Stymies McCallum at Goal Line for 28-20 Win
By Sam Bohmfalk
McCallum fans may have to wait awhile before they find another Michael Sorrells. Photo by aaronisnotcool.
He was a decoy for much of the game, but when it came down to a 4th and goal from the 2, everyone in the stadium knew who was getting the ball. Needing a score and a two-point conversion to tie the game, quarterback Colton Lusson handed the ball to star running back Michael Sorrells who was stopped short of the goal line. The stand allowed Lake Travis to run out the clock, escaping House Park with a 28-20 win.
The Knights attacked early, jumping to a 10-0 lead after one quarter, in large part due to the legs of Lusson and his 43-yard run. Lusson finished with 103 yards on the night, more than in any regular season game.
Equally impressive was Cavaliers’ quarterback Michael Brewer. The dual threat quarterback, who was pressured on just about every pass, finished with three touchdowns and 125 rushing yards of his own. His pass to Tanner Gillette early in the fourth quarter proved to be last blow for a McCallum team that many thought would be blown out.
Cedar Park 70, LBJ 20
The Jaguars were just the third team all year to break double digits on the Cedar Park defense. Unfortunately, Brian Hogan and co. combined for 521 yards rushing in an effort that simply overwhelmed the Jaguars’ defense. Cedar Park outscored LBJ 56-6 in the last three quarters en route to a 50-point victory.
Marble Falls 53, Crockett 21
Austin Sparks set the tone for Marble Falls early, taking a rush down the sideline, reversing the field, and then going up the middle for a touchdown. The Crockett defense, which seemed to have all the right answers against Travis last week, couldn’t do much of anything to stop the Mustangs who rolled 53-21.
Vista Ridge 41, Travis 6
Vista Ridge’s penchant for the big play reared its head early as the Rangers struck early in the first on a Chris Showels 80-yard run and once again early in the second quarter on Jaylen Harris’ 88-yard touchdown reception. After getting behind early, Travis had to rely on the aerial game—a problem on such a rainy, windy night. The Rangers defense has an answer for just about everything the Rebels tried, holding them to a season low 6 points en route to a five touchdown victory.
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
Keeping Sports Weird 