The Central Texas high school football regular season ended Friday night. Several teams scrambled for a last-minute playoff berth. A few others owned opportunities to knock rivals off the playoff train. A district championship was decided, albeit very early in the game, as Bowie thrashed San Marcos 59-7 in a battle of unbeatens in District 14-6A. Let’s break down how the playoff Etch-A- Sketch shook out in Central Texas.
For the birds – The Georgetown Eagles and Hendrickson Hawks were both projected to easily make the playoffs this year, and Georgetown’s 6-0 start validated the prediction. Georgetown, however, lost two straight in a bumpy October, and Hendrickson crashed into a dreadful 1-4 district start. Both could land on their feet with wins Friday night.
Georgetown faced a stout Pflugerville Connally squad that bulled their way out to a 14-3 first-quarter lead. With Rouse on its way to victory in Bastrop, Georgetown’s season lay in peril. The Eagles responded, a strong second half vaulting them to a gutsy 37-28 win. Georgetown will face Brenham in next week’s bi-district playoff.
Hendrickson soared to a 34-10 first-half lead against Pflugerville, in a game they needed to win by 2 or more points. Pflugerville, however, was fighting for their own playoff hopes and launched a furious comeback. Pflugerville pulled within 3 late in the third quarter, but Hendrickson’s defense stepped up and iced the rally. The Hawks escaped with a 34-31 win, making the playoffs by the narrowest of margins. Hendrickson battles 14-6A champ Bowie next week.
Ranger Danger. The Vista Ridge Rangers’ season held by its last thread after a 54-0 loss to Westlake. Their hopes rested in last place Lehman beating Leander, but Leander clutched a one-point lead going into the fourth quarter, their own eyes on the playoff prize. The Lehman Lobos, much improved this year despite a losing record, drove for a late field goal, and held on for a 23-21 win. Lehman’s victory bumped Leander out, and boosted Vista Ridge into a bi-district tangle with San Antonio Churchill next weekend.
Something to build on. A few teams that missed the playoffs deserve recognition for greatly improving over last season. Lehman won more games this season than in the past two years combined. Round Rock Westwood landed a 5-5 record following a winless 2015. Travis High posted a 4-6 record, equaling their combined win total for the past two years.
