Continuing a disappointing trend of recent “Game of the Weeks”, the Cedar Park vs. Pflugerville Connally game dissolved from something that statistically looked very competitive on paper, to a bloodletting in which a dominant program embarrassed an outclassed team.
The question now is will coach Carl Abseck ever lose. Cedar Park (8-0, 6-0 district) has vanquished 24 foes in a row and secured a playoff berth in tonight’s victory, winning every single game under their second year coach’s leadership. Their last loss was against Ennis in the Class 5A Division II state champion game in 2014.
Sparse fans were scattered around the Cougars visiting bleachers, and acted disinterested from the opening kickoff. The Timberwolves fan were cheering on their home team, but also started fading while the numbers continued to increase on the scoreboard — a reality most Cedar Park fans have grown accustomed to during the lengthy winning streak.
The “Black Reign” defense held Connally to 78 yards of offense; the unit tied the school record with the fifth shutout of the season, and are now limiting the opposition to a mere 6.65 points per game.
Mak Sexton shined against a defense eager to slow down Cedar Park’s proficient running game, finishing with 14-of-25 passes for 216 yards.
Barring some miraculous breakdown, the Timberwolves should nab the District 19-5A title and will be heavy favorites to repeat as 5A Division II state champs. Cedar Park just concluded the toughest stretch of their schedule, and cruised through teams like they were scrimmaging opponents in a significantly lower weight class. Cedar Creek, Georgetown, and tonight’s game against Connally were supposed to be the most daunting foes, and the Timberwolves blew through them with a combined score 143-20.