If Friday’s game between Hutto and Georgetown is anything like last year’s, fans are sure to get their money’s worth. The Eagles outlasted the Hippos 35-32 in overtime last season, and there’s a good chance the rematch – set for 7:30 p.m. at Georgetown ISD Athletic Complex – will be another thriller.
Like last season, both teams enter this District 19-5A opener with matching 2-0 records. Hutto started the year with a 54-14 thrashing of Bryan and followed it up with a 45-7 beatdown of Rudder. Georgetown’s first two games have been closer: a 36-20 neutral-site victory against Fort Worth Brewer in Waco, and a thrilling 35-28 comeback on Buda Hays.
There are plenty of new faces starting for both teams, but lots of familiar ones too. Georgetown returns the star-studded linebackers core of seniors Brandon Hawkins, Drew Barfield and Kyle Urbanovsky. The three have combined for 56 tackles and nine for a loss this season. Hutto brings back senior quarterback Chase Griffin, who’s completed 60 percent of his passes for 534 yards, six touchdown and just one pick through two games.
Georgetown has a new quarterback in senior Cooper Bell, but he’s not playing like a first-year starter. Bell has nine touchdowns and no picks with 697 yards and a 57.5 completion percentage on 73 passes. Georgetown coach Jason Dean likes Bell so much he’s called only 42 run plays, meaning the offense sports almost a 2:1 pass-run ratio.
While Georgetown likes to air it out, Hutto prefers a more balanced attack. The Hippos aren’t afraid to give it to junior running back Chuz Nwabuko III. The 5-foot-6, 140-pound scat-back who played at Pflugerville Hendrickson last year has 161 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 33 carries. He’s also Hutto’s second leading receiver with nine catches for 113 yards.
Other players to watch out for are Georgetown senior wide receiver Caden Legget (14 catches, 340 yards, 5 TDs), senior strong safety Trace Glanville (18 tackles, 1 INT), junior free safety Gage Leggett (18 tackles. 2 TFL, 2 INT) and Hutto’s junior wide receiver Caleb Forrest (11 catches, 155 yards, 4 TDs), and junior linebacker Jacob Berry (34 tackles).
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