Region IV Bi-District Matchups – 25-6A vs 26-6A
D1 Playoff Pairings
Cedar Ridge Raiders (5-5) vs Westlake Chaparrals (10-0) –
7:30 PM Thursday, Chaparral Stadium
Cedar Ridge kept their season alive last week with a late game come from behind overtime 34-28 victory over McNeil. Their prize, if you can call it that, is heading to Southwest Austin to take on the three-time defending state champion Westlake Chaparrals. The only common opponent between the two teams this season was Austin Bowie, which took down the Raiders in Week 2 34-13 and then two weeks ago the Bulldogs lost to the Chaps 45-0.
Behind the QB combo of SR Aidan Liston and JR Jacari Killingsworth (combined 1200+ Yds, 12TD and 7INT), they have been able to move the ball downfield utilizing SR WR Zan Wofford (32/432,3TD) and SO Reggie Brooks (19/237,2TD) in the passing game, along with SR RBs Karlos Jackson (126/813,6TD) and Sincere Best (36/148) as a one-two punch running the ball. SR Miles Brophy (11/177,2TD) has been utilized effectively in the Wildcat package for short yardage and goal-line stands. The Raiders will need to play mistake-free football and avoid the Offensive lulls that have slowed them down in several games this season to keep up with Westlake.
The Cedar Ridge Defense has shown they can contain a good Offense, shutting out playoff qualifier Manor 22-0, but it will take their best effort of the year to keep Westlake in check. They will have Brophy (58T,4TFL,2INT) and JR Baran Robinson (38T,1TFL,3INT) at the safety position, along with SR Zay Cox (48T,1TFL,2INT) and SR Julian Meza (57T,7TFL,2INT) manning the midfield and edges. Their Defensive Line, led by SR Miles Wallace (25T,2TFL,1S), JR Malik Cousin (15T,3TFL,2.5S) and the emergence of SO Jonah Collis (21T,2TFL,1S) has been effective when they can get penetration and disrupt the Offensive flow. Previous games against four-star RBs Quinten Joyner and Cam Cook during District play will have helped prepare themselves to try and contain Kayser from Westlake.
Westlake continues to ride their winning streak, now at 50 games, behind a suffocating Defense and a potent Offense (Per Game Average – Passing 209 Yds, Rushing 207 Yds) putting up 53.5 Points/Game. Since their close mid-season matchup with Dripping Springs, which they won 29-10, the Chaps have outscored their opponents 185-10, including a 45-0 shutout of playoff qualifier Austin Bowie Bulldogs.
We can expect JR QB Paxton Land (82/108,1258Yds,16TD) to spread the ball around between their pair of D1 WRs, Jaden Greathouse (42/790,10TD) and Keaton Kubeka (38/538,9TD), as well as feed the ball often to JR RB Jack Kayser (150/1034,17TD). The Chaps are down Texas A&M commit TJ Shanahan, but their Offensive Line has remained solid with their next man-up philosophy. They showed in the Austin Bowie game they can be slowed down, only leading 17-0 at halftime. But then showed in the second half of that game they can be almost unstoppable, pulling away to win comfortably against the Bulldogs.
The Chaps Defense hasn’t dropped off at all with Coach Tony Salazar moving up from DC to Head Coach unless you count allowing 9.8 Points/Game this season instead of just the 8.4 Points/Game last regular season. Led by a dominant Senior defensive line trio made up of recent UT commit Colton Vasek (45T,4TFL,11S), Nate Weyand (33T,3TFL,7S), and Ford Thompson (29T,3TFL,3S) and back-ended by SR DBs Will Courtney (60T,2TFL,1S,3INT) and Will Magids (19T,2TFL,1S,2INT), this unit will keep the Raiders QBs heads on a swivel when looking downfield, and force the RBs to find the creases in the line to move the ball up field.
Who Wins – Westlake. Cedar Ridge would need to duplicate their end-of-game comeback last week against McNeil the entire 48 minutes to take down the Chaparrals. Not saying it can’t happen but ending the Westlake 50-game winning streak, on their home field no less, would most definitely send shockwaves throughout Texas High School Football.
Lake Travis Cavaliers (6-3) vs Round Rock Dragons (9-1) –
7 PM Friday, Dragon Stadium
Lake Travis will be looking to exact revenge from their unexpected 35-21 Bi-District loss to the Dragons in 2020. With their final regular season game against Austin Bowie being canceled due to weather last week, they should be well rested and anxious for kickoff time to arrive on Friday Night. There were no common opponents between these two during the regular season.
The Cavalier Offense has played round-robin at the QB position this season. With highly touted SR Bo Edmundson (15/22,157Yds,1TD,1INT) on the sideline for most of the year, backups JR Kadyn Leon (69/109,927Yds,17TD), JR Sam Shelf (14/29,163yds,1TD,4INT) and SO Chaston Ditta (9/13,219yds,3TD) have all taken turns behind center. A solid Receiving Corp, led by Juniors Cole Munnerlyn (21/377,4TD) and Sam Shelf (27/236,6TD), along with SR Niko Triant (21/365,5TD) have kept opposing Defenses from stacking up against the run. JR RB Nico Hamilton (148/968,11TD) has shouldered the bulk of the Cavalier running game, especially over the final three weeks of the season where he averaged 183.6 Yds/Game and scored seven touchdowns. Even with the disruptions at QB, this unit has still averaged 37.7 Points/Game on the season.
On the defensive side, the Cavaliers have been tested this season against multiple high-powered offenses, which will serve them well heading into the playoffs. Their Defensive Line, led by JR Jacob Henry (45T,3TFL,2S), SR Griffen Willis (45T,3TFL,2S), JR Jay Turner (37T,2S) and SO Gustavo Cordova (33T,2TFL,1S) will give the Dragon Offensive Line their biggest test since Vandegrift. The LB Corp will be tested to contain both the Dragon running game, as well as Cochran looking to utilize the center of the field in the passing game. A Pair of Seniors, Tyler Mitchell (45T,4TFL,) and Tavin Lewis (42T,1TFL,2S) along with a pair of Juniors, Markus Boswell (44T,3TFL,1S) and Gavin McCullough (41T,1S) make up this unit. Expect the Cavalier Secondary, manned by Juniors Josiah Estes (29T,3TFL), Tyler Brown (30TFL,1INT) and Everett Underhill (18T,1TFL,1S) along with Seniors Jayden Walker (19T) and Lucas Casey-Moore (17T), to be aggressive against the Dragon Receivers all night long.
Round Rock will be looking to right their playoff ship as well after losing their opening-round game a year ago 13-3 against Austin Bowie. The Dragons have dominated most of their opponents on the season, winning by an average margin of 35-12, except for their down-to-the-wire contest against Vandegrift where they picked up their lone loss on the season 30-22.
JR QB Mason Cochran is the engine that drives the Dragon Offense, leading the team in both Passing (96/164,1229Yds,10TD,5INT) and Rushing (157/1034,20TD). Known mainly for their running, Round Rock has lit up their passing game heading into the playoffs, averaging over 200 Yds/Game in three of their final four games. Seniors Aidan Sterling (37/625,6TD), Adam Borel (18/235,3TD), and Elijah Reyna (7/116,1TD) have shown opposing Defenses that they can’t just stack the box to slow down the Dragons. The dual-threat running attack of Seniors Ruben Ribero (86/364,1TD) and Vincent Mighetto (83/349,2TD) are also another option for the Cavaliers to gameplan for.
The Dragon Defense has historically been a solid unit, and this group is no exception. Holding their opponents to an average of 15 Points/Game, only giving up 30+ in two games on the season (SA Reagan and Vandegrift). A stout Defensive Line led by SR Jett Jones (42T,13TFL,3S) and JR Asher Chang (28T,12TFL,1S) will give the Cavalier Offensive Line all they can handle. The LB Corp is the heart of this side of the ball, with Seniors William Brown (78T,7TFL,3.5S), Walker Alsobrooks (73T,9TFL,3S,1INT), and Jackson Anders (37T,1TFL,1S) leading the team in Tackles and Tackles For Loss. Not to be overlooked is a secondary manned by two D1 prospects, Seniors Leonard Moore (29T,3INT) and Jalen Gilbert (36T,1TFL,5INT).
Who Wins – Coin Flip Game, giving the home-field edge to Round Rock. Can the Cavaliers or Dragons utilize their passing games to stretch the field, or will this turn into a ground-and-pound battle against two Top Tier Defenses? Whoever makes the least number of mistakes and avoids giving up the explosive plays in this one will come out on top (sorry for the cliché, but it fits). This will be an opening-round matchup that could be a regional final in most any other year, which is probably why it was chosen to be broadcast statewide on Bally Sports Southwest.
D2 Playoff Pairings
Austin Bowie Bulldogs (7-2) vs Austin Vandegrift Vipers (9-1) –
7 PM Friday, Monroe Stadium
First-time matchup between these two Austin schools located just 14 miles apart. Both teams utilize balanced Offenses and an attacking Defense, so it should be like looking in the mirror when they step on the field on Friday Night. There were three common opponents between these two in the regular Season. Both the Bulldogs and Vipers dispatched of Vista Ridge [B 27-7, V 34-0] and Cedar Ridge [B 34-13, V 29-7], and both fell to Dripping Springs [B 55-7, V 23-30].
The Bulldog Offense, averaging an impressive 32.9 Points/Game, along with over 400 Yds/Game in Offense (Passing – 199.7, Rushing – 207.9) will be one of the most dynamic units that Vandegrift has faced all season. SR QB Connor Kenyon (101/162,1728Yds,21TD,3INT), along with WRs SR Nehemiah Smith-Livingston (26/609,9TD), SR Carmine Elisarraraz (22/349,5TD) and SR Jacob Kastl (11/245,3TD) will challenge the Viper Secondary. SR RB Max Barnes (159/1073Yds,14TD) leads the rushing attack, mixing in pounding runs up the middle with explosive bursts to the outside, as well as a receiving option out of the backfield. The Bulldogs will need to control the clock to keep the Viper Offense on the sideline.
Bowie’s Defense has played well in the regular season, holding 6 of 9 Opponents to 14 or fewer points and posting three shutouts. Only Anderson (24), Westlake (45) and Dripping Springs (55) were able to routinely move the ball against the Bulldogs. The Bowie Defensive Line, led by Seniors Frankie Jankowsi (50T,4TFL,7S) and Aaron Gall (44T,4TFL,7S) and will give the Vandegrift Offensive Line one of their stiffest tests on the season. The Bulldog LB Unit, manned by SR Brady Bram (72T,6TFL,3.5S), SR Tres Danaher (56T,5TFL,4S) and Bralin Thomas (45T,5TFl,1INT) will be pressed to contain the Viper running backs and get pressure on Buchanan. Look for the Bowie Secondary to use what they have learned going up against the Drip and Westlake receiving corps to try and slow down Coleman and company on Friday Night. SR Wesley York (40T,1TFL4INT) paces this unit, with SR Ty Chips (39T,6TFL,0.5S), SR Dower Powell (24T) and JR Joshua Murillo (23T) also manning the backend of the Bulldog Defense.
Vandegrift’s Offense is led by SR QB Braydon Buchanan (147/224,2178Yds,19TD,1INT) and a pair of explosive receivers in JR Miles Coleman (66/1165,9TD) and SR Ray’Jean Middleton (23/347,5TD). The Vipers will also deploy an effective running attack, utilizing both SR Alex Witt (115/547,10TD) and SR Reece Trevino (60/302,3TD) to chew up yards and eat up clock time late in the game. It also helps to have an Offensive Line manned by SR Clemson commit LT Ian Reed and his counterpart 4-Star JR RT Blake Frazier.
The Vipers have long been known for their Defense, and this year’s unit could go down as one of the best ever for Vandegrift. Holding opponents to just 8.1 Points/Game, including four shutouts and four other games where they held opponents to a single touchdown. Their Defensive Line is manned by SR SMU commit Daemian Wimberly (52T,11TFL,10S), SO Ian Witt (25T,7TFL,3S) and SR Oliver Yndo (39T,6TFL,3S). The LB Unit has been a surprise on the season, with newcomers Juniors LB Ben Booher (69T,5TFL,5S) and Blaine Becker (56T,6TFL,1INT) along with SR Cruz Orta (52T,1TFL,1S) all stepping in as first-time starters on Varsity. The Viper’s Secondary has only allowed three passing touchdowns on the season, led by SR Alex Foster (110T,7TFL,3S,1INT), and brothers Andrew Scott (45T,4TFL,2INT) and Davis Scott (45T,3TFL,1S,1INT), look for them to frustrate the Bulldog receivers throughout the contest.
Who Wins – Vandegrift. Bowie will need to duplicate their first-half effort against Westlake (holding them to 10-0 until the final minute of the first half) for the entire game to take down the Vipers. Vandegrift has shown all season the ability to jump out early and utilize their dominant Defense to wear opponents down. (More details about this game can be found in my Game Preview Twitter Thread on Friday @RadDadATX)
Manor Mustangs (7-3) vs Dripping Springs Tigers (9-1) –
7:30 PM Friday, Tiger Stadium
Manor is coming off their must win regular-season finale against Stony Point to qualify for the playoffs in their initial season in District 25-6A. Dripping Springs, also in their first season in 6A, has shown to be one of the more explosive teams in Central Texas while going 9-1 on the season. Vandegrift is the only common opponent between these two teams, with Dripping Springs taking them down in Week 1 23-20 and Manor falling mid-season to the Vipers 34-6.
Quinten Joyner (178/1693,24TD) showed why he is a highly coveted RB with another dominating performance carrying the ball last week against Stony Point (15/326,4TD). However, the Mustangs will need to find a way to jumpstart their lackluster passing game to avoid the Tigers stacking the box to lock him down. Since starting out the season averaging 217.8 Yds/Game, this facet of their Offense has dropped off the table with just 54.3 Yds/Game over the past 6 weeks. SR WR Sean Harris (16/312,4TD), SR WR Torry Johnson (9/129,3TD) and SO WR Peyton Guyton (22/309,1TD) have been effective when the Mustang QBs have been able to get the ball downfield.
The Mustang’s Defense has shown all season that their plethora of D1 Commits and Prospects can slow down most Offenses, holding all their opponents to 22 points or less, except for Vandegrift who put up 34 in their mid-season matchup. They will have their hands full trying to bottle up the Tigers running game, while also looking to get pressure on Novosad to disrupt the Drip passing attack. Led by Texas Tech commit DL Jayden Cofield (47T,18TFL,3S) and D1 Prospect DL Princewill Umanmielen (59T,19TFl,8S) on the Defensive Line, Tulsa commit LB Ike Esonwune (60T,10TFL,2S,2INT) manning the middle, along with SR DJ Shaw (40T,3INT) and SR David Jeffery (53T,3TFL,7INT) in the secondary, this unit can keep the Mustangs in most games, but will they have enough to slow down the explosive Tigers Offense.
Dripping Springs has been a surprise in 2022, showing that the move up to 6A hasn’t been quite the steep climb some were expecting before the season kicked off. Since their season-opening walk-off win over Vandegrift 23-20, the only hiccup in their season came in Week 8 when they fought hard but gave up two late scores in a 29-10 loss to Westlake.
Baylor QB Commit Austin Novosad (138/216,1852Yds,26TD,5INT) has shown why he is considered one of the top signal callers across the state. A dynamic Receiving Corp, led by JR Kyle Koch (44/645,7TD) along with Seniors Garon Duncan (44/519,8TD) and Walker Wright (15/252,1TD), will push any Defense they come up against in the playoffs. The Tiger running attack, manned by SR RB Kade Curry (78/627,7TD) and SO Jack Tyndall (81/491,9TD) has been effective wearing down opposing Defenses.
The Tiger Defense has proven that they are more than ready to take on 6A football all season long. Drip has been stingy when it comes to opponents scoring, giving up only 10.7 Points/Game, with most of those scored in just three games [(80 of 107) Vandegrift-20, Westlake-29, and Lake Travis-31]. A solid Defensive front let by Juniors Tomsen Vickery (37T,6TFL,5S) and Elijah Gonzales (31T,2TFL,1S), along with a LB Corp manned by JR Luca Picucci (86T,5TFL,1S,1INT) and SR Derek Edgar (60T,4TFL) have kept most teams running games in check. The Tiger Secondary has been stellar as well, with SR Keller Stafford (22T,1TFL,1INT) and JR Gabe Quintana (11T,1INT) part of a unit that has allowed just four passing touchdowns on the season.
Who Wins – Dripping Springs. Unless Manor can balance out their one-dimensional Offense, this one could get ugly fast. Tigers will be looking to put their Bi-District loss last season to Georgetown behind them, with sights set on a fourth-round re-match with Vandegrift and a birth into the State Semi-Finals.
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