By Maxwell Milner
The semifinals are fast approaching in the Texas High School Football playoffs. On Saturday, December 9th, 2023, the Summer Creek Bulldogs will face the Cibolo Steele Knights in Waco, TX. Both teams have suffered only one loss each this season, marking them as two of the state’s top teams. It has been some time since either team reached the state championships, so I am eagerly anticipating this decisive semifinal matchup.
Summer Creek Bulldogs
Summer Creek is known for its aggressive style; every game they play is competitive, and they maintain a chance of winning until the final whistle. This is due to their tenacious and aggressive defense. Key defensive players include free safety #3 Brandon Jones, linebacker #6 Xavier Atkins – one of Texas’s best defensive players – and outside linebacker #24 Jaylen Carter. All are hard hitters and adept at reading the opposing offense, and predicting their moves. Their game against Hightower highlighted Summer Creek’s tenacity and perseverance, playing with full intensity until the game’s conclusion.
Cibolo Steele Knights
Before the playoffs, I was less familiar with Cibolo Steele, but now I recognize them as a formidable team. Cibolo boasts star athletes on both sides of the ball, particularly on offense, led by sophomores and juniors. Sophomore running back #28 Johnathan Hutton has accumulated 1,121 rushing yards with 21 touchdowns. Junior wide receiver #10 Jalen Cooper boasts 1,512 receiving yards with 22 touchdowns. Junior quarterback #7 Chad Warner completed 187 out of 269 passes, amassing 3,255 passing yards and totaling 39 touchdowns, 35 in the air and 4 on the ground. Defensively, junior outside linebacker #26 Andrew Buck and senior #33 Abdon Mata have each recorded 44 solo tackles and over 50 assists. These are just the standouts; Cibolo’s team is replete with exceptional athletes.
This semifinal promises to be the most intriguing matchup. As a Houstonian, I’ve witnessed Summer Creek’s progression over the years and would be thrilled to see them reach the championships. On paper, Cibolo might seem the more formidable team, but football is not solely determined by statistics, but by heart and dedication.
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