It was crunch time in Austin this past week as the regular season continues to edge closer to its conclusion. Many of the games had playoff implications in one way or another, and several players rose to the occasion across the area.
Here is a look at 12 of the best players in the Austin area in week 9.
Best Quarterbacks
Bo Edmundson (Jr.), Lake Travis:
Edmundson and Lake Travis avoided a potential stumbling block against Bowie this past Friday. With a 52-21 victory, the Cavaliers remained undefeated in District 26-6A play.
Edmundson was a big reason for their success. He threw for 323 yards and four touchdowns from 32, 71, 34, and 14 yards on the night. Look for him to have another big night this Friday against Akins before Lake Travis’ all-important showdown against Westlake on Nov. 5.
Brayden Buchanan (Jr.), Vandegrift:
Vandegrift improved to 8-0 on the season as they lit up the scoreboard on Friday night against Round Rock Westwood in a 70-3 victory.
Buchanan was the impetus for the offense as he completed 12 out of 15 passes for 267 yards and six touchdowns. That increased his season tally to 1,722 passing yards and 25 touchdowns against just three interceptions.
Austin Novosad (Jr.), Dripping Springs:
With Novosad at the helm, the Dripping Springs offense has averaged 54 points per game. It was yet another big night for Novosad on Friday in his team’s 52-14 win over San Antonio Harlandale. The junior quarterback completed 20 of 25 passes for 421 yards and four touchdowns.
The Tigers and Novosad face their sternest test of district play so far this Friday when undefeated Buda Johnson (8-0) comes to town in a massive District 12-5A Division I showdown.
Best Running Backs
Jaidyn Brown (Jr.), San Marcos:
Brown’s 204-yard, two-touchdown performance certainly looks impressive on paper. However, the box score doesn’t tell the whole story of San Marcos’ important 49-35 victory over Del Valle.
Brown didn’t play in the first half due to two personal foul penalties received earlier in the season, so every one of his 24 carries came in the final 24 minutes of play as San Marcos turned a 28-14 halftime deficit into a two-score victory.
The Rattlers will host Bowie this week before traveling to Akins in the regular-season finale in what could be a winner-take-all showdown for the final District 26-6A playoff berth.
Leon Ekanga (Sr.), Austin Travis:
Travis knew its South Austin showdown against Crockett would likely decide who the final District 14-5A Division II playoff spot went to. Ekanga was not about to see his team miss the playoffs for the eighth-straight season.
The senior running back rushed for 145 yards and five touchdowns on 21 carries as well as two two-point conversions in a back-and-forth contest that saw Travis edge Crockett 44-40.
Travis will be off this week before taking on McCallum in the season finale on Nov. 4.
Sedrick Alexander (Jr.), Austin LBJ:
No, 88-42 was not a basketball score this past Friday night. Instead, it was LBJ putting on a firework show at Nelson Field as it outscored Lampasas 46-14 in the second half for a statement 46-point victory.
Alexander had several big plays on the night, as he broke free for touchdowns of 52 and 67 yards. He finished with 203 rushing yards overall and also added a 29-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter.
LBJ (8-0; 3-0) is looking to keep its offense rolling and stay undefeated as it travels to square off against Burnet this Friday.
Best Wide Receivers
Chris Bruce (Jr.), Hays:
Hays got its first win in District 26-6A play this past Friday as it blew the doors off of Austin High 52-3.
Bruce caught two touchdowns of 42 and 67 yards in the second quarter, and he finished the game with six catches for 127 yards and two touchdowns. He also added 51 rushing yards on nine carries on the ground.
Hays looks to keep its momentum going when it welcomes Del Valle into town for its final home game this Friday.
Jairiez Lambert (Sr.), Hutto:
Hutto stayed right in the thick of the playoff race in District 25-6A with a 31-7 win over Vista Ridge on Friday.
Lambert came up with a number of explosive plays on the night, including a 55-yard touchdown down the sideline in the first quarter that put Hutto up 14-0. He finished with 6 catches for 181 yards and a touchdown.
The Hippos, however, face an uphill battle to build off this victory this upcoming Friday as an undefeated Vandegrift side comes to town to battle.
Hayden Stefek (Sr.), Thrall:
Thrall had suffered four straight defeats to Thorndale in their annual Highway 79 rivalry showdown, but the Tigers pulled off a big-time upset on Friday night.
Stefek caught five passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns as Thrall squeaked out a 42-35 overtime victory over its archrivals. Even more impressive was the fact that Stefek just returned earlier this month from a severe finger injury, according to Rick Cantu of the Austin American-Statesman.
Thrall (5-3; 2-2) travels to Moody this week before hosting Holland on Nov. 5. The Tigers will likely need to win both of those contests in order to punch their playoff ticket.
Best Defense
DB DJ Pinkterton (Jr.), Hendrickson:
Pinkerton caught two touchdowns of 30 and 37 yards offensively for Hendrickson on Thursday, but his defensive performance was just as impressive. He intercepted Anderson quarterback Fred Dale in the end zone in the second quarter before securing another interception late in the fourth quarter on a crucial fourth down for Anderson.
Those two picks helped the Hawks hold on to a 28-21 win over Anderson to improve to 2-3 in District 11-5A Division I play. They will have a huge game this upcoming Friday as they host Leander in a game they will have to win in order to stay in the playoff race.
S Luke Aaron (Sr.), Westlake:
Aaron has been a ballhawk in the Westlake secondary this season, and he was in peak form this past week against Akins. He secured two more interceptions on Friday night in Westlake’s 55-6 victory to bring his season total to four.
Westlake has allowed just 12 points total the last five weeks, so expect their domination to continue when they travel to Austin High this Friday.
DB Kevin Ledesma (Sr.), Weiss:
Weiss and Manor squared off in a crucial District 11-5A Division I encounter on Friday to see who would improve to 5-0 in district play. With Weiss up 10-7 in the second quarter, Ledesma came up with one of the plays of the game.
He jumped an attempted Manor bubble screen, intercepted it, and took it 52 yards to the house for the score. Weiss built off that score as it secured a convincing 44-20 victory over the Mustangs.
Weiss looks to clinch its first-ever district title in just its fourth year of varsity football this Friday when it travels to take on Cedar Park.
Material for this article sourced from: hudl.com; maxpreps.com; https://www.statesman.com/story/sports/high-school/2021/10/23/central-texas-high-school-football-thorndale-thrall/8530396002/
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