November 4, 2025 • 22 mins
Texan Live's EJ Sanchez joins Jake Herman to discuss which matchups in area high school football carry playoff implications this weekend.
They break down the potential shuffling atop the standings in District 25-6A, Anderson's quest for an unbeaten regular season, and Bastrop's battle with Liberty Hill.
They break down the potential shuffling atop the standings in District 25-6A, Anderson's quest for an unbeaten regular season, and Bastrop's battle with Liberty Hill.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
On Texan Tuesday.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
We always make time for the immortal Stevie ray Vaughn.
You'll hear from him, George Strait, Willie Nelson, several other
iconic Texas musicians throughout today's Texan Tuesday edition of the program.
One of my favorite Texans is up next, and we're
going to talk Texas high school football.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
It's j Sanchez from Texan Live. EJ.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
What an adventure or a misadventure we had last week
calling that game up at Bastrop with the lights.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Huh yeah, for those that don't know, you and I
will both call it the game. I'll be a different network.
We get there and you know, we're doing our usual
you know im media thing. We go down to the
field pre game and that's the seven thirty kick. It's
about six fifty when we're coming back up and I
think you're the one that looked at me and said,
(00:58):
you know, they probably got a kick on the light
too pretty soon, right, And then we both head up
to our booths. We wish each other luck on the
call and get to be about seven to fifteen, and
then you know, it kind of dawns on us that like,
I'm pretty sure this isn't by choice, and you know,
obviously the excitement began.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
From there, I mean senior night.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
I was like, okay, maybe there's you know, they want
the dim lighting, but no, it was a football game
between Bastrop and Flugerville that was eventually postponed to Saturday
and then won by the Bears by a score of
seventy to six. We're gonna get back to Bass Drop
a little later on and start this conversation with the
spectacular playoff race in District twenty five six a we've
(01:41):
seen unfold throughout the season, well documented here around the area,
and on this program.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
We could have a.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Two way tie, a three way tie, a four way tie.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
Or maybe an outright winner.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Two big matchups towards the top of the standings, all
four teams that are currently in the playoff spots are
facing one another, and starting with McNeil and Huddo, the
Hippos that just one district lost McNeil's got two. Am
I correct to expect a lot of points in this
one from coach Hermas's team against coach Ryan Hart's offense.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
I think it would be absolutely correct, and I think
the key to that matchup is going to be you know,
which defense is going to make you know, the final play,
and we've seen both defenses do it. Of course, set
interception to finish off that exciting one against this the
Ridge talking about Huddo here that was certainly fun. And
McNeil had to make the big defensive stop against Vandergriff.
So both defenses you know, have sewn that they're capable
(02:38):
of it. But these are probably, you know, just on
telling alone, maybe the two most fun teams to watch
offensively in this district. And you know, I've been on
McNeil all year. You know, I can't say that I
would have predicted their their upset of vander Group, but
you know, I'm a big fan of Durell Gary. I
really like what they're doing and I'm looking forward to
(03:01):
just seeing that one and saying, you know, kind of
who blinks first, because I think that's that's what that
matchup's going to come down to.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Huddle very resilient win over Vista Ridge last week McNeil
by the way five and zero at home, just one
in three away from the Palace on Palmer This year
brings us to another matchup Vandergrift at Round Rock, and
you know, these are the a couple of teams that
have really had up and down seasons to this point.
But a round Rock win here might mean that Vandergrift
(03:30):
would then have to play the Dripping Springs Westlake winners.
So there's big seating stakes on the line in this one.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
And that's what I wanted to make sure we illustrate,
you know, to the folks tuning in, is that there's
only three things that we know. We know that Vandergrifts, Huddo,
and McNeil are in in some sort of order. Round
Rock can fall out of the race, or they can
win the district championship if they beat Vandergrift at home.
That I don't know, at least in the most recent future.
(04:00):
You know, if states stakes like that haven't haven't popped
up in that manner. So that's that's the interesting part
is because Huddle has the head to head over round Rock,
if round Rock were to win, then Huddle wins that
Typerector Vince the Ridge also has the head to head
over round Rock, which is why you can't rule out
this the Ridge necessarily yet who has a favorable matchup
(04:22):
against Westwood this week? So if your round Rock this week,
you have no choice. You have to win this game.
Ben Obviously the D one and D two implications those
are big, but you have to get in the dance
before you can start worrying about you know where the
seedings are and round Rock is not out of the woods.
(04:42):
If if they lose this game, which is I think,
what kind of makes this, you know, so amazing And
it kind of almost makes me think of, you know,
the last inning of Not to switch sports here for
a second, but if the World Series a couple of
days ago in game seven, where one pitch was going
to be the difference between winning it all and losing
it or I've been vice versa emper round Rock, this
(05:04):
game could either mean you can claim a district championship
or you might not even advance.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
Yeah, pretty unbelievable when you put it that way. And
Dave Campbell's who puts out predictions with their with their website,
has a six point edge for Vandergrift in that one,
but Round Rock three to zero in district games at
home this season. A lot of interested eyes on that
one from Vista Ridge, who has a really great story.
(05:31):
Cameron Lasik took over at quarterback, came off the bench
to help win that round Rock game, and that's the
win that's keeping them alive right now, like you mentioned,
because of that head to head time breaker. So what
Vista Ridge needs is a win over Westwood. They've done
that in five of the last six years, and they
need a Round Rock loss. How plausible is that for
the Rangers?
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Depending on you know, what part of Round Rock and
what part of the ender you're from, I'd say in
some areas you could call that likely. And now I'm
not backtracking. I'm still a big fan of what Round
Rock has done. But the thing for Round Rock, they
haven't done themselves any favor in these head to head matchups.
They won the games that they're supposed to, but then
the games that they're supposed to steal. You know, you're
(06:16):
not winning the head to head. Now the important head
to head obviously, it would be to beat Vandergriff and
then you can really, you know, cause some confusion amongst
the rest of the district, as if we haven't been
dealing with it, you know, all season long. But Round
Rock if they lose and Vista Ridge wins, Round Rock
would look back on the loss against Vista Ridge early
(06:38):
on in the season when they were still figuring things
out and really pointed that, as you know, one of
the driving factors. But that again, that's completely dependent on
what Trent fires at the pot Dragon Stadium.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
So lots to watch all three of those matchups McNeil, Huddo, Vandergriff,
Round Rock and Vista Ridge Westwood could swing the entire
playoff perception and the way the things shake out there
will be certainly keeping all Rye on that and dripping springs.
They go to west Lake, west Lake gets another of
its toughest district opponents here at home. Is they look
(07:14):
to bounce back from that loss to Lake Travis. Give
us a little preview of that one. Is this a
Tigers team that can go to Chaparral Stadium and kind
of follow that Lake Travis recipe?
Speaker 3 (07:28):
I think it is. I think the easy thing to
do here is really just compare the games that these
two played against. Lake Travis's who's going to be, you know,
the lead dog in that district. And if you look
at the west Lake and Lake Travis game, you know,
obviously tough news for a Chaparral fans. Lake Travis ran away.
(07:50):
They ran away in the second half with that game,
and if you look at the way Dripping Springs played
Lake Travis, shrip Dipping Springs was driving down for a
game winning score with a couple of minutes up and
two late turnovers. You know, you know, flip that game.
So the way you have to look at it right
now is cam Westlake keeps the Dripping Springs offense off
the field. You know, Dripping Springs they've been at been
(08:12):
without super Reid. I really think that changes a lot
of things offensively for them. But overall, when you look
at this drif m Green had a better resume at
this point. And the biggest point of emphasis for Westlake
where we said, Okay, west Blake is back was that
early season win over Prosper and Attack to Theater. One
(08:35):
thing to remember is that a tat to Theater was
playing without Carde Matt and I don't I'm just pointing
it out. You have to go to Houston to win
that game. That was a huge win for west Lake.
But since then, the lost Lake Travis has been really
the only indicator, and you have to go recency when
it comes to that, and Dripping Springs has held up
(08:56):
just maybe a tad bit more, and they've they've kind
of proved that they're in this conversation to be there
with west Lake and Lake Travis because in years past
it has always been west Lake and Lake Travis. And
then let's see how good Dripping Springs is. They've absolutely
earned their right to be here everywhere else. And so
(09:17):
you know, me, Jay, I've been on Dripping Springs all year.
When they began with that forty one to fourteen win
over Vandergrift.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
Want, Yeah, you said, why is nobody talking about this
team like the upper echelon of the area that they are.
This is their opportunity. I think to really try and
improve that. You almost need a red zone channel though,
and I'll give the folks that texted live that idea
for free. They can have it in order to keep
up with all the action around the area this weekend,
(09:44):
because you know, we're going to get to some other
great games on Friday night, but just on Thursday night
you got Anderson playing Weis. The Trojans have never gone
ten and ozho they can try and do that. As
Caleb Crenshawn tries to run down Cedric Alexander AISD rushing record,
that's one hundred and forty yards that Crenshaw still needs.
(10:05):
And then there's Wiss, as talented as anybody in the area,
and they lost two one score games in College Station.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
And you illustrated it perfectly that you know the it's
hard to be upset at a seven and two record,
but you know the fact of the matter is that
White is playing for momentum because it's it's settled. There's
nothing to be one or lost in five day Division one,
Anderson has the head to head over everybody, so they're
(10:35):
going to be the one seat. And they actually are
the first by district matchup that is already solidified, which
is the first week that next that following Saturday, so
by the calendar up, Yeah, on November fifteen at three
pm at House Park, they're playing Friends with that's already booked,
like you can. You can go get your tickets for that.
Right now. White is playing to see how good they
(10:57):
can get before they have to go down and play
really good Laporte team. And it's what you get in
the final week of the year for two good teams,
but rarely is it with nothing on the line, at
least statistically speaking. So I look for Anderson to continue
to do what they've done. And the one thing that
(11:20):
has been tough for Wie in those two Austin College
Station is kind of finishing those games and if they're
able to, you know, maybe play spoiler and you know,
kind of knock off the story of Anderson, that's gonna
be big for Malcolm Hills Ball Club when they start
to plan to head down to Houston to play Laporte.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
Yeah, I think the experience for them in just just
winning one of those big, big games would would feel nice.
But that's a team that certainly has as high as
a ceiling as any. How do you think these two
teams kind of match up in particular? Anderson's not really
built quite the same way as those teams out in
College Station.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
No, they're not. And I mean we we've talked about
Caleb Crenshaw as much as he deserves to, because, like
you said, he's, you know, maybe the best Austin area
running back has come through Austin and I Austin ID specifically,
and since Cedric Alexander, his cousin, who obviously you know,
is tearing it up for as part of a resurgent
(12:18):
Vanderbilt program, I mean Texas fans thought, you know, last week,
he's approaching, you know, the nineteen hundred yard mark. I
do think he'll get there. But that's how their identity
is built. Whyson's identity is built behind Jackson Chad throwing
it to Jordan Anderson and to Trey More, you get
Daniel Barry back. It's kind of this old school of
(12:40):
Texas Tech air raid style, even though Malcolm Hill is
adamant that it's not the air raids, but it has
certain elements to it. So it comes down to the
defenses and when you approach these defenses at a wider scope.
Anderson has just been able to, you know, finish a
couple of and that included the six overtime win against
(13:03):
A and M consolidated kind of win. Everybody, or excuse me,
five overtimes now that I happened in front of me.
Oh that's huge. Everybody said huge. Now everybody's like, Okay, Anderson,
it is real, if not just a good story. And Cotcher,
you know, with his son in the senior class, I
really do think it's one of the best stories in Austin.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Well, we'll see if that story ends with a perfect
regular season. On Thursday Night, another district being settled on
Thursday night, well, I should say Friday night is District
eight in five A Division one. Georgetown can win the
district with a victory. They're six to zero in the
District eight and one overall. Cedar Park is hot on
their heels at five and one in district play, and
(13:46):
all Georgetown has to do is win to avoid any
kind of tie breaking scenario. They took care of Cedar
Park thirty one to seven last year. But e ja,
the Timberwolves are playing some pretty good football right now.
What kind of game do you expect in this one?
Speaker 3 (14:00):
I think it's a matchup of the other running backs
in this area that maybe have been overshadowed for one
reason or another. And Trey Hill for Theedar Park and
Jet Walker for Georgetown. Trey Hill is going to go
over fifteen hundred yards in this game. He's averaging one
hundred and sixty. For those that don't know, Jet Walker,
(14:21):
the running back for Georgetown, committed to West Virginia. He
was unavailable and you know, his status was a little
up in the air at the beginning of this season.
And when you look at the Georgetown team, their whole
you know, scope of the season was kind of a
little bit in doubt. After Belton came down and beat Georgetown.
(14:45):
That wasn't a thought coming into that game. Now at
a different conversation for another day, but the whole point
is is that, you know, Georgetown did not get off
to the start they wanted. Now, since Walker has been
fully healthy and I'm counting after the Coppers Code game
Week four, Georgetown has put up fifty eight, fifty six,
thirty five, and thirty one points. He may be the
(15:08):
most I don't want to say dependent, because Georgetown has
McDougal and Xavier Warren just com made in Texas State.
They have amazing players, but maybe the greatest wrecking ball
in the area for my estimation, So I don't anticipate
this being a you know, a forty eight forty five game.
(15:28):
I think it's going to be you know, whoever gets
more carries between Trey Hill and Jet Walker. I believe
that team is going to win this game.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
Interesting sort of like a padlock stat not just because
of what those guys can do with the ball, but
what them having the opportunity to carry the ball kind
of means for your game script, right, correct, Yeah, I
like that we'll see if that comes out to fruition.
And then two teams that have both dominated in district
(15:57):
eleven to five a D two but both beat you
completely different ways. Those are Basstrop and Liberty Hill, and
now they're rematching for the district title, just like they
did a season ago when Bastrop won thirty five thirty
one on a late touchdown pass from Weston Nielsen to
Brent Carter. You got the slot team machine at Liberty
Hill with a new coach and David Seborn, but the
(16:18):
same story in offensive dominance. And then you've got a
bass drop team averaging sixty three a game. I mean,
where Dody even start to dive into this matchup and
figure out where it gets decided.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
I mean you you start to gain points for yourself
by you know, standing out on the standing out on
a limb and say, you know what, I think a
lot of points are going to be scored. So then
you can take that one for free, Jake, take that
to the bank and Atletic gain some interest because it's
true there's gonna be a lot of points scored. You know,
we didn't get to finish and call that game, but
I was able to, you know, dive deeper into the
(16:53):
film of what bass Drop is doing. I think Bastrop
can run with anybody. And what you and I have
talked about, you know, in our own conversations, has been
that's a good defensive line at bass Drop. It's Tiky
Hole of the Notre Dame commit might be the most
unsung player in the Austin area. He's he's Carter Buck.
(17:16):
Those those two were neck and neck for you know,
maybe the best interior defensive lineman. And the amount of
talent on that Bassdrop defensive line I think might be
the only answer. Because it's one thing to be big,
it's quite another to be athletic and to beat the
slot C you need to have two and potentially three
defensive linemen to stop it. And if there's anybody in
(17:39):
the Austin area that has that, I think it's bass Drop.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
And then Liberty Hills defense has been, you know, a
much improved unit from where they were I think in
the non district play.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
But this is gonna be the toughest test that.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
They've seen, probably I don't know since since going to
Rouse week two. So kind of how do you see
that matchup for West and Nielsen, a future power for quarterback,
potentially going up against the Liberty Hill defense full of
guys that will play on Saturdays.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
I think this is the time where we see Western
Nielsen run a little bit more. I mean, you talk
with Jake Gridle more than I have Jake, But I
think I'm correct and assuming that they've held onto his
legs waiting for the right time, waiting for a playoff game,
because for all intensive pursose this is a playoff game,
especially when you're talking about seeding what you could potentially face.
(18:31):
You know before, I think that means Western Nielsen's going
to use his leg boar that rushing total or rushing
attempts might get into double digits. And what that does
is it opens up everything else. I look for Wilkinson
to have a big day. They're outstanding outside wide receiver.
And what hurts me is that you know Crescendo is
(18:53):
not going to be in this game the Purdue wide
receiver because when in a game like this, you have
to you want to see every piece of talent deal.
So the fact that he's unavailable really really does just
simply break my heart. But Liberty Hills defense has to
be able to play both the run and the past,
(19:14):
because Gary Jefferson Jr. Is as electrical running back as
I've seen all season long.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
Yeah, he's got over a thousand yards on the ground
as well, a lot of balance on that bass drop offense.
And then a Liberty Hill team that says, hey, we
don't need to pass, it's just slot t here it comes.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
See if you could stop it? EJ.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
Is there another matchup this week maybe floating below the
radar that we didn't discuss. I know, Lake Belton controls
its own destiny for a playoff spawn after beating Rawse,
but they've got to beat Chaparral, who's zero to six
in district.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
Any sort of.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
Sneaky third and fourth place settlers around the area that
we should keep, maybe in a multiview on our theoretical
high school red zone.
Speaker 3 (19:59):
Exactly. You know, we covered the big ones in terms of, hey,
where's everybody else going to go? I might have to go,
you know, a little bit farther north to to find
the district that I have my eye on. And I'm
talking about Copper's Cove and Midway Copper's Cove, and of
course a story program, The Home of Robert Griffin the third.
(20:21):
They take on a midway team on Thursday, and I
know that we're getting a little bit out of the
Austin area, but you know, Temple comes down here to
play Austin team, so it's good for comparison's sake. That's
going to decide whether Harker Heights goes first or second.
I'm looking forward to that as well. I'm also just
a big fan of the Coppers Cove story. It was
(20:42):
a new coaching stat being able to overhaul anything. So
I think you have to look a little bit outside
the greater Austin area and get a little bit closer
to Waco to find. You know, some of those I
don't want to call them second tier because they're big,
but you know, in terms of importance, maybe the ones
that were each side up a little bit because that
Copper Scope team beat Georgetown earlier on in the year.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
Yeah, e j I, speaking of upsets, I'm very surprised
to hear that you're actually taking the weekend off.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
What is this?
Speaker 1 (21:14):
I thought I thought you.
Speaker 2 (21:15):
Were everywhere all at once at the same time calling games.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
Trust me, when Thanksgiving rolls around and I'm at a
plane or an Alamo Dome calling a triple header on
Black Friday. I will let you know this is something
I started, you know, a couple of years ago, and
I know maybe not realistic when you get into the
you know, the next levels of things. But the final
week of the regular season is my recharge week because
(21:41):
that's when I know that I'm gonna be calling two
or three football games a weekend until until the first
week of December. So this is a reset weekend for
me after being in bass Drop last week. And you know,
I'm headed to Brenham tonight for a technic high cool
volleyball match that you find that textan live at Fort
(22:01):
Ben Kempner taking on Slugarville Henderson shameless plug. But you know,
I believe in everybody needing to reach that, especially the
kids first and foremost. But you know, media head need
a second to get away as well before you hit
the big stretch of the year.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
All right, well, I'll let you go prepare for some
some volleyball playoff action.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
Thanks so much for stopping by. We always love chatting
with you.
Speaker 3 (22:23):
EJ. Appreciate it. Jake.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
That's CJ. Sanchez from Texan Live.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
He is hopping all around the area call it high
school football games, helping us preview a big weekend full
of blockbuster matchups. Hey, we've got an area of high
school tie in coming up next in Inconceivable right here
on Sports Radio AM thirteen hundred The Zone
On Texan Tuesday.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
We always make time for the immortal Stevie ray Vaughn.
You'll hear from him, George Strait, Willie Nelson, several other
iconic Texas musicians throughout today's Texan Tuesday edition of the program.
One of my favorite Texans is up next, and we're
going to talk Texas high school football.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
It's j Sanchez from Texan Live. EJ.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
What an adventure or a misadventure we had last week
calling that game up at Bastrop with the lights.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Huh yeah, for those that don't know, you and I
will both call it the game. I'll be a different network.
We get there and you know, we're doing our usual
you know im media thing. We go down to the
field pre game and that's the seven thirty kick. It's
about six fifty when we're coming back up and I
think you're the one that looked at me and said,
(00:58):
you know, they probably got a kick on the light
too pretty soon, right, And then we both head up
to our booths. We wish each other luck on the
call and get to be about seven to fifteen, and
then you know, it kind of dawns on us that like,
I'm pretty sure this isn't by choice, and you know,
obviously the excitement began.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
From there, I mean senior night.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
I was like, okay, maybe there's you know, they want
the dim lighting, but no, it was a football game
between Bastrop and Flugerville that was eventually postponed to Saturday
and then won by the Bears by a score of
seventy to six. We're gonna get back to Bass Drop
a little later on and start this conversation with the
spectacular playoff race in District twenty five six a we've
(01:41):
seen unfold throughout the season, well documented here around the area,
and on this program.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
We could have a.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Two way tie, a three way tie, a four way tie.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
Or maybe an outright winner.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Two big matchups towards the top of the standings, all
four teams that are currently in the playoff spots are
facing one another, and starting with McNeil and Huddo, the
Hippos that just one district lost McNeil's got two. Am
I correct to expect a lot of points in this
one from coach Hermas's team against coach Ryan Hart's offense.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
I think it would be absolutely correct, and I think
the key to that matchup is going to be you know,
which defense is going to make you know, the final play,
and we've seen both defenses do it. Of course, set
interception to finish off that exciting one against this the
Ridge talking about Huddo here that was certainly fun. And
McNeil had to make the big defensive stop against Vandergriff.
So both defenses you know, have sewn that they're capable
(02:38):
of it. But these are probably, you know, just on
telling alone, maybe the two most fun teams to watch
offensively in this district. And you know, I've been on
McNeil all year. You know, I can't say that I
would have predicted their their upset of vander Group, but
you know, I'm a big fan of Durell Gary. I
really like what they're doing and I'm looking forward to
(03:01):
just seeing that one and saying, you know, kind of
who blinks first, because I think that's that's what that
matchup's going to come down to.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Huddle very resilient win over Vista Ridge last week McNeil
by the way five and zero at home, just one
in three away from the Palace on Palmer This year
brings us to another matchup Vandergrift at Round Rock, and
you know, these are the a couple of teams that
have really had up and down seasons to this point.
But a round Rock win here might mean that Vandergrift
(03:30):
would then have to play the Dripping Springs Westlake winners.
So there's big seating stakes on the line in this one.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
And that's what I wanted to make sure we illustrate,
you know, to the folks tuning in, is that there's
only three things that we know. We know that Vandergrifts, Huddo,
and McNeil are in in some sort of order. Round
Rock can fall out of the race, or they can
win the district championship if they beat Vandergrift at home.
That I don't know, at least in the most recent future.
(04:00):
You know, if states stakes like that haven't haven't popped
up in that manner. So that's that's the interesting part
is because Huddle has the head to head over round Rock,
if round Rock were to win, then Huddle wins that
Typerector Vince the Ridge also has the head to head
over round Rock, which is why you can't rule out
this the Ridge necessarily yet who has a favorable matchup
(04:22):
against Westwood this week? So if your round Rock this week,
you have no choice. You have to win this game.
Ben Obviously the D one and D two implications those
are big, but you have to get in the dance
before you can start worrying about you know where the
seedings are and round Rock is not out of the woods.
(04:42):
If if they lose this game, which is I think,
what kind of makes this, you know, so amazing And
it kind of almost makes me think of, you know,
the last inning of Not to switch sports here for
a second, but if the World Series a couple of
days ago in game seven, where one pitch was going
to be the difference between winning it all and losing
it or I've been vice versa emper round Rock, this
(05:04):
game could either mean you can claim a district championship
or you might not even advance.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
Yeah, pretty unbelievable when you put it that way. And
Dave Campbell's who puts out predictions with their with their website,
has a six point edge for Vandergrift in that one,
but Round Rock three to zero in district games at
home this season. A lot of interested eyes on that
one from Vista Ridge, who has a really great story.
(05:31):
Cameron Lasik took over at quarterback, came off the bench
to help win that round Rock game, and that's the
win that's keeping them alive right now, like you mentioned,
because of that head to head time breaker. So what
Vista Ridge needs is a win over Westwood. They've done
that in five of the last six years, and they
need a Round Rock loss. How plausible is that for
the Rangers?
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Depending on you know, what part of Round Rock and
what part of the ender you're from, I'd say in
some areas you could call that likely. And now I'm
not backtracking. I'm still a big fan of what Round
Rock has done. But the thing for Round Rock, they
haven't done themselves any favor in these head to head matchups.
They won the games that they're supposed to, but then
the games that they're supposed to steal. You know, you're
(06:16):
not winning the head to head. Now the important head
to head obviously, it would be to beat Vandergriff and
then you can really, you know, cause some confusion amongst
the rest of the district, as if we haven't been
dealing with it, you know, all season long. But Round
Rock if they lose and Vista Ridge wins, Round Rock
would look back on the loss against Vista Ridge early
(06:38):
on in the season when they were still figuring things
out and really pointed that, as you know, one of
the driving factors. But that again, that's completely dependent on
what Trent fires at the pot Dragon Stadium.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
So lots to watch all three of those matchups McNeil, Huddo, Vandergriff,
Round Rock and Vista Ridge Westwood could swing the entire
playoff perception and the way the things shake out there
will be certainly keeping all Rye on that and dripping springs.
They go to west Lake, west Lake gets another of
its toughest district opponents here at home. Is they look
(07:14):
to bounce back from that loss to Lake Travis. Give
us a little preview of that one. Is this a
Tigers team that can go to Chaparral Stadium and kind
of follow that Lake Travis recipe?
Speaker 3 (07:28):
I think it is. I think the easy thing to
do here is really just compare the games that these
two played against. Lake Travis's who's going to be, you know,
the lead dog in that district. And if you look
at the west Lake and Lake Travis game, you know,
obviously tough news for a Chaparral fans. Lake Travis ran away.
(07:50):
They ran away in the second half with that game,
and if you look at the way Dripping Springs played
Lake Travis, shrip Dipping Springs was driving down for a
game winning score with a couple of minutes up and
two late turnovers. You know, you know, flip that game.
So the way you have to look at it right
now is cam Westlake keeps the Dripping Springs offense off
the field. You know, Dripping Springs they've been at been
(08:12):
without super Reid. I really think that changes a lot
of things offensively for them. But overall, when you look
at this drif m Green had a better resume at
this point. And the biggest point of emphasis for Westlake
where we said, Okay, west Blake is back was that
early season win over Prosper and Attack to Theater. One
(08:35):
thing to remember is that a tat to Theater was
playing without Carde Matt and I don't I'm just pointing
it out. You have to go to Houston to win
that game. That was a huge win for west Lake.
But since then, the lost Lake Travis has been really
the only indicator, and you have to go recency when
it comes to that, and Dripping Springs has held up
(08:56):
just maybe a tad bit more, and they've they've kind
of proved that they're in this conversation to be there
with west Lake and Lake Travis because in years past
it has always been west Lake and Lake Travis. And
then let's see how good Dripping Springs is. They've absolutely
earned their right to be here everywhere else. And so
(09:17):
you know, me, Jay, I've been on Dripping Springs all year.
When they began with that forty one to fourteen win
over Vandergrift.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
Want, Yeah, you said, why is nobody talking about this
team like the upper echelon of the area that they are.
This is their opportunity. I think to really try and
improve that. You almost need a red zone channel though,
and I'll give the folks that texted live that idea
for free. They can have it in order to keep
up with all the action around the area this weekend,
(09:44):
because you know, we're going to get to some other
great games on Friday night, but just on Thursday night
you got Anderson playing Weis. The Trojans have never gone
ten and ozho they can try and do that. As
Caleb Crenshawn tries to run down Cedric Alexander AISD rushing record,
that's one hundred and forty yards that Crenshaw still needs.
(10:05):
And then there's Wiss, as talented as anybody in the area,
and they lost two one score games in College Station.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
And you illustrated it perfectly that you know the it's
hard to be upset at a seven and two record,
but you know the fact of the matter is that
White is playing for momentum because it's it's settled. There's
nothing to be one or lost in five day Division one,
Anderson has the head to head over everybody, so they're
(10:35):
going to be the one seat. And they actually are
the first by district matchup that is already solidified, which
is the first week that next that following Saturday, so
by the calendar up, Yeah, on November fifteen at three
pm at House Park, they're playing Friends with that's already booked,
like you can. You can go get your tickets for that.
Right now. White is playing to see how good they
(10:57):
can get before they have to go down and play
really good Laporte team. And it's what you get in
the final week of the year for two good teams,
but rarely is it with nothing on the line, at
least statistically speaking. So I look for Anderson to continue
to do what they've done. And the one thing that
(11:20):
has been tough for Wie in those two Austin College
Station is kind of finishing those games and if they're
able to, you know, maybe play spoiler and you know,
kind of knock off the story of Anderson, that's gonna
be big for Malcolm Hills Ball Club when they start
to plan to head down to Houston to play Laporte.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
Yeah, I think the experience for them in just just
winning one of those big, big games would would feel nice.
But that's a team that certainly has as high as
a ceiling as any. How do you think these two
teams kind of match up in particular? Anderson's not really
built quite the same way as those teams out in
College Station.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
No, they're not. And I mean we we've talked about
Caleb Crenshaw as much as he deserves to, because, like
you said, he's, you know, maybe the best Austin area
running back has come through Austin and I Austin ID specifically,
and since Cedric Alexander, his cousin, who obviously you know,
is tearing it up for as part of a resurgent
(12:18):
Vanderbilt program, I mean Texas fans thought, you know, last week,
he's approaching, you know, the nineteen hundred yard mark. I
do think he'll get there. But that's how their identity
is built. Whyson's identity is built behind Jackson Chad throwing
it to Jordan Anderson and to Trey More, you get
Daniel Barry back. It's kind of this old school of
(12:40):
Texas Tech air raid style, even though Malcolm Hill is
adamant that it's not the air raids, but it has
certain elements to it. So it comes down to the
defenses and when you approach these defenses at a wider scope.
Anderson has just been able to, you know, finish a
couple of and that included the six overtime win against
(13:03):
A and M consolidated kind of win. Everybody, or excuse me,
five overtimes now that I happened in front of me.
Oh that's huge. Everybody said huge. Now everybody's like, Okay, Anderson,
it is real, if not just a good story. And Cotcher,
you know, with his son in the senior class, I
really do think it's one of the best stories in Austin.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Well, we'll see if that story ends with a perfect
regular season. On Thursday Night, another district being settled on
Thursday night, well, I should say Friday night is District
eight in five A Division one. Georgetown can win the
district with a victory. They're six to zero in the
District eight and one overall. Cedar Park is hot on
their heels at five and one in district play, and
(13:46):
all Georgetown has to do is win to avoid any
kind of tie breaking scenario. They took care of Cedar
Park thirty one to seven last year. But e ja,
the Timberwolves are playing some pretty good football right now.
What kind of game do you expect in this one?
Speaker 3 (14:00):
I think it's a matchup of the other running backs
in this area that maybe have been overshadowed for one
reason or another. And Trey Hill for Theedar Park and
Jet Walker for Georgetown. Trey Hill is going to go
over fifteen hundred yards in this game. He's averaging one
hundred and sixty. For those that don't know, Jet Walker,
(14:21):
the running back for Georgetown, committed to West Virginia. He
was unavailable and you know, his status was a little
up in the air at the beginning of this season.
And when you look at the Georgetown team, their whole
you know, scope of the season was kind of a
little bit in doubt. After Belton came down and beat Georgetown.
(14:45):
That wasn't a thought coming into that game. Now at
a different conversation for another day, but the whole point
is is that, you know, Georgetown did not get off
to the start they wanted. Now, since Walker has been
fully healthy and I'm counting after the Coppers Code game
Week four, Georgetown has put up fifty eight, fifty six,
thirty five, and thirty one points. He may be the
(15:08):
most I don't want to say dependent, because Georgetown has
McDougal and Xavier Warren just com made in Texas State.
They have amazing players, but maybe the greatest wrecking ball
in the area for my estimation, So I don't anticipate
this being a you know, a forty eight forty five game.
(15:28):
I think it's going to be you know, whoever gets
more carries between Trey Hill and Jet Walker. I believe
that team is going to win this game.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
Interesting sort of like a padlock stat not just because
of what those guys can do with the ball, but
what them having the opportunity to carry the ball kind
of means for your game script, right, correct, Yeah, I
like that we'll see if that comes out to fruition.
And then two teams that have both dominated in district
(15:57):
eleven to five a D two but both beat you
completely different ways. Those are Basstrop and Liberty Hill, and
now they're rematching for the district title, just like they
did a season ago when Bastrop won thirty five thirty
one on a late touchdown pass from Weston Nielsen to
Brent Carter. You got the slot team machine at Liberty
Hill with a new coach and David Seborn, but the
(16:18):
same story in offensive dominance. And then you've got a
bass drop team averaging sixty three a game. I mean,
where Dody even start to dive into this matchup and
figure out where it gets decided.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
I mean you you start to gain points for yourself
by you know, standing out on the standing out on
a limb and say, you know what, I think a
lot of points are going to be scored. So then
you can take that one for free, Jake, take that
to the bank and Atletic gain some interest because it's
true there's gonna be a lot of points scored. You know,
we didn't get to finish and call that game, but
I was able to, you know, dive deeper into the
(16:53):
film of what bass Drop is doing. I think Bastrop
can run with anybody. And what you and I have
talked about, you know, in our own conversations, has been
that's a good defensive line at bass Drop. It's Tiky
Hole of the Notre Dame commit might be the most
unsung player in the Austin area. He's he's Carter Buck.
(17:16):
Those those two were neck and neck for you know,
maybe the best interior defensive lineman. And the amount of
talent on that Bassdrop defensive line I think might be
the only answer. Because it's one thing to be big,
it's quite another to be athletic and to beat the
slot C you need to have two and potentially three
defensive linemen to stop it. And if there's anybody in
(17:39):
the Austin area that has that, I think it's bass Drop.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
And then Liberty Hills defense has been, you know, a
much improved unit from where they were I think in
the non district play.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
But this is gonna be the toughest test that.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
They've seen, probably I don't know since since going to
Rouse week two. So kind of how do you see
that matchup for West and Nielsen, a future power for quarterback,
potentially going up against the Liberty Hill defense full of
guys that will play on Saturdays.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
I think this is the time where we see Western
Nielsen run a little bit more. I mean, you talk
with Jake Gridle more than I have Jake, But I
think I'm correct and assuming that they've held onto his
legs waiting for the right time, waiting for a playoff game,
because for all intensive pursose this is a playoff game,
especially when you're talking about seeding what you could potentially face.
(18:31):
You know before, I think that means Western Nielsen's going
to use his leg boar that rushing total or rushing
attempts might get into double digits. And what that does
is it opens up everything else. I look for Wilkinson
to have a big day. They're outstanding outside wide receiver.
And what hurts me is that you know Crescendo is
(18:53):
not going to be in this game the Purdue wide
receiver because when in a game like this, you have
to you want to see every piece of talent deal.
So the fact that he's unavailable really really does just
simply break my heart. But Liberty Hills defense has to
be able to play both the run and the past,
(19:14):
because Gary Jefferson Jr. Is as electrical running back as
I've seen all season long.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
Yeah, he's got over a thousand yards on the ground
as well, a lot of balance on that bass drop offense.
And then a Liberty Hill team that says, hey, we
don't need to pass, it's just slot t here it comes.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
See if you could stop it? EJ.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
Is there another matchup this week maybe floating below the
radar that we didn't discuss. I know, Lake Belton controls
its own destiny for a playoff spawn after beating Rawse,
but they've got to beat Chaparral, who's zero to six
in district.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
Any sort of.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
Sneaky third and fourth place settlers around the area that
we should keep, maybe in a multiview on our theoretical
high school red zone.
Speaker 3 (19:59):
Exactly. You know, we covered the big ones in terms of, hey,
where's everybody else going to go? I might have to go,
you know, a little bit farther north to to find
the district that I have my eye on. And I'm
talking about Copper's Cove and Midway Copper's Cove, and of
course a story program, The Home of Robert Griffin the third.
(20:21):
They take on a midway team on Thursday, and I
know that we're getting a little bit out of the
Austin area, but you know, Temple comes down here to
play Austin team, so it's good for comparison's sake. That's
going to decide whether Harker Heights goes first or second.
I'm looking forward to that as well. I'm also just
a big fan of the Coppers Cove story. It was
(20:42):
a new coaching stat being able to overhaul anything. So
I think you have to look a little bit outside
the greater Austin area and get a little bit closer
to Waco to find. You know, some of those I
don't want to call them second tier because they're big,
but you know, in terms of importance, maybe the ones
that were each side up a little bit because that
Copper Scope team beat Georgetown earlier on in the year.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
Yeah, e j I, speaking of upsets, I'm very surprised
to hear that you're actually taking the weekend off.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
What is this?
Speaker 1 (21:14):
I thought I thought you.
Speaker 2 (21:15):
Were everywhere all at once at the same time calling games.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
Trust me, when Thanksgiving rolls around and I'm at a
plane or an Alamo Dome calling a triple header on
Black Friday. I will let you know this is something
I started, you know, a couple of years ago, and
I know maybe not realistic when you get into the
you know, the next levels of things. But the final
week of the regular season is my recharge week because
(21:41):
that's when I know that I'm gonna be calling two
or three football games a weekend until until the first
week of December. So this is a reset weekend for
me after being in bass Drop last week. And you know,
I'm headed to Brenham tonight for a technic high cool
volleyball match that you find that textan live at Fort
(22:01):
Ben Kempner taking on Slugarville Henderson shameless plug. But you know,
I believe in everybody needing to reach that, especially the
kids first and foremost. But you know, media head need
a second to get away as well before you hit
the big stretch of the year.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
All right, well, I'll let you go prepare for some
some volleyball playoff action.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
Thanks so much for stopping by. We always love chatting
with you.
Speaker 3 (22:23):
EJ. Appreciate it. Jake.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
That's CJ. Sanchez from Texan Live.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
He is hopping all around the area call it high
school football games, helping us preview a big weekend full
of blockbuster matchups. Hey, we've got an area of high
school tie in coming up next in Inconceivable right here
on Sports Radio AM thirteen hundred The Zone
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