VYPE/ESPN Austin Central Texas Game of the Week Preview: Anderson vs. Hendrickson

Now it gets interesting for Anderson.

The Trojans (1-2, 3-2) have already faced the extremes of District 12-5A-1, following up two tough losses to the district’s Aggieland representatives College Station and A&M Consolidated with a romp over Lehman. Anderson now begins a trek through the mushy middle of the district with a key matchup against the Pflugerville Hendrickson Hawks at Austin’s venerable House Park in the VYPE Central Texas High School Football Game of the Week this Friday night (10/11), simulcast on 102.7 FM ESPN Austin radio.

Senior quarterback Max Gerlich (81-131, 1363 yds., 21 TDs, 0 INTs) has excelled in Coach Donald Hatcher’s pass-heavy Anderson offensive attack that has seen four receivers – Ed Small (9), Tristan Waidelich (7), Zayden Sharp (4), and Benjamin Hatcher (3) – haul in scoring strikes.

Coach Doug Pearce’s Hendrickson Hawks (2-2, 3-3) have somehow managed to win three games while averaging just 19 points per game. The Hawks defense had been pretty solid until surrendering 63 points to Weiss and 58 to College Station the past two weeks.

With A&M Consolidated, Weiss and College Station seemingly ensconced atop the district standings, this game could be pivotal in deciding the final playoff spot. Although Anderson sits just one game behind fourth-place Hays, the Trojans are looking up at two other squads – Lockhart and the Hawks – that are sandwiched in between them and the playoffs.

An Anderson win would help the Trojans climb higher up that mushy middle.