VYPE/ESPN Austin Central Texas Game of the Week Preview: Liberty Hill vs. Brenham

Liberty Hill’s running back corps was wracked with injuries – not that you would know it. Even with their top two backs out of the lineup, the Panthers, as advertised, amassed 565 rushing yards, with three different backs cracking the century mark, and scored 69 points in a 69-26 Bi-district playoff win over Sam Houston. The questions now are, can a team that’s had 17(!) different rushers carry the ball replicate that performance in Round 2; and can the Panthers slow down a Brenham ballclub that’s averaging nearly 45 points and 430 yards-per-game in its own right?

It looks to be an explosive night of fireworks when the Liberty Hill Panthers face the Brenham Cubs in Friday night’s 5A D2 Area round matchup in the VYPE Central Texas High School Football Game of the Week, simulcast on 102.7 FM ESPN Austin radio.

Panther senior running back Kyle May and junior Bryce Muchaw have accumulated nearly 2,300 yards and 33 touchdowns between the two of them. With both sidelined in last week’s playoff opener, sophomores P. Dylan Belinga (18-223, 12.4 YPC, 3 TDs) and Spencer Ballew (14-109, 7.8 YPC) and junior Dj Seaborn (7-105, 15.0 YPC) each rushed for over 100 yards. And then there was junior Preston Benefield, who carried the ball 14 times for 75 yards – and five touchdowns.

Liberty Hill (9-2) may need every yard they can muster in what threatens to turn into a track meet with Brenham (10-0). The Cubs scored over 31 points in every game this season, crushing all comers in District 10-5A-2 and blanking Texas City in last week’s Bi-district playoff game. Brenham also held their opponents to a modest 20.2 PPG, posting two shutouts and holding their opponent to a single score in two other games.

Senior quarterback Jordan Harvey (89-142, 1,538 Yds., 20 TDs, 5 INTs) commands a dangerous passing game, set up by the success sophomore running back Jacoby Dixon (246-2249, 9.1 YPC, 32 TDs) has found on the ground.

It’s supposed to get harder the deeper teams go in the playoffs. Along with their season-opener against 6A Steele and their regular season finale against Bastrop, this will be Liberty Hill’s toughest test of the season.

What: 5A D2 Area: Liberty Hill vs. Brenham
When: 6:45 Pregame, 7:00 Kickoff
Where: The Pfield, Pflugerville
Who: Adam Mueller, Matt Lorenz
Television/Streaming: Fan Duel Sports Network
Listen: https://www.vype.com/7pm-5a-dii-football-area-playoff-liberty-hill-vs-brenham
Listen: 102.7 FM ESPN Austin, https://www.1027espn.com/