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VYPE/ESPN Austin Central Texas Game of the Week Preview: Vandegrift vs. Steele
Call it “Monochrome Bowl IV.”
The Vandegrift Vipers (school colors: black, silver and white) will face the Cibolo Steel Knights (school colors: black, silver and white) in a 6A D2 Region IV Semifinal showdown Friday (11/29) at The Alamodome.
Dig out the old-school 1950’s-era black and white tube TV from the attic.
Their school colors may be from a gray scale, but the fireworks these teams produce are in Technicolor. Coach Drew Sanders’ Vipers (11-1) have lit up the scoreboard for 42.5 points-per-game, often with the starters resting on the sidelines by early in the third quarter. Junior quarterback Miles Teodecki (141-211, 2,249 yds., 30 TDs, 8 INTs) has spread the ball around to an ever-increasing number of receivers, let by Brock Chilton and George Farley. Senior running back Brendan Fornier (137-831, 6.1 YPC, 13 TDs) has also come on strong since returning to the lineup full time from an early season injury.
The Vipers’ defense has gotten healthy and improved dramatically since giving up 49 points to Cedar Park in Week Two. Led by veterans Ian Witt, Daeshon Morgan, Adam Scott and Hollister Stephens, Vandegrift gives up just 11.4 points-per-game, with much of that surrendered by reserves.
Cibolo Steele’s offensive numbers are even gaudier. Senior quarterback Chad Warner (158-197, 3,009 Yds., 40 TDs, INT) and junior running back Jonathan Hatton (121-1,147, 9.5 YPC, 14 TDs) power an offense that has scored at least 49 points in every game since suffering their only loss against Westlake. The Knights have averaged 55.8 PPG over the course of the season.
Steele’s defense has excelled as well, allowing two scores or less in eight of their 12 games with two shutouts.
The Knights knocked the Vipers out of the playoffs in Vandegrift’s first two years as a 6A program before the Vipers returned the favor in 2021. Neither team has been challenged in a game since September, which will make mental toughness under adversity at least as much of a factor as anything else.
Toss a TV dinner onto the oven, throw some Jiffy Pop into the microwave and get ready for Monochrome Bowl IV.
What: 6A D2 Region IV SemifinalWhen: 2:40 Pregame, 3:00 Kickoff
Where: The Alamodome
Who: Merle Bertrand, Hank Hudson, Matt Sanders
Watch: https://www.vype.com/nfhs-6a-dii-football-reg-iv-semifinal-vandegrift-vs-cibolo-steele OR https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/uil/gam5afd5aac2b
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/