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VYPE/ESPN Austin Radio Central Texas Game of the Week Recap Hutto holds off Cedar Ridge
It was an almost historic occasion the last time the Hutto Hippos were involved in the VYPE/ESPN Austin radio Central Texas Game of the Week on 102.7 FM. In that wild contest last season, Liberty Hill outlasted the Hippos 82-80. (Not a typo!)
It wasn’t quite that crazy Friday night (9/13), but it was close as the Hippos held off Cedar Ridge 63-56 to open District 25-6A play for both teams.
Like last year’s Game of the Week, the offenses were in command throughout the night with the Hippos pulling out to a 42-28 lead – and that was just at the half. Hutto (2-1, 1-0) stretched the lead to 56-28 early in the fourth quarter and seemed to have the game in-hand. That’s when Cedar Ridge (0-3, 0-1) mounted a late charge to tie the game at 56-all with under five minutes remaining. Hutto junior quarterback Jaden Stefak tossed his fourth touchdown pass of the night to finally break a 28-0 Raiders scoring run and secure the hard-fought district win.
Stefak went 16-32 for 231 yards and four touchdowns to pace the Hutto attack while junior running back Keilan Chavies rushed 12 times for 132 yards and two scores.
Hutto heads to Manor Friday night while Cedar Ridge looks for their first win of the season against Westwood.
GAME BREAK: Hutto jammed by Judson
Hutto and Converse Judson traded body blows all night long, but a game-winning field goal in the waning controversial seconds eventually lifted the Rockets to a 31-29 win over the Rockets at San Antonio’s Rutledge Stadium.
After the Rockets scored twice in the opening four minutes, Hutto junior quarterback Kaden Stefek (17-27, 271 yds., 3 TD) tossed the first of his three touchdown passes to put the Hippos on the board. Stefek struck again following a Hutto interception to tie the game at 14-14 before a late touchdown sent Judson into the locker room leading 21-14.
Stefak capped off a roughly five-minute drive to start the second half with a 1-yard plunge to tie the game again at 21-all. The Rockets reclaimed the lead early in the fourth quarter, embarking on a long drive after recovering a Hippo fumble on the Judson 11-yard line.
Stefak completed the hat trick with his third scoring strike but the Hippos missed the extra point to trail 28-27. That’s when the Hutto defense notched a Safety to lead for the first time of the night, 29-28.
The Hippos burned four minutes off the clock after receiving the free kick but unfortunately turned the ball over to Judson on downs at the Rocket 45-yard line with under a minute left. The Rockets advanced just enough – aided by some arguable clock management -- to kick the game winning field goal and swipe the win.
Sophomore Jaiden Fields nabbed two touchdown receptions and Braeton Anderson added a third while junior running back Keilan Chavies carried 26 times for 128 yards for the Hippos.
Hutto (1-1) and new to District 25-6A, hosts Cedar Ridge in Friday night’s VYPE/ESPN Austin radio Central Texas Game of the Week on 102.7 FM.