GAMES
RANKINGS
VYPE/ESPN Austin Central Texas Game of the Week Preview: Austin High vs. Bowie
Several Austin High fans predicted at their scrimmage vs. Brandeis in mid-August that the game against Bowie was going to determine the final playoff spot out of District 26-6A. They were exactly right.
With Westlake, Dripping Springs and Lake Travis all locked into the postseason, the Maroons and Bulldogs will duke it out in what amounts to an elimination game Friday night (11/1) at House Park in the VYPE Central Texas High School Football Game of the Week, simulcast on 102.7 FM ESPN Austin radio.
Bowie has had more success in recent years. The Bulldogs (2-3, 6-3) have played nine straight weeks, with their Bye coming next week, so it’s “do or die” for the Dawgs. While Westlake and Lake Travis handled them with relative ease, Bowie nearly knocked off Dripping Springs, falling 38-35 on October 11th.
Senior quarterback Cruz Tello (99-163, 1,620 Yds., 18 TDs, 6 INTs) and senior running back Kayson Mathabela (130-680, 5.2 YPC, 11 TDs) power a Bowie offense that’s racked up 33 points per game.
Austin High (2-2, 4-4) also fell to both Westlake and Drip by identical 49-7 scores and will close out the regular season against Lake Travis. (The Maroons could technically lose to Bowie and upset Lake Travis but the Bulldogs would have the tiebreaker.)
Senior running back Bryson Batts (72-603, 8.4 YPC, 7 TDs rushing; 16-323, 20.2 YPC, 3 TDs) keys the Maroons offense with senior quarterback John Latham (56-123, 799 Yds., 6 TD, 9 INT) under center.
Westlake and Lake Travis met last week in the “Battle of the Lakes” and Dripping Springs beat everyone else they had to beat to punch their ticket. That means it’s Austin High vs. Bowie in a clash between two Austin ISD mainstays to see who will move on to the playoffs.
What: Austin High vs. BowieWhen: 7:00 Pregame, 7:30 Kickoff
Where: House Park
Who: David Roy, Paul Longoria, James Scott
Watch: https://www.vype.com/7-30pm-football-austin-high-vs-bowie-2669496638
Listen: 102.7 FM ESPN Austin, https://www.1027espn.com/
Note: While we broadcast for both schools, just the Austin High broadcast will be simulcast on radio as they are the Home Team.
VYPE/ESPN Austin Central Texas Game of the Week Preview: Cedar Park vs. Rouse
It wasn’t all that long ago that the Cedar Park Timberwolves were the dominant 5A football program in the Austin area and a perennial threat to win it all. The Timberwolves nabbed two State Championships – 2012 and 2015 -- and reached the title game on two other occasions – 2014 and 2020.
Cedar Park (1-0, 2-2) returned to Earth a bit in the past three seasons, even as they continued to make the playoffs. Now, however, the Timberwolves appear to be trending in the right direction again, as evidenced by a double overtime win over powerful Vandegrift in Week 2. The T’wolves host the Rouse Raiders at Gupton Stadium in the VYPE Central Texas High School Football Game of the Week this Friday night (10/4), simulcast on 102.7 FM ESPN Austin radio.
Sophomore quarterback David Cooper (59-98, 900 yds., 8 TDs, 2 INTs) and explosive junior running back Trae Hill (105-459, 4 TDs) key a T’wolves offense that’s averaging just under 400 yards/game. Meanwhile, the vaunted Black Rain defense seems to be finding itself after allowing Killeen Chaparral just 12 points last week.
Coach Joshua Mann’s Rouse Raiders haven’t exactly been slouches in the meantime. The Raiders (1-0, 2-2) reached the 2012 state semifinal game in just the program’s third season and have reached the playoffs in eight of their 14 seasons, including an 8-4 run last season.
Junior quarterback London Morgan (59-99, 934 yds., 9 TDs, 2 INTs) leads the Raider offense with senior running back Bryce Johns pacing the ground game.
Even when they’ve struggled in recent years, Cedar Park has done well in district games. We’ll see what happens in this District 8-5A-1 clash Friday night from “The Gup.”
What: Cedar Park vs. Rouse
When: 6:45 Pregame, 7:00 Kickoff
Where: Gupton Stadium
Who: Josh Willard, Cecil Coconougher, Brad Cone
Watch: https://www.vype.com/7pm-football-cedar-park-vs-rouse
Listen: 102.7 FM ESPN Austin, https://www.1027espn.com/