LH Panther Mom
11-19-2005, 09:31 AM
A preview of the remaining Williamson County football teams in the state playoffs
By Rick Cantu
AMERICAN-STATESMAN SPORTS
Thursday, November 17, 2005
LEANDER VS. COPPERAS COVE
Game: Class 5A Division II, area round
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: RRISD Athletic Complex
Records: Leander is 10-1, Copperas Cove is 11-0
Last week: Leander 38, Bastrop 13; Copperas Cove 62, Klein Forest 12
2004 records: Leander 6-4, Copperas Cove 10-2
Key players:
Leander — QB Drew Dunn (2,387 yards passing, 24 TDs, 7 INTs), RB Jason Barnes (523 yards rushing, 4.3 yards per carry), WR Curenski Gilleylen (37 catches, 662 yards, 17.9 yards per catch), WR Travis Njoku (32, 442, 13.8), WR Josh Tidmore (23, 307, 13.3).
Copperas Cove — QB Brent Garner (639 yards passing, 6 TDs, 3 INTs), RB Donald Buckram (682 yards rushing, 6.8 yards per carry), RB Jerrard Milsap (377, 6.3), RB/DB Alphonso Powell.
Outlook: The unbeaten Bulldogs are coming off an easy victory over Klein Forest. Buckram scored three touchdowns to increase his total this season to 20, tying Copperas Cove's school record. The defense forced four turnovers, returning two of them for touchdowns in the lopsided affair. Powell and DB Joseph Davis scored defensive touchdowns.
Copperas Cove, which boasts a balanced offense, was led by RB Billy Abreu, who rushed for 119 yards on eight carries. Garner was steady throughout, passing for 107 yards and rushing for 85 on only five carries. Copperas Cove, ranked No. 7 in Class 5A, is the champion of District 13-5A.
The once-beaten Lions, coming off a stunning loss to Cedar Park at the end of the regular season, bounced back in their bidistrict game. After spotting Bastrop a 6-0 lead, Leander scored touchdowns on its next four possessions to take a 28-6 lead at the half. One drive went 94 yards. Dunn had a big game, passing for 243 yards and rushing for 83. Defensively, the Lions surrendered only 61 yards after Bastrop's initial touchdown. Barnes scored three touchdowns to complement Dunn's passing. Big-play WR Billy Allen caught four passes for 79 yards. Leander is the champion of District 15-5A.
Prediction: Copperas Cove 23, Leander 20
HUTTO VS. MARLIN
Game: Class 3A Division II, area round
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Dragon Stadium
Records: Hutto is 9-2, Marlin is 9-1
Last week: Hutto 20, Rice Consolidated 16; Marlin 40, China Spring 25
2004 records: Hutto 6-4, Marlin 12-2
Key players:
Hutto — QB Jeremy Kerley (621 yards passing, 889 yards rushing), RB Jerrick Gauthier (673 yards rushing, 7.8 yards per carry), RB Garrett Beshears (607 yards rushing, 6.7 yards per carry)
Marlin — QB Jeremy Sanders (2,209 passing yards, 24 TDs, 1 INT), RB Travis Miller (659 yards rushing, 7.8 yards per carry), RB Kevin Diles (312, 7.1), WR Denario Alexander (38 catches, 564 yards, 14.8 yards per catch).
Outlook: The Hippos, trailing Rice Consolidated after three quarters, used a touchdown run by Gauthier down the stretch to advance to the area playoffs. Hutto held on despite committing six turnovers. Kerley passed for 156 yards and Gauthier had a team-high 65 on the ground. RB Shiloh Wampler contributed 50 yards rushing, including a 27-yard scoring romp in the third quarter. Hutto is the District 19-3A runner-up.
Meanwhile, Marlin's Sanders, coming back from an injured shoulder he suffered two weeks ago, looked just fine while throwing for 155 yards a touchdown. Marlin watched a 28-10 lead drop to 28-25 before pulling away in the fourth quarter. Marlin, the 18-5A champion, was off on Week 10, giving the Bulldogs two weeks to prepare for China Spring.
Prediction: Hutto 31, Marlin 28
LIBERTY HILL VS. NEEDVILLE
Game: Class 3A Division II, area round
When: 2 p.m. Saturday
Where: Viking Stadium, Bryan
Records: Liberty Hill is 8-2, Needville is 8-3
Last week: Liberty Hill 62, Lytle 7; Needville 24, Hallettsville 14
2004 records: Liberty Hill 2-3, Needville 4-6
Key players:
Liberty Hill — RB Matt Escamilla (1,394 yards, 10.6 yards per carry), RB Casey Kociuba (1,214 yards, 9.7), RB Nick Schrock (901, 9.5), QB Brent Bode (834 yards passing, 8 TDs).
Needville — QB Justin Carlisle (42 of 63 passing, 740 yards, 9 TDs), RB Vernon Coleman (943 yards rushing, 7.4 a carry, 7 TDs), RB Thadeus Wilkerson (770 yards, 11 TDs).
Outlook: Wilkerson's touchdown run early in the fourth quarter gave the Bluejays a comfortable lead in their bidistrict win over Hallettsville. Needville's defense was strong, limiting Hallettsville to 196 total yards. The defense stopped Hallettsville three times at the one-yard line with 5 minutes to seal it. The Bluejays are the District 25-3A runner-up.
Liberty Hill, an explosive running team, torched Lytle for 562 yards rushing in their bidistrict win. With the game never in doubt, Liberty Hill led 41-7 at halftime. Escamilla and Kociuba each rushed for more than 200 yards. Liberty Hill is the runner-up in District 27-3A.
Prediction: Liberty Hill 45, Needville 28
By Rick Cantu
AMERICAN-STATESMAN SPORTS
Thursday, November 17, 2005
LEANDER VS. COPPERAS COVE
Game: Class 5A Division II, area round
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: RRISD Athletic Complex
Records: Leander is 10-1, Copperas Cove is 11-0
Last week: Leander 38, Bastrop 13; Copperas Cove 62, Klein Forest 12
2004 records: Leander 6-4, Copperas Cove 10-2
Key players:
Leander — QB Drew Dunn (2,387 yards passing, 24 TDs, 7 INTs), RB Jason Barnes (523 yards rushing, 4.3 yards per carry), WR Curenski Gilleylen (37 catches, 662 yards, 17.9 yards per catch), WR Travis Njoku (32, 442, 13.8), WR Josh Tidmore (23, 307, 13.3).
Copperas Cove — QB Brent Garner (639 yards passing, 6 TDs, 3 INTs), RB Donald Buckram (682 yards rushing, 6.8 yards per carry), RB Jerrard Milsap (377, 6.3), RB/DB Alphonso Powell.
Outlook: The unbeaten Bulldogs are coming off an easy victory over Klein Forest. Buckram scored three touchdowns to increase his total this season to 20, tying Copperas Cove's school record. The defense forced four turnovers, returning two of them for touchdowns in the lopsided affair. Powell and DB Joseph Davis scored defensive touchdowns.
Copperas Cove, which boasts a balanced offense, was led by RB Billy Abreu, who rushed for 119 yards on eight carries. Garner was steady throughout, passing for 107 yards and rushing for 85 on only five carries. Copperas Cove, ranked No. 7 in Class 5A, is the champion of District 13-5A.
The once-beaten Lions, coming off a stunning loss to Cedar Park at the end of the regular season, bounced back in their bidistrict game. After spotting Bastrop a 6-0 lead, Leander scored touchdowns on its next four possessions to take a 28-6 lead at the half. One drive went 94 yards. Dunn had a big game, passing for 243 yards and rushing for 83. Defensively, the Lions surrendered only 61 yards after Bastrop's initial touchdown. Barnes scored three touchdowns to complement Dunn's passing. Big-play WR Billy Allen caught four passes for 79 yards. Leander is the champion of District 15-5A.
Prediction: Copperas Cove 23, Leander 20
HUTTO VS. MARLIN
Game: Class 3A Division II, area round
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Dragon Stadium
Records: Hutto is 9-2, Marlin is 9-1
Last week: Hutto 20, Rice Consolidated 16; Marlin 40, China Spring 25
2004 records: Hutto 6-4, Marlin 12-2
Key players:
Hutto — QB Jeremy Kerley (621 yards passing, 889 yards rushing), RB Jerrick Gauthier (673 yards rushing, 7.8 yards per carry), RB Garrett Beshears (607 yards rushing, 6.7 yards per carry)
Marlin — QB Jeremy Sanders (2,209 passing yards, 24 TDs, 1 INT), RB Travis Miller (659 yards rushing, 7.8 yards per carry), RB Kevin Diles (312, 7.1), WR Denario Alexander (38 catches, 564 yards, 14.8 yards per catch).
Outlook: The Hippos, trailing Rice Consolidated after three quarters, used a touchdown run by Gauthier down the stretch to advance to the area playoffs. Hutto held on despite committing six turnovers. Kerley passed for 156 yards and Gauthier had a team-high 65 on the ground. RB Shiloh Wampler contributed 50 yards rushing, including a 27-yard scoring romp in the third quarter. Hutto is the District 19-3A runner-up.
Meanwhile, Marlin's Sanders, coming back from an injured shoulder he suffered two weeks ago, looked just fine while throwing for 155 yards a touchdown. Marlin watched a 28-10 lead drop to 28-25 before pulling away in the fourth quarter. Marlin, the 18-5A champion, was off on Week 10, giving the Bulldogs two weeks to prepare for China Spring.
Prediction: Hutto 31, Marlin 28
LIBERTY HILL VS. NEEDVILLE
Game: Class 3A Division II, area round
When: 2 p.m. Saturday
Where: Viking Stadium, Bryan
Records: Liberty Hill is 8-2, Needville is 8-3
Last week: Liberty Hill 62, Lytle 7; Needville 24, Hallettsville 14
2004 records: Liberty Hill 2-3, Needville 4-6
Key players:
Liberty Hill — RB Matt Escamilla (1,394 yards, 10.6 yards per carry), RB Casey Kociuba (1,214 yards, 9.7), RB Nick Schrock (901, 9.5), QB Brent Bode (834 yards passing, 8 TDs).
Needville — QB Justin Carlisle (42 of 63 passing, 740 yards, 9 TDs), RB Vernon Coleman (943 yards rushing, 7.4 a carry, 7 TDs), RB Thadeus Wilkerson (770 yards, 11 TDs).
Outlook: Wilkerson's touchdown run early in the fourth quarter gave the Bluejays a comfortable lead in their bidistrict win over Hallettsville. Needville's defense was strong, limiting Hallettsville to 196 total yards. The defense stopped Hallettsville three times at the one-yard line with 5 minutes to seal it. The Bluejays are the District 25-3A runner-up.
Liberty Hill, an explosive running team, torched Lytle for 562 yards rushing in their bidistrict win. With the game never in doubt, Liberty Hill led 41-7 at halftime. Escamilla and Kociuba each rushed for more than 200 yards. Liberty Hill is the runner-up in District 27-3A.
Prediction: Liberty Hill 45, Needville 28