No. 9 Westlake Travels to Bowie for a New Chapter in Heated Rivalry

At the conclusion of Bowie's win over Austin High last week, the Bowie student section began to chant, "We want Westlake!"

Tomorrow evening, they will get their wish as the Bulldogs (5-0 overall, 3-0 district) will host District 14-6A rivals, the ninth-ranked Westlake Chaparrals (4-0 overall, 2-0 district), at Burger Stadium.

Bowie will be looking for their third-consecutive victory over their rivals tomorrow night. The Bulldogs won last year's meeting 19-13 and the previous meeting 21-16. The Bulldogs are coming off an impressive 44-14 win over Austin High last week in which their offense, at times, looked unstoppable. They will need that offensive production this week going up against an improved Westlake squad

For the Chaparrals, meanwhile, this game represents the first of two major hurdles remaining between them and a district championship. The other being their showdown at home against football dynasty Lake Travis.

The Chaps are coming off a bye week but have already posted impressive wins over state powerhouses Southlake Carroll and Temple. The Chaps most recent win was a 56-12 victory over Austin High.

For those interested in attending, the game will be played at Burger Stadium located at the address below with kickoff scheduled for 7:30pm.

Burger Stadium
3200 Jones Rd
Austin, TX 78745

Bowie Routs Austin High to Spoil Maroons' Homecoming

On Friday night at House Park, the Bowie Bulldogs offense struck early and often en route to a 44-14 win over their hosts, the Austin High Maroons.

Senior running back Quirin Lauracente opened the scoring with a touchdown for Bowie in the first quarter aided by an Austin High penalty in the end zone.

Early in the 2nd quarter, sophomore quarterback Wheeler Matthew scored on a quarterback keeper; but Bowie missed the extra point making the score 13-0.

After the Bulldogs recovered Austin High senior wide receiver Jacob Traudt's fumble on the ensuing drive, senior wide receiver Josh Wainwright scored on a 47-yard touchdown pass to increase Bowie's lead to 20-0.

The Maroons managed to drive into Bowie territory on the following drive but turned the ball over on downs after failing to convert on 4th and 3 from the Bowie 27

After halftime, the Bulldog offense struck again as Matthew scored a touchdown on a 1-yard quarterback keeper following a 52-yard catch by junior running back Dalynn Threadgill.

Senior wide receiver Davis Parsons provided a spark for the Maroons on the ensuing kickoff to the Bowie 26-yard line. A facemask penalty against the Bulldogs added 15 yards to the return allowing the Maroons to start their drive at the Bowie 11-yard line.

After a pass interference penalty against Bowie on 3rd and 5 made it 1st and goal for Austin High at the Bowie 2-yard line, senior running back Marcello Mendoza put the Maroons on the board with a touchdown run to make the score 27-7 Bowie.

The Maroons defense held strong for a goal line stand on the ensuing drive limiting Bowie to a field goal to make the score 30-7. Unfortunately, Maroon senior quarterback Beau Kalbacher to Bowie senior safety Matthew Dickey on the ensuing drive.

Following the interception, the Bulldogs increased their lead to 37-7 by way of senior running back Desmond Young's 13-yard touchdown run.

At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Bowie senior wide receiver Cash Cavitt further extended Bowie's lead to 44-7.

Austin High junior quarterback Edward Garcia added a touchdown for the Maroons on a 33-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter to bring the game to its final score of 44-14.

For the Bulldogs, the win tonight brings them to 5-0 overall and 3-0 in district play. Up next, the Bulldogs host rival Westlake at Burger Stadium Friday night at 7:30. The Chaparrals come into the game at 4-0 overall and 2-0 in district and are also ranked ninth in the state in Class 6A.

Austin High, meanwhile, falls to 2-2 overall and 0-2 in district. Next on the schedule for the Maroons is surprise District 14-6A playoff contender Austin Akins. The Eagles are currently 4-1 overall and 2-1 in district.

Battle of South Mopac: Bowie vs Austin High

This week my Central Texas High School Football Tour takes me to House Park for a District 14-6A showdown between Austin ISD rivals the Bowie Bulldogs and the Austin High Maroons.

Bowie comes into this game at 4-0 overall and 2-0 in district play with convincing wins over Kyle-Lehman and Austin Anderson. A win Friday for the Bulldogs would set up a showdown of unbeaten teams next Friday night when they host rival and state powerhouse Westlake at Burger Stadium.

Austin High, meanwhile, comes into this game at 2-1 overall and 0-1 in district play having been on the wrong end of a 56-12 drubbing at the hands of Westlake last week. For the Maroons, Friday night offers them a chance not only to earn their first district win at the expense of their rivals but also a chance to do it on Homecoming.

Last season's game saw Bowie edge out Austin High 42-37. Given what's at stake for both teams this year, the Bulldogs cannot afford to look past the Maroons on Friday night.

For those interested in attending the game, the address for House Park is listed below:

1301 Shoal Creek Blvd
Austin, TX 78701

White's 5 TDs Lift Round Rock Over Stony Point

Senior running back Day'shus White rushed for five touchdowns, and quarterback Liam Beard connected with receiver AJ Burleson for another touchdown to lead the Round Rock Dragons to a 42-32 victory spoiling their rivals, the Stony Point Tigers', Homecoming game.

Early on, Round Rock looked set to run away with the game.

The Dragons overcame two early fumbles and jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.

After a third Dragon fumble, Stony Point drove down to the Round Rock 8 yard line but was forced to settle for a field goal after two costly pre-snap penalties pushed them back ten yards.

Round Rock would add another touchdown before halftime and go into the break with a 21-3 lead.

Stony Point had a promising drive going to start the third quarter before corner back Brian Bullock intercepted Tiger quarterback Tanner Aenchbacher's pass and returned it to the Stony Point 5 yard line.

Day'shus White would punch it in for the Dragons on the ensuing play making the score 28-3.

Aenchbacher scored on a quarterback keeper on the ensuing drive to make the score 28-10 Round Rock, but White scored his fourth touchdown of the night to extend the Round Rock lead to 35-10.

Stony Point would narrow the gap to 35-17 before Day'shus White scored his fifth touchdown of the night on a 24-yard run to make the score 42-17,

The Tigers' defense then narrowed the gap when Marquis Moore ran back Round Rock's fourth fumble of the night for a touchdown. The Tigers successfully completed the two-point conversion to make the score 42-25 Round Rock.

After Tanner Aenchbacher's long touchdown pass to Dashun Horne made the score 42-32, the Tigers' defense forced the Dragons to a three-and-out on the ensuing drive.

Following a short punt on the ensuing drive by the Dragons, Stony Point drove the ball deep into Round Rock territory. Unfortunately, their drive was cut short when Aenchbacher fumbled the ball on 3rd and 3 turning it over to Round Rock.

The Tigers' defense managed to get the offense the ball one last time, but Aenchbacher threw another interception with just over one minute to play allowing Round Rock to hold on for the 42-32 victory.

Up next for Stony Point (3-1) will be a matchup against neighbor Cedar Ridge (4-0) who is coming off a 34-13 win over McNeil.

Round Rock (3-1), meanwhile will face Pflugerville (1-3) who is coming off their first win of the season defeating Leander Rouse 33-13.

Stony Point Welcomes Rival Round Rock for Homecoming

After a two-week hiatus, my Central Texas High School Football Tour is set to resume tomorrow night.

This week's game will feature a District 13-6A showdown between rivals the Round Rock High School Dragons and the Round Rock Stony Point Tigers.

This game marks the beginning of district play for both teams, and it will also serve as the Homecoming game for the Tigers.

The Tigers enter district play undefeated at 3-0 with wins over Pflugerville Connally, Killeen Harker Heights, and Belton. In this game, they will look to avenge last year's 17-13 loss to Round Rock at Dragon Stadium in both teams' district opener.

The Dragons, meanwhile, will begin district play at 2-1 with wins over Killeen and Copperas Cove, and their lone loss coming to perennial 5A powerhouse Temple in the season opener. In addition, this game will offer the Dragons a chance to extend their winning streak against their rivals from across I-35 to five games.

For those of you interested in going, the game will be played at Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex located at the address below:

10211 W Parmer Lane
Austin, TX 78717

Upcoming Stops on the High School Football Tour

Due to other engagements, I will probably not be attending any football games for the next two weeks.

However, these are a few upcoming games I am considering attending:

9/18: Round Rock vs Stony Point

9/25: Austin High vs Bowie

10/2: Schertz Clemens vs Cibolo Steele

10/8: Round Rock Westwood vs Round Rock McNeil

10/16 Thorndale @ Thrall

10/16: Pflugerville vs Hendrickson

10/16: Georgetown vs East View

10/16: Vandegrift vs Cedar Park

10/23: Westlake vs Lake Travis

10/23: New Braunfels @ New Braunfels Canyon

Factors such as district standings and playoff impact will obviously influence my choice of games, especially toward the end of the season.

As you can see, I also like going to rivalry games.

If you have any suggestions for games in the Austin/San Antonio area that I should attend, please let me know.

No. 9 Vandegrift Rolls in Second Half vs Elgin

The ninth-ranked Vipers rode their prolific offense to a 55-30 win over Elgin to open their season Friday night.

Led by seniors Travis Brannan and Paxton Segina, the Vipers demonstrated their ability to drive down the field and score before the opposing defense had a chance to catch its collective breath.

In the first half, the game looked like it had potential to be an exciting back-and-forth affair. The Vipers scored first on a 67-yard dash by Segina to take a 7-0 lead.

The Wildcats responded with a touchdown of their own aided by a defensive holding and roughing the passer penalties that kept their drive alive.

Vandegrift then responded with a touchdown by Travis Brannan but botched the extra-point snap to make the score 13-7.

On the ensuing drive, the Wildcats responded with a touchdown of their own and took a 14-13 lead. 

After the Vipers retook the lead on another score by Brannan, the Wildcats responded with a methodical drive that culminated in a touchdown and two-point conversion to take a 22-20 lead with 21 seconds left.

At that point, it looked like the Wildcats might have had a chance at an upset.

However, Vipers' QB Alex Fernandes found a wide-open receiver over the middle who ran the ball in for a touchdown just before halftime.

In the second half, the Vipers offense began firing on all cylinders while the wheels fell off for Elgin. 

The Wildcats simply had no answer on defense for the blazing speed and fast tempo of the Vipers' offense.

In addition, penalties and lack of execution plagued the Wildcats allowing Vandegrift to blow the game open.

While the Vipers did put on an impressive display, especially in the second half, they still have plenty of work to do to be competitive in their loaded district.

In addition to committing numerous penalties, the Vipers struggled to contain the Elgin rushing attack, especially in the first half.

Next week, the Vipers travel to Abilene Cooper while the Wildcats return home to face rival Bastrop.