3A-1A, 6M, PVT Preview

By Greg Tepper // TexasFootball.com We're to the point in the playoffs where there's not a bad team left standing. Every team we're about to talk about -- and yes, I'm previewing every 3A, 2A, 1A, 6M and private school game this weekend -- is a complete squad, as all the teams with glaring flaws have fallen by the wayside. So all of these games were almost impossible to pick. Such is life, I guess. And by all means, if you have a chance, get out to a game this weekend. There's way too much great football going on to use weather as an excuse to sit on the couch. And if you're at Argyle-Gilmer on Friday night or Throckmorton-Abbott on Saturday night, come find me and say hi! On to the previews! CLASS 3A DIVISION I

Alvarado vs.  Henderson, 7:00 p.m. Friday, Bedford's Pennington Field
Man, if you’re looking for star power, look no further than Pennington Field. It’ll be Alvarado’s ground-and-pound rushing attack, led by star RB Wayne Onderdonck, going up against Henderson’s multi-threat offense fueled by QB Del Barnes. But that’s only telling half of the story here, because both teams also have exceptional defenses that have come on strong as of late. This game won’t be decided by the players who have the ball; it’ll be the guys trying to take it out of their hands. In that case -- and I know it’s crazy to pick against the champs -- I have to go with Alvarado’s steady-as-she-goes defense over Henderson’s D, which may have a higher ceiling but has tended to be up and down.
Tepper’s pick: Alvarado 27, Henderson 24

Tyler Chapel Hill vs. West Columbia, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nacogdoches' Homer Bryce Stadium
There may not be an elite team that I’ve talked about less than West Columbia. I apologize for that; I’m not sure how it happened, but West Columbia has been simply sensational all year, riding a powerful run game headed by Sean Flannel and a dominating defense headed by Cassius Davidson and Willis Johnson. The problem is, they’re running into a buzzsaw of a Chapel Hill team, which has looked every bit the part of a state champion since they got QB Avery Saenz back. If Chapel Hill can manage to stuff the run against the Roughnecks, I like their chances.
Tepper’s pick: Chapel Hill 28, West Columbia 20

CLASS 3A DIVISION II

Shallowater vs. Monahans, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Midland's Grande Communications Stadium
If you’re a believer in the carry-over effect, then Shallowater’s your pick here. After stopping Snyder’s Keenon Ward on what would’ve been the game-winning two-point conversion to topple Snyder, Shallowater’s got to be flying high. And for good reason: RB Koley King’s been a monster all year, and the John Streidnig-led defense has been hot of late. But here comes Monahans, a team that just keeps running over people with that old-school mentality of running the ball (with Byron Scharf and Pedro Cano) and hitting you in the mouth (with Payton Marcum and Jackson Scharf). Can Koley King find some running room? If not, it’ll be the end of Shallowater’s fun ride.
Tepper’s pick: Monahans 31, Shallowater 24

Argyle vs. Gilmer, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Corsicana
Hey! I’ll be at this game! So if you see a goofy-looking white guy in a Dave Campbell’s shirt, come say hi! In any case, you know what this game features: two of the most potent offenses in Class 3A, as Austin Aune leads Argyle up against the Buckeyes, who haven’t seemed to miss a beat despite using backup QB Jordan Traylor in place of the injured Luke Turner. But like all offensive matchups, this one comes down to defense. This will be the toughest test of the year for the Gilmer secondary -- yes, tougher than Henderson -- and I wonder if Aune can have a big game against them. Argyle’s my pick here, but if this game is decided by more than a field goal, I’ll be stunned.
Tepper’s pick: Argyle 29, Gilmer 27

West Orange-Stark vs. Coldspring-Oakhurst, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Humble
Coldspring-Oakhurst, my pick to win the Class 3A DII title, is officially scaring me. The offense, led by RB Sherman Gilbert, that looked absolutely unstoppable in the regular season has hit a rut, but the defense has kept them in it. We know points will be at a premium with an experienced and fast West Orange-Stark squad coming to town, and part of me wonders if QB Jimmy Salter, who threw for three touchdowns and ran for another two scores in the win against Bullard, can make enough plays against the C-O defense to win the region. I’ll honor my pick and stick with C-O, but this one’s decided by a whisker.
Tepper’s pick: Coldspring-Oakhurst 14, West Orange-Stark 13

Devine vs. Wimberley, 7:00 p.m. Saturday, San Antonio's Comalander Stadium
Is it OK to admit that Travis and I really, really like Devine RB Joseph Sadler? The guy’s just a machine, having set the all-time single season scoring record last week, and the sky’s the limit on what he can do. The problem is, though, that he’s running into a dangerous Wimberley team that’s already shut down a prolific rusher this year, holding Canyon Lake RB Zach Henshaw to just 96 yards. Now, Sadler’s better than Henshaw in my estimation, but it’s still worth noting. When you also factor in the dominating performances turned in by QB Brady Lambert and RB Dennis Smith for Wimberley, I just think the Warhorses’ run -- and Sadler’s mesmerizing campaign -- is in trouble.
Tepper’s pick: Wimberley 29, Devine 21

CLASS 2A DIVISION I

Muleshoe vs. Eastland, 7:00 p.m. Friday, Odessa'a Ratliff Stadium
This game’s got managing editor Travis Stewart nervous. He picked Muleshoe to win the state title, and really, he’s pretty justified in picking the Mules: this is a strong defensive team, led by a talented secondary of Eric Orozco and Ray Martinez, whose offense has been lighting it up of late with QB Beau Avila and WR Saul Elizalde (three touchdown receptions, plus a kickoff return for a touchdown last week against Merkel). But the defense has only been...OK of late, and that opens the door for Eastland’s super-talented QB Trent Brittain, who can beat you in a variety of ways. But what makes Eastland really scary is that defense, with DB Caleb Hullum and LB Luis Ojeda, a unit that already helped to slay the Godley dragon. Travis has every right to pick Muleshoe; he’s also got every right to be nervous.
Tepper’s pick: Eastland 21, Muleshoe 20

Melissa vs. Daingerfield, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Royse City
Melissa’s a squad that prides itself on a defense-first mentality, which is why I was a little surprised to see the minor shootout they got into with New Boston last week. In a case, the Cardinals made plays on offense, primarily from sensational QB Wes McQueen (three touchdown passes), but that defense will need to get back to normal when the defending champs come calling. Daingerfield seems to be hitting its stride again, as scary as that sounds, after pounding an excellent Redwater squad, 55-13, behind another mammoth game from playoff-MVP-candidate QB Alex Allen. Oh, and then there’s the D-Field D. I expect this to be a low-scoring slugfest.
Tepper’s pick: Daingerfield 16, Melissa 13

Tatum vs. Crockett, 7:00 p.m. Friday, Athens
Weapons! Tatum’s got QB Jalen Overstreet, a guy we’ve said all year is good enough to win a game himself. Crockett’s got utility man Dominique Wheeler, a guy who can beat you running the ball, catching the ball, passing the ball, and some other way of scoring that I imagine he invented when he was bored being in the end zone so much. So, as always is the case, this comes down to the other side of the ball: defense. If this makes sense, Crockett’s got the more consistently good defense, while Tatum’s got the higher ceiling on defense. In a one-game matchup, I’ll roll the dice on the Eagles.
Tepper’s pick: Tatum 29, Crockett 24

Hempstead vs. Blanco, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Bastrop
Hangover or momentum? That’s the question for Blanco coming off its no-doubt-satisfying win over district foe Lago Vista, staving off a late rally with what has been a great defense all year, led by DE Matt Pepper and DT Michael Garza. But Hempstead won’t play as nice, especially on defense, where they’ve allowed 84 points all season behind LB Ronnie Jones and DL Joseph Rosemond. Combine that with an offense that’s come to life of late with QB Obie Wilder and RB Archie Taylor, and all of a sudden, the pressure is on Blanco QB Tanner Rogers to solve the Hempstead riddle a week after solving the Lago Vista one.
Tepper’s pick: Hempstead 24, Blanco 16

CLASS 2A DIVISION II

Holliday vs. Cisco, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Springtown
There may not be a team flying higher in the state right now that Cisco, and for good reason: the Loboes managed to crack the code on the mighty Idalou defense, knocking the defending champs out thanks to RBs Hayden Lewis and Mason Reed each accounting for 108 yards apiece. But the defense was great too, as Spencer Garrett returned an INT for a touchdown. Next up for the Loboes is Holliday, a team coming off an absolute smothering of Abernathy using RBs Austin Twilligear (135 yards, 2 TDs) and Sam Shirley (185, TD) to control the clock while DE DJ Boyd and LB Colby Baummer held Abernathy to just 74 total offensive yards. But right now, I just think Cisco’s style -- pounding you to a pulp, which it just did against arguably the class’ best defense -- is working right now.
Tepper’s pick: Cisco 26, Holliday 23

Gunter vs. Corsicana Mildred, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Garland's Homer B. Johnson Stadium
Managing editor Travis Stewart will be at this one, so make sure you say hi if you spot him; he’s the beardy one. This is a battle of two teams that have flown under the radar a little bit, but when Gunter’s defense of Ryan Gibson and Cade Cruce is flying around like it has been during the playoffs, they’re hard to beat. As far as Mildred is concerned, they’ve got a dominating defense as well (holding teams to fewer than 9 points per game), but the offense is what’s made them elite. Whereas Gunter relies on running the ball with Dakota Hunter and Favian Montes, Mildred can beat you with sensational QB Nic Shimonek or RB Logan Shelton. That offensive diversity, I think, will play a key role in deciding this really tight matchup.
Tepper’s pick: Mildred 28, Gunter 21

Arp vs. Lexington, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Waco ISD Stadium
I’m not sure we’ve talked about about Arp QB Kyle Copeland, who’s been simply fantastic all year. Last week against Corrigan-Camden, he racked up 110 yards passing and a touchdown, plus another 115 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground. But it’s the defense -- guys like LB Kasey McClendon and DE Eddie Perez -- that will determine how far Arp goes. And, well, now sensational QB Kogan Garrett rolls into town, a guy who can beat you with his arm or his legs. And with the Lexington defense rounding into form -- DL Will Holcomb, DB Jason Washington and company held Franklin to just 101 total yards in the first half -- they’re looking more and more dangerous. Great game.
Tepper’s pick: Lexington 26, Arp 24

Sonora vs. Refugio, 7:30 p.m. Friday, San Antonio's Heroes Stadium
I’ve had this game circled for a while. Give Refugio a ton of credit for making it this far, absolutely mauling an outstanding Poth team last week for what was, in my estimation, their first really good win of the season. Refugio -- with Lynx Hawthorne, Shiloh Whetsel, Draigan Silvas, Justin Padilla, et al -- is the most dominating force in small school football right now. But I’ve long thought that Sonora might hold the key to toppling the Bobcats: a truly elite defense. Guys like Word Hudson and Cadesman Pope have been making plays all year, holding opponents to less than 10 points per game. And when QB Clayton Parks and RB Zach Badeaux are rolling, this is a team capable of beating anyone, including mighty Refugio. My pick’s Sonora, but let me say this: if Refugio wins this, they win the state title.
Tepper’s pick: Sonora 16, Refugio 15

CLASS 1A DIVISION I

Stamford vs. Seymour, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Breckenridge
Stamford over Albany is one of those upsets that flies under the radar, but what a win for Stamford, capitalizing on uncharacteristic Albany miscues and letting QB Hagen Hutchinson do his thing. Meanwhile, Seymour continues to be the team that I underrated coming into the playoffs, after knocking off outstanding Sunray and Sundown teams in consecutive weeks thanks to the sensational QB Zach Barton. This is another district rematch, with Seymour taking the first meeting by basically outscoring Stamford. I think this one will require a little more defensive care, and if Stamford’s D plays like it did against Albany, I love their chances.
Tepper’s pick: Stamford 26, Seymour 24

Muenster vs. Mart, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aledo
Now here’s a true strength-on-strength matchup. Muenster, with all due respect to their outstanding QB Tyler Anderle, the main attraction for the Hornets is a swarming defense, led by DB Dalton Keolzer and LB Andy Flusche. And with Mart, you’re talking about (along with a great defense) the greatness of utility man Leonard Williams, a guy who can beat you in a variety of ways. This game, to me, is as simple as how effectively Muenster can contain Williams, a task that very few teams have been able to accomplish.
Tepper’s pick: Mart 29, Muenster 24

Lovelady vs. Garrison, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Lufkin's Abe Martin Stadium
Have I mentioned lately how good I think Lovelady QB Taylor Therwhanger is? The answer is, he’s quite good. But he’s been out due to injury, which raised some questions marks for me. But here’s what’s scary about what Lovelady’s done lately: they’re getting big-time production from the other guys, weapons like RB Tre’ Sherman and Justis Kelly, and backup QB Garrett Denson. That’s the task facing Garrison, a team whose offense (QB Dustin Strahan, RB Nathan Burkhalter) can tend to overshadow what is a great defense. As I said before, there are no bad teams left in the playoffs, and here are two teams with complete sets of weapons.
Tepper’s pick: Garrison 31, Lovelady 24

Mason vs. Shiner, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Georgetown
The question I’ve gotten all week: how surprised am I that Shiner -- which finished the season with a lackluster 5-5 record -- has gotten this far? Answer: not at all. Look at the Comanches’ losses: an opening week loss to 2A Vanderbilt Industrial, a 7-point loss to 2A regional semifinalist Schulenburg, a 5-point loss to 2A Weimar, a loss to 3A Geronimo Navarro, and a 1-point loss to district champ Ganado. Where’s the bad loss? And if the Comanches lose this week to Mason -- a team that can beat you with defense or a punishing run game with David Mora, or both -- Shiner will finish with six losses, and all of them acceptable.
Tepper’s pick: Mason 26, Shiner 21

CLASS 1A DIVISION II

Springlake-Earth vs. Wellington, 6:00 p.m. Friday, Amarillo's Dick Bivins Stadium
If you don’t love the way Springlake-Earth is playing defense right now, check your pulse. Jeremy Gover and Andy Garcia have the Wolverines howling right now, and with RB Nathan Garcia plowing the road, they’re a real threat to beat anyone. The problem is, though, that Wellington will be the best team they’ve seen this season. The Rockets play their own stifling brand of defense, and have a diverse offense with QB Klark Ashmore (32 passing touchdowns against just 5 interceptions) and RB Francisco Cruz (17 rushing touchdowns) that I think S-E’s bigtime defense will come up just short.
Tepper’s pick: Wellington 23, Springlake-Earth 14

Munday vs. Windthorst, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Wichita Falls
There are certainly some teams that have not been impressive in getting this far. Windthorst is not among those teams. The Trojans have manhandled two outstanding teams -- Iraan and Bronte -- by a combined count of 103-17. Yowza. RBs Tyler Berardi and Chase Schreiber, and QB Joe Hoegger have hit another level, and the defense, led by LB Braydon Ingram, has been downright mean. But that defense is going to get a test from a high-flying Munday attack, where Dee Paul and Roddrick Taylor’s rushing attack has been absolutely devastating. This one’s very hard to call, but I think Windthorst has the edge int his one.
Tepper’s pick: Windthorst 33, Munday 25

Mount Enterprise vs. Tenaha, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Carthage's Bulldog Stadium
Rematch! Tenaha dropped the hammer on district foe Mount Enterprise, 47-0, in their first meeting. But that game was almost two months ago, and a lot has changed. Mount Enterprise’s defense has improved significantly, and the offense is humming now behind Hunter Ammons. Problem is, while I think Mount Enterprise has improved, have they improved 47 points? And let’s not discount the fact that Tenaha is rolling right now, too, behind do-it-all Reginald Davis. Unfortunately for ME fans, I don’t see the rematch going better enough for a win.
Tepper’s pick: Tenaha 35, Mount Enterprise 24

Burton vs. Falls City, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Buda's Bob Shelton Stadium
Call me crazy, but I’ve got a funny feeling about this game. Falls City is the defending champs, and they’ve done nothing to make me doubt them -- QB Cameron Soto and RB Tyler Wiatrek have been sensational, and the defense has rounded into form. But...Burton’s got Xavier Bethany, one of the best players you’re not paying attention to, and he’s good enough to put his team on his back and carry them to the finish line. I’m still picking Falls City...but...I don’t feel good about it.
Tepper’s pick: Falls City 34, Burton 28

SIX-MAN DIVISION I
Valley vs. Borden County, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Frenship
This one’s super-tough to call, because both teams have been impressive all season and especially of late. Valley’s got dominating players like Jose Valdez and Kameron Buchanan, but I think I have to lean toward Borden County, not only because of RB Austin Fields, but because the defense, led by QB/LB Tanner Richey, is just a touch better. In any case, this one’s a can’t-miss.
Tepper’s pick: Borden County 56, Valley 48

Throckmorton vs. Abbott, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Springtown
Attention! Attention! I’ll be at this game! That’s right! I’m going to fulfill my promise of attending a six-man game by heading out to Porcupine Stadium to catch Throckmorton and Abbott. Abbott’s coming off a wild 118-100 win over Lometa in which Tyler Russell ran for 573 yards and 10 touchdowns (yes, you read that right, 11-man fans). They’ll need to play better defense against Throckmorton, because the Greyhounds can play some defense (it also doesn’t hurt to have QB Tucker Brown calling the shots).
Tepper’s pick: Throckmorton 76, Abbott 54

SIX-MAN DIVISION II
Newcastle vs. Richland Springs, 5:00 p.m. Friday, Tuscola
Richland Springs is an absolute buzzsaw right now, and has been all year. The defending six-man DII champs have gotten as-advertised production from the great Denim Reeves, and the defense might be just as good as the Coyotes’ offense. For Newcastle to pull this one off, it’ll take a monster game from one of six-man’s best defenses (barely 20 points per game, which is stunning for six-man standards).
Tepper’s pick: Richland Springs 66, Newcastle 42

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

FW Nolan vs. Beaumont Kelly, noon Saturday, Temple's Wildcat Stadium
The TAPPS DI state title will come down to to these two crews, and you couldn’t ask for a better matchup. The combination of offensive powers in QB Joseph Prud’homme and RB David Moser have made Nolan a force with which to be reckoned, but Kelly’s defense has been hot of late, shutting down Prestonwood Christian’s high-flying attack for the most part last week. If the Bulldogs’ defense comes to play, it’ll give WR Nick Schrapps a chance to make plays from QB Will Darling.
Tepper’s pick: FW Nolan 33, Beaumont Kelly 23

Midland Christian vs. Tomball Concordia, noon Saturday, Killeen's Buckley Stadium
Over in TAPPS DII, I’m going to ask you to expect a lot of offense. Midland Christian’s bread and butter is to gouge you with RB Christan Whigham (a silly 42 touchdown runs this season), then beat you over the top with QB Mason McClendon when you sneak your secondary up to stop the run. Meanwhile, Tomball Concordia is going to hit you in the mouth on offense with RBs Chance Gray and Eddie Brucceleri, who have combined for 3,034 rushing yards and 41 touchdowns this season.First stop wins?
Tepper’s pick: Midland Christian 44, Tomball Concordia 41

Austin Regents vs. Bullard Brook Hill, 6:00 p.m. Saturday, Killeen's Buckley Stadium
It’s not necessarily surprising that Regents beat FW Calvary Christian last week, but it’s how they beat them -- a 42-12 romp -- that is turning heads. As long as that big offensive line, led by Jim Grace and Matt Gore, is keeping QB Grant Brown clean, the Knights are dangerous. But here comes Brook Hill, a team that has to be gushing with confidence after last week’s win over Houston Cypress Christian. Can that dominating Guard defense hold down Regents? That matchup will likely determine the TAPPS DIII champ.
Tepper’s pick: Austin Regents 24, Bullard Brook Hill 23

Hallettsville Sacred Heart vs. Shiner St. Paul, 6:00 p.m. Saturday, Temple's Wildcat Stadium
Rematch! The first battle between these two TAPPS DIV state finalists came about a month ago, when St. Paul eked out a 14-12 win over Sacred Heart. If St. Paul QB Dakota Kresta can control the pace of the game like he did in the first matchup, St. Paul has to be considered the favorite to repeat as champs. But Sacred Heart’s on a roll right now, and and maybe QB Jared Krischke can find some state title game magic.
Tepper’s pick: Shiner St. Paul 21, Halletsville Sacred Heart 17