Texas-Iowa State, private school clashes highlight Slovacek's I-35 Showdowns

Slovacek's logoTo honor the loyal football fans that travel great distances to support their favorite team, DCTF and our friends from Slovacek’s in West, Texas are proud to present The Slovacek’s I-35 Showdowns of the Week. Texas (2-3) vs. Iowa State (1-5) 6 p.m. Saturday at Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin When the employment status of a coach is pushed to the brink, teams generally react one of two ways: they either circle the wagons and reach down deep for a herculean effort in support of their leader, or they wilt against the mounting pressure that permeates down from the coaching staff. A year ago, of course, the annual tilt with Oklahoma was seen as a do-or-die game for Charlie Strong. The Longhorns came up with a memorable upset that afternoon, giving Strong at least a temporary pardon. After last week’s setback at the hands of the Sooners, though, the ‘Horns have dropped three straight and once again find Strong’s job on the line. Having Iowa State traveling to your home stadium, for the bulk of the Big 12’s history, has been seen as a scenario ripe for victory – and certainly a welcome sight for an embattled coach like Strong. Belying their 1-5 record, however, the current Cyclones are a team that is starting to figure themselves out. They’ve had both Baylor and Oklahoma State on upset alert late into the 4th quarter the past two weeks, a stretch during which they’ve averaged 37 points and 457 total yards per contest. An offense that is brimming with newfound confidence is not what the struggling Texas defense wants to see. During their current three-game slide, the Longhorns have surrendered 144 total points and an average of 578 total yards per game. When Strong took over the defense from former coordinator Vance Bedford prior to the OU game, the effect was a 672-yard outburst from the Sooners. Dallas Greenhill (6-1) vs. Austin St. Stephen’s (1-5) 7:30 p.m. Friday at Frank Denius Field in Austin As Tom Williams and the Greenhill Hornets chase a spot in the first-ever SPC 3A Divisional Championship game, they’ll head south on I-35 this Friday to ply their craft at the very field on which that game will be played later this fall – Denius Field on the campus of Austin St. Stephen’s. Thus far this year, it’s been just about impossible to stop the Falcon’s high-flying offense. Led by quarterback Konnell Woods and receiver Xavier Bryant, Greenhill is averaging 38 points and nearly 470 total yards per game. Woods, who is also the team’s leading rusher, has accounted for more than 400 per game on his own. For the Spartans, they’ll be facing a dangerous dual-threat quarterback for the second straight game. Last week, Fort Worth Country Day’s Brad Chilcoat accounted for 259 total yards and four touchdowns to cruise by St. Stephen’s, 55-14.