Friday Night Preview
La Grange vs. Giddings
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Giddings
Records: LG is 4-4 overall and 1-2 in district. Giddings is 6-2 and 3-0.
Of Note: One of the longest running rivalries in Texas high school football history continues this Friday as the Leps play Giddings, a matchup that has happened almost every season for over 100 years ... Giddings only losses this season came to Bellville (34-31 in the season opener) and then against Navarro (21-17 in the last non-district game). Since then the Buffaloes have won all three of their district ballgames, but the last two have been nailbiters, a four point win over Cuero and a three point win last week against Smithville. Bryan Zoch ran for 188 yards on 21 carries in that game for Giddings while Cody Gill added 97 yards on 13 carries ... La Grange has renewed confidence after smashing Gonzales 49-25 in the highest scoring game for the Leps in over a year. Matthew Johnson scored touchdowns in three different ways and Clay Wolff threw three touchdown passes for the Leps .... Giddings has won the last five meetings between these teams. You have to go back to 2014 (when the Leps went 13-1 during J. K. Dobbins’ sophomore year) to find the last time La Grange beat Giddings in football.
Last meeting: Last year Giddings defeated La Grange 56-21. The game was tied 14-14 until the last few minutes of the first half when Giddings scored a pair of quick TDs before halftime and never looked back. La Grange’s Matthew Johnson threw two touchdowns in that game and D.J. Taylor ran for a 72 yard touchdown.
This week’s games:
Navasota at Gonzales
Cuero at Smithville
La Grange at Giddings
Schulenburg vs. Shiner
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Schulenburg
Records: Schulenburg is 4-2 and 1-2 in district. Shiner is 7-0 overall and 3-0 in district.
Of Note: The stakes are as clear as they are daunting for the Shorthorns in this regular season finale – Schulenburg must beat Shiner, the No. 1 Class 2A team in the state to make the playoffs ... Shiner is undefeated and has won their three district games by a combined 163-14. Their only close game this season was a 13-7 overtime win over East Bernard, which is the No. 5-ranked team in Class 3A .... Shiner started last season 12-0 before falling to eventual state champ Refugio 45-32 ... The Comaches are led by the Brooks brothers. Doug Brooks, a junior is a D-I lineman prospect, while sophomore running back Dalton Brooks, recently got a scholarship offer from the University of Texas ... Schulenburg at one time was ranked in the state’s Top 10 after starting the season 4-0, but a narrow win over Flatonia was followed by losses to Weimar and Ganado, which has thrown their postseason chances into jeopardy. The Shorthorns have seven seniors who could be playing in their final game Friday, including quarterback Brett Janecek, who has been a three-year starter.
Last meeting: Schulenburg has not played Shiner since the 2015 season when the Shorthorns lost 40-0. Schulenburg has not beaten Shiner since 2013.
Flatonia vs. Ganado
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Ganado
Records: Flatonia 4-2 overall and 1-2 in district. Ganado is 3-4 overall and 2-1 in district.
Of Note: Both Ganado and Flatonia have clinched playoff spots, but this game will determine seeding. Flatonia could jump up as high as the district runner-up spot with a win Friday and a Schulenburg loss. If Flatonia loses they will likely be the No. 3 seed (unless Schulenburg beats No. 1-ranked Shiner in which case the Bulldogs would be the No. 4 seed). The Bulldogs have had two weeks to prepare for this game and have not played since beating Weimar 42-2 on Oct. 16 ... Reese Ramirez leads the Bulldogs in tackles ... Ganado’s offense is sparked by sophomore quarterback Kyle Bures-Guerrero, who has thrown for 1,008 yards this year and run for 431 yards (both team highs).
Last meeting: The last time Flatonia played Ganado was 2015 and the Bulldogs edged the Indians 17-14.
Oct. 30 games:
Shiner at Schulenburg
Flatonia at Ganado