High School Football Previews
Manor NT vs. La Grange
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday
Where: Taylor
Records: LG is 6-4. Manor New Tech is 3-6.
Of Note: The Leps, winners of three straight, get to reap the reward of their runner-up finish in district with a playoff opener against 3-6 Manor New Tech, a team La Grange is a huge favorite against. The Titans are pretty one-dimensional, only averaging 25 yards per game passing, while running for 215 per game. Most of that offense is generated by senior running back Jackson Williams (son of head coach Quincy Wiliams), who has run for 985 yards and nine TDs this season. New Tech did beat San Antonio YMLA 48-21 and Austin Achieve 67-0 to earn this playoff spot. But the Titans also lost to Wimberley 70-8, Navarro 70-0, Bandera 41-0, and Caldwell 54-0 this season ... La Grange has been led by Junior Bravion Rogers, who has run for 949 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. Senior quarterback Clay Wolff has thrown for 821 yards. Senior Ryder Imhoff has run for 560 yards and nine TDs and junior Jaxon Cooper leads in receiving with 330 yards.
Up Next: The winner of this game advances to face the Sinton (9-1) versus Bandera (6-4) victor.
Schulenburg vs. Mason
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Wimberley
Records: Schulenburg is 4-6. Mason is 9-1.
Of Note: Schulenburg’s fourth place finish in District 13 gets them a date with District 14 champion Mason. The Punchers only loss came in a 20-14 defeat to 3A Wall back in September. They’ve since won six in a row. Mason has been in the state’s Top 10 all season and is currently No. 8. This was their 11th district title in a row. Mason won state titles in 2011 and 2018, and went to the fourth round of the playoffs last season before falling to Shiner ... The Shorthorns are certainly battle-tested, coming off a 46-2 loss to defending state champ Shiner. Schulenburg has also played Hallettsville and East Bernard. Offense has been a struggle for the Shorthorns all season. They are averaging just 14.6 points per game, while allowing 23.4. Sophomore quarterback Tyler Ryba has been able to run the football well, but is still growing into the passing game.
Up Next: The winner of this game plays the Kenedy (7-2)/Ben Bolt (4-5) winner in the next round.
Flatonia vs. Johnson City
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: San Antonio’s Davenport Stadium
Records: Flatonia is 4-4. Johnson City is 8-2.
Of Note: This is a battle of Flatonia’s past and present as former Bulldogs head coach David Sine leads Johnson City against one of his old assistants, Chris Freytag, who is trying to lead Flatonia to the second round of the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season. Flatonia is led by dual-threat junior quarterback Fidel Venegas who has thrown for 751 yards and also leads the team in rushing with 236 yards. Last week extra point woes cost the Bulldogs in a onepoint loss to Ganado that dropped Flatonia into third place in the district. Keyshaun Green is Flatonia’s leading receiver with 249 yards this season ... Johnson City, meanwhile, was the runner up in District 14-2A, losing to eventual champ Mason just 26-21. Johnson City’s only other loss was Sept. 17, a 46-7 loss to Thrall. Senior QB Cade Boyer has thrown for 1,692 yards and run for 465.
Up next: The winner of this game plays the Refugio (10-0)/Santa Maria (6-4) winner in the next round.