By Michael Adams
michael@otssports.com
There are 11 teams from the Austin area remaining after last week’s bi-district round of the 2023 Texas high school football playoffs. Here is a look at notable area round playoff games from around the Austin area…
The Hot Ticket
Lake Travis vs. San Antonio Johnson
When & where: 7 p.m., Friday at Texas State’s Bobcat Stadium, San Marcos
The Cavaliers (9-2) are riding momentum from last week’s upset win over Vandegrift into Texas State University’s Bobcat Stadium this Friday. Lake Travis has gone from underdogs against the Vipers to favorites against San Antonio Johnson (10-1) in this week’s area playoff in San Marcos.
The Jaguars’ only loss was a 41-27 defeat by San Antonio Reagan on Oct. 13. It should be noted that the teams Johnson has beat this season have a combined record of 42-62.
The Cavaliers defense will have to face another high-powered offense again this week. The Jaguars have a few big playmakers. Junior running back Bubba Johnson averages 147.7 yards per game and has 1,625 total yards and 17 touchdowns. Quarterback Ty Hawkins has thrown for 2,093 yards and averages 190.3 per game and has 24 touchdowns to 5 interceptions. My pick: Lake Travis 35, Johnson 14Â
Spotlight on
Westlake vs. San Antonio Reagan
When & where: 7:30 p.m., Friday at Matador Stadium, Seguin
In another District 26-6A vs. 28-6A area playoff matchup, the undefeated Chaparrals (11-0)Â will take on the undefeated Regan Rattlers (11-0) Friday at Matador Stadium in Seguin. This will be the third time the two schools have played each other since 2006. Their last meeting was in the area round of the 2016 playoffs, a game Westlake won 48-3.Â
Westlake’s defense will have to contend with the arm of Reagan senior quarterback Brad Jackson, who averages 200 yards per game and has only thrown two interceptions this season. The Rattlers’ running game will also pose a threat to the Chaps. defensive front. Junior Cole Pryor has rushed for 1,463 yards and has 22 touchdowns. My Pick: Westlake 48, Regan 21
Dripping Springs vs. Converse Judson
When & where: 2 p.m., Saturday at Rutledge Stadium, Converse
This isn’t your grandfather’s Converse Judson, but the Rockets can never really be counted out. Judson (4-7) will have a home game in Saturday’s area playoff with the high-powered Dripping Springs Tigers (9-2), but that’s really the only advantage the Rockets have.Â
The Tigers have the advantage in every category, including scoring and total yards per game. Rocket’s quarterback Elijah Favela does average 208 yards per game. It should be noted that Judson is 1-2 against teams from the Austin area this season, with losses to Weiss and Westlake. My Pick: Dripping Springs 27, Judson 10.Â
Wimberley vs. Orange Grove
When & where: 7:30 p.m., Friday at Lehnhoff Stadium, Schertz
In a rematch of last year’s Class 4A-II, Region IV area playoff, the Wimberley Texans (11-0) takes on the Orange Grove Bulldogs (7-4) Friday at Lehnhoff Stadium in Schertz in the On the Sidelines Sports – Austin’s Game of the Week. The Texans won last year’s meeting 46-0 on their way to the state championship game. On paper, these are two evenly matched teams. However, Wimberley should repeat last year’s performance. My Pick: Wimberley 42, Orange Grove 3.
Sinton vs. Lago Vista
When & where: 7:30 p.m., Friday at Alamo Stadium, San Antonio
In another Class 4A-II, Region IV area playoff rematch, the Lago Vista Vikings (7-4) take on the Sinton Pirates (8-2-1) Friday at Alamo Stadium in San Antonio. The Vikings cruised to a 42-7 win over Sinton in last year’s meeting and will likely repeat that performance on Friday. Dominic Garcia leads a high-powered Lago Vista offense that averages 38.5 points per game. My Pick: Lago Vista 42, Sinton 7
Mission Sharyland Pioneer vs. Liberty Hill
When & where: 7:30 p.m., Friday at Alamo Stadium, San Antonio
Liberty Hill (7-4) rolled into Friday’s area playoff with Mission Sharyland Pioneer with a lopsided 43-26 victory in the Panthers’ bi-district playoff with Harlandale. Pioneer also had a lopsided win, defeating Edcouch-Elsa 48-29. The Diamondbacks (10-1) rely heavily on quarterback Julian Valdez, who averages 307 total yards per game. However, Pioneer has had little luck against run-heavy teams. That bodes well for Ben Carter and the Panthers. My Pick: Liberty Hill 48, Mission Sharyland Pioneer 17
Upset Alert
Angleton vs. Cedar Park
When & where: 7 p.m., Friday at Waller ISD Stadium, Waller
You likely won’t find a more balanced playoff matchup than Friday’s Class 5A-I area playoff between Cedar Park (8-3) and Angleton (7-4) at Waller ISD Stadium in Waller. Both teams average 29.5 points a game. Both teams have balanced rushing attacks. Both teams’ defense has allowed less than 25 points per game. Something must give. Where the Timberwolves do hold the advantage is at quarterback. Look for Aydan Arp to be the difference maker and send Cedar Park to the third round. My Pick: Cedar Park 24, Angleton 21.
The Cinderella
McNeil vs. Cibolo Steele
When & where: 7 p.m., Friday at Rattler Stadium, San Marcos
McNeil’s historic season will face its greatest test on Friday at Rattler Stadium in San Marcos. Through the luck of the draw, the Mavericks (7-4) will face one of the favorites to reach the Class 6A-Division II state championship game, Cibolo Steele (10-1). The Knights are playoff regulars, while McNeil is making its first trip to the playoffs in 19 years. Steele is averaging 43.5 points per game, which is 20 more than McNeil. Unfortunately, this is probably where McNeil’s fairytale season comes to an end. My Pick: Steele 48, McNeil 21.Â
My Area Round Picks
Last week, I went 15-2, only getting the Weiss-Cedar Hill and Crockett-Waco University games wrong. Let’s see if I can keep this hot streak going:
| Game | Michael’s Pick |
| Lake Travis vs. San Antonio Johnson | Lake Travis |
| Westlake vs. Reagan | Westlake |
| McNeil vs. Cibolo Steele | Cibolo Steele |
| Dripping Springs vs. Converse Judson | Dripping Springs |
| Angleton vs. Cedar Park | Cedar Park |
| LBJ vs. Huntsville | LBJ |
| Montgomery Lake Creek vs. Crockett | Lake Creek |
| Port Neches-Groves vs. Rouse | Port Neches-Groves |
| Mission Sharyland Pioneer vs. Liberty Hill | Liberty Hill |
| Wimberley vs. Orange Grove | Wimberley |
| Sinton vs. Lago Vista | Lago Vista |