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Austin-area high school football: Previews, forecast for Vandegrift, Wimberley title games

thomas jones, austin american-statesman
·5 min read

The high school football season ends this weekend with the state championship games at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, and the American-Statesman previews the two title contests involving Austin-area teams.

Wimberley quarterback Cody Stoever leaps over a Lago Vista defender during a playoff game earlier this season. Stoever has 2,330 yards and 31 TDs passing as well as 1,157 yards and 20 TDs on the ground for the Texans, who face No. 1 Carthage in the Class 4A Division II title game this week.
Wimberley quarterback Cody Stoever leaps over a Lago Vista defender during a playoff game earlier this season. Stoever has 2,330 yards and 31 TDs passing as well as 1,157 yards and 20 TDs on the ground for the Texans, who face No. 1 Carthage in the Class 4A Division II title game this week.

Wimberley (15-0) vs. Carthage (15-0)

Class 4A Division II state championship game, 11 a.m. Friday

About Wimberley: The Texans, playing in their fourth state championship game, won state titles in 2006 and 2011 and fell to Pleasant Grove in the 2019 Class 4A DII title game. ... In last week’s state semifinals, the Texans rallied from a double-digit deficit in the third quarter to beat Cuero 42-36. … RB Johnny Ball, a 6-foot, 220-pound senior wrecking ball, has 1,399 yards and 20 rushing TDs, including 722 yards and 10 TDs in the playoffs. …. Sophomore QB Cody Stoever is in the midst of a spectacular debut season with 2,330 yards and 31 TDs passing as well as 1,157 yards and 20 TDs on the ground for an offense that averages 45.4 points a game.

About Carthage: The state’s No. 1 team for the entire season, Carthage is looking for its ninth state championship in nine trips under head coach Scott Surratt. ... The Bulldogs beat Wimberley 38-7 in a state semifinal two seasons ago. … All-state linebacker Deiontae Marry spearheads a defense that's allowed just 12.5 points a game, while RBs LaRandion Dowden and KD Matlock join Oregon State WR pledge Montrel Hatten on an offense that puts up 48.3 points a game. … Carthage survived its first deficit of the season in last week’s state semifinals while rallying for a 42-35 win over Glen Rose.

Pick: Carthage 42, Wimberley 34. The Texans’ Code Red defense has given up 13.8 points a game this season but a total of 66 points over the past two weeks, and a loaded Carthage offense may offer the sternest test yet.

More:Austin-area high school football Week 16: Player of the week named; 10 athletes honored

Vandegrift (14-1) vs. DeSoto (13-2)

Class 6A Division II state championship game, 3 p.m. Saturday

About Vandegrift: The Vipers, a Leander school district program that began varsity play in 2010 under current head coach Drew Sanders, will compete in their first state championship game. ... QB Brayden Buchanan, a Baylor baseball pledge as a catcher, has thrown for 6,309 yards and 71 TDs in his two years as a starter and had a career-high 453 yards in last week’s 38-35 win over Katy. … Speedy 5-foot-6 receiver Miles Coleman adds a big-play boost to an offense that averages 38 points a game with 1,604 yards and 13 TDs on 94 receptions. ... SMU pledge Daemian Wimberly (74 tackles, 14 TFLs, 13 sacks) and Oliver Yndo (66 tackles, 15 TFLs, 8 sacks) lead a salty defensive line that anchors a defense giving up only 12 points a game.

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About DeSoto: The Eagles, seeking their second state title, are coached by Bartlett native Claude Mathis, one of the top high school players in Austin-area history and a member of the Texas State athletic hall of honor. … A dynamic running attack that includes Texas pledge Tre Wisner rolled up 434 yards in a 47-28 win over Denton Guyer last week, including 224 yards from sophomore Deondrae “Tiger” Riden. … Receiver Johntay Cook II, a four-star recruit who also is pledged to Texas, has 81 catches for 1,366 yards and 21 TDs for an offense that averages 43.6 points a game.

Pick: Vandegrift 37, DeSoto 35. Vipers kicker Hayden Arnold, an all-state candidate, delivered last week's game-winner against Katy and could again be a big factor in a tight game.

Picks last week: 3-1. Picks for season: 381-105 (.784)

— Thomas Jones

If you go

Through Saturday, AT&T Stadium in Arlington will host every UIL state championship game. Tickets are $20 for each day and can be bought at the gate or at seatgeek.com. Viewers can watch the games live on Bally Sports Southwest or stream them at ballysports.com.

Class 1A Division II

Benjamin (12-0) vs. Loraine (14-1), 11 a.m., Wednesday

Class 1A Division I

Westbrook (12-1) vs. Abbott (12-0), 2 p.m., Wednesday

Class 2A Division II

Albany (13-2) vs. Mart (15-0), 7 p.m. Wednesday

Class 2A Division I

Hawley (15-0) vs. Refugio (14-1), 11 a.m. Thursday

Class 3A Division II

Gunter (14-0) vs. Poth (14-1), 3 p.m. Thursday

Class 3A Division I

Brock (11-4) vs. Franklin (15-0), 7 p.m. Thursday

Class 4A Division II

Carthage (15-0) vs. Wimberley (15-0), 11 a.m. Friday

Class 4A Division I

China Spring (14-1) vs. Boerne (15-0), 3 p.m. Friday

Class 5A Division II

Dallas South Oak Cliff (12-3) vs. Port Neches-Groves (13-2), 7 p.m. Friday

Class 5A Division I

Aledo (13-2) vs. College Station (13-2), 11 a.m. Saturday

Class 6A Division II

DeSoto (13-2) vs. Vandegrift (14-1), 3 p.m. Saturday

Class 6A Division I

Duncanville (14-0) vs. Galena Park North Shore (15-0), 7 p.m. Saturday

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Breakdown, predictions of Wimberley, Vandegrift state title games