Austin-area high school football, Week 14: Players to watch, game of the week and predicted scores
The 2022 high school football season enters the third week of the UIL playoffs, and the American-Statesman looks at the key players, the top game and the rest of the UIL football schedule in its weekly preview.
Players to watch
Drayden Dickmann, WR, Georgetown: The Rice recruit had a career day with 11 catches for 185 yards in the Eagles’ win over College Station earlier this season, and he remains an unsolved puzzle for the College Station coaches entering this week’s rematch.
Chase Edwards, LB, Granger: Two years ago, Falls City rushed for 413 yards while eliminating Granger from the playoffs, so the junior LB and the team’s leading tackler should play a crucial role in this week’s matchup.
Seth Galbraith, WR, Lake Travis: A 6-foot-4, 185-pound sophomore, Galbraith spent much of this season on the junior varsity team but has been a breakout star in the postseason with seven receptions for 112 yards and a pair of touchdowns in last week’s win over Cibolo Steele.
Ethan Helton, WR, Lago Vista: The explosive Helton was one of the few Vikings to have a productive game in a loss to Geronimo Navarro earlier this season with 98 yards from scrimmage, and he’ll likely get lots of opportunities in the rematch.
Oliver Yndo, DL, Vandegrift: The 6-3, 230-pound Yndo helped Vandegrift’s defensive line dominate its matchup with Judson last week with eight tackles and two sacks, and he’ll be a handful for SA Harlan’s offensive line.
Game of the week
Liberty Hill (11-1) vs. Alamo Heights (11-1)
1:30 p.m. Friday, Bastrop ISD Memorial Stadium, Cedar Creek
About Liberty Hill: The Panthers are trying to reach a sixth consecutive regional final and have won 11 playoff games since moving from Class 4A Division I into 5A Division II for the 2020 season. … As usual, the slot-T offense is humming along with 487 yards rushing a game and 10.1 yards a carry behind Noah Long (1,964 yards, 20 TDs), Ben Carter (1,530 yards, 23 TDs) and Joe Pitchford (871 yards, 7 TDs). ... Senior linebacker David Morris had 11 tackles and two fumble recoveries in last week’s 63-14 win over Mercedes.
About Alamo Heights: Since 2000, traditional San Antonio power Alamo Heights has had as many losing seasons — one — as state championships. … Dual-threat QB Conley McKenna had 252 yards rushing in a 31-8 win over Gregory-Portland last week and leads a potent ground game. … Receiver Rett Andersen is one of the top red-zone threats in the state with more than 20 TD catches for the season, and he had four scoring catches in a first-round playoff win over Kerrville Tivy.
Pick: Liberty Hill 49, Alamo Heights 45. Dynamic downfield receivers have given Liberty Hill fits in recent seasons, but the Panthers seem as well-equipped as ever to win the occasional postseason shootout.
Weekly picks
Westlake (12-0) vs. San Benito (11-1): In 6A DI, No. 1 Westlake has never lost to a team from the Rio Grande Valley, but the Greyhounds boast one of the state’s most productive RBs in Gardiel Garcia (2,191 yards rushing, 30 total TDs). Pick: Westlake 49, San Benito 13.
Lake Travis (7-4) vs. San Antonio Brennan (11-1): In 6A DI, Brennan hopes to avenge last season’s 42-17 playoff loss while Cavs trying to reach regional finals for the seventh time in past eight years. Pick: Lake Travis 34, Brennan 21
Dripping Springs (11-1) vs. Harlingen (12-0): In 6A DII, Dripping Springs quarterback Austin Novosad (17 TDs and no interceptions during Tigers' five-game winning streak) will try to stay hot against the Rio Grande Valley’s preeminent powerhouse, which had its fifth perfect regular season since 2009. Pick: Dripping Springs 52, Harlingen 21.
Vandegrift (11-1) vs. San Antonio Harlan (10-2): In 6A DII, Vandegrift trying to reach third consecutive regional final against a Harlan team that has never gotten past the third round of the playoffs. Pick: Vandegrift 38, Harlan 16
Georgetown (10-2) vs. College Station (10-2): In 5A DI, district rivals meet again after Georgetown outlasted the Cougars 49-38 earlier in the season in a game that featured a combined 1,102 yards of offense. Pick: Georgetown 41, College Station 35.
Liberty Hill (11-1) vs. Alamo Heights (11-1): In 5A DII, Region IV’s two highest-ranked teams face off in a playoff rematch from 2021 that Liberty Hill won 43-40. Pick: Liberty Hill 49, Alamo Heights 45.
Lago Vista (9-3) vs. Geronimo Navarro (8-4): In 4A DII, district rivals meet again after Navarro won the first meting 42-21 while running for 375 yards and holding Lago Vista to 104 yards rushing. Pick: Geronimo Navarro 31, Lago Vista 24.
Wimberley (12-0) vs. Jarrell (6-6): In 4A DII, Jarrell trying to win its first third-round playoff game in school history but faces a big challenge with a Wimberley team that beat the Cougars 73-14 early in the season. Pick: Wimberley 56, Jarrell 20.
Edna (11-1) vs. Blanco (7-4): In Class 3A DI, Blanco trying to avenge a 48-12 playoff loss to Edna a year ago but must find a way to penetrate a defense that has given up a total of 25 points in its past eight games. Pick: Edna 28, Blanco 10.
Falls City (8-4) vs. Granger (10-2): In 2A DI, Falls City will try and slow a Granger team that has scored at least 40 points in four straight games and end the Lions’ season for a third time in the past four playoffs. Pick: Granger 38, Falls City 21.
Picks last week: 13-3. Picks for season: 367-100
Third round playoff schedule
Class 6A Division I
Westlake (12-0) vs. San Benito (11-1), 2 p.m. Friday, Alamo Stadium, San Antonio
Lake Travis (7-4) vs. San Antonio Brennan (11-1), 6 p.m. Friday, Cougar Stadium, New Braunfels
Class 6A Division II
Dripping Springs (11-1) vs. Harlingen (12-0), 11 a.m. Friday, Alamodome, San Antonio
Vandegrift (11-1) vs. San Antonio Harlan (10-2), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Alamodome, San Antonio
Class 5A Division I
Georgetown (10-2) vs. College Station (10-2), 6 p.m. Friday, Waco ISD Stadium
Class 5A Division II
Liberty Hill (11-1) vs. Alamo Heights (11-1), 1:30 p.m. Friday, Bastrop Memorial Stadium
Class 4A Division II
Lago Vista (9-3) vs. Geronimo Navarro (8-4), 1:30 p.m. Friday, Memorial Stadium, Hutto
Wimberley (12-0) vs. Jarrell (6-6), 6 p.m. Friday, Gupton Stadium, Cedar Park
Class 3A Division I
Edna (11-1) vs. Blanco (7-4), 7 p.m. Friday, Farris Stadium, San Antonio
Class 2A Division II
Falls City (8-4) vs. Granger (10-2), 7 p.m. Friday, Matador Stadium, Seguin
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Players, games to watch and predictions in Austin high school football
