Big Country Game of the Week: Hawley, Albany face off in battle of top-ranked teams
Ordinarily, a Hawley-Albany matchup on the football field would be one of the year’s best games.
And it still might be.
But the Lions come into Friday’s home game without their starting quarterback, and they also might be without standout running back Coy Lefevre.
For a small, Class 2A Division II team, that’s a lot of firepower missing on the field.
“If you lose key people, it doesn’t matter if you’re a big school or small school or whatever,” Albany coach Denney Faith said. “If you lose some key people, it’s going to hurt you. It may be more magnified at a smaller school, but how many games are the Cowboys going to win without Dak?”
No. 1 Lions will be short-handed
Albany – ranked No. 1 in Class 2A Division II – will be without starting quarterback Cole Chapman, who led the Lions to the state semifinals last year.
Lafevre, who makes for a potent 1-2 punch with Adam Hill in the backfield, is questionable after missing last week’s game with an injury.
But Albany kids are Albany kids, and it’s the next-guy-up mentality for the top-ranked Lions. Lute Wheeler took over when Chapman went down and completed 4 of 9 passes for 103 yards and a TD – a 65-yarder to Hill. He also threw a pick.
Wheeler did enough to keep Seymour honest in a 27-13 victory to remain unbeaten and No. 1 in the state.
This week, though, the Lions face a Hawley team ranked No. 2 in Class 2A Division I after reaching the state finals last year.
Hobbled or not, Faith expects his team to put up a fight.
“I think our kids are going to see it as a challenge and go out there and give everything they’ve got,” Faith said.
Hawley (3-0) plays Albany (3-0) on Friday at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium in the Reporter-News’ Big Country Game of the Week.
Still will be a top game
It should still be a good game, and Hawley coach Mitch Ables expects the Lions to play a fierce game.
“It’s going to be a knock-down, drag-out like it always is,” Ables said. “We play them in just about every sport we have, and it’s always a highly contested and physical game no matter where it is.”
Both teams feature an explosive, bruising run game.
Hawley has 6-foot-1, 220-pound Austin Cumpton, who ran for 247 yards and four TDs in last week’s 36-12 win at Eastland.
Albany counters with Hill, who ran for 163 yards and two TDs last week, plus had the TD catch from Wheeler. A week earlier, Hill ran for 246 yards and three TDs a 55-14 win at Dublin.
LeFevre makes Hill even more dangerous. He has 201 yards and three TDs on 25 carries this season, plus four catches for 37 yards. Lefevre ran for 127 yards and a TD in the season opener against Lubbock Trinity Christian, and he had 74 yards and two TDs against Dublin. He also had a 96-yard TD called back because of a sideline infraction.
Both are key players on defense, too.
“The Hill kid, he’s a big, physical runner,” Ables said. “I think he enjoys contact. The Lefevre kid is the same way. They both run hard. If they’re running one way and you get in the way, they’ll sure lower their shoulder.”
Both teams are somewhat mirror images of each other. Both lean on the run offensively, but both can throw the ball, too, if needed, and both play suffocating defense.
“We want to stay balanced, but we’ll see what they give us,” Faith said. “If they try to take the run away, then we want to be versatile enough where we can throw the ball also.
“But, yeah, they’ve got an outstanding running game with a big, strong running back and a very athletic offensive line that can move around and pull and create some problems for you. And they’re good enough on the outside to burn you if you load the box up. They’re very similar in that respect, too.”
Loaded, experienced Bearcats
Senior quarterback Rodey Hooper (40-57-2, 530 yards, 8 TDs) was part of the Bearcats’ run to the state title game last year, and he’s got some good ones in senior receivers Will Scott (12-160) and Kason O’Shields (11-118, 2 TDs).
O’Shields was a unanimous All-Big Country Class 2A pick at receiver and defensive back last year, while Scott was a first-team linebacker.
The Bearcats have been impressive in beating Jim Ned 30-7, Lubbock Roosevelt 33-0 and Eastland 36-12.
“I feel good about where we are,” Ables said. “We’ve had a lot of penalties the last three games. So, we’ve really got to clean up the penalties and sloppy play. I feel like we’re where we need to be right now.”
Faith is impressed with what he’s seen on film.
“They’re outstanding,” Faith said. “They’ve got a very good football team. There’s a reason they played for a state championship last year.”
Ailing Lions
Albany has been wearing the bull’s-eye from Day 1 this season, after Texas Football magazine proclaimed the Lions the team to beat this year.
They’re not the same team without Chapman and Lefevre, but Faith was impressed with how his team handled last week’s game playing without both.
“I thought our kids played with a lot of courage, a lot of guts,” Faith said. “I’m very pleased with the spirit and fight our kids had.”
Faith expects his team won’t go down without a fight this week.
“We’re going to go in and give everything we’ve got,” Faith said. “Our kids will play hard – I do know that. I also know no one will feel sorry for us either. We’re going to get their best shot.”
How they match up
The Lions and Bearcats are eerily similar on offense, though Albany won’t have all its weapons. Hawley’s defense has been impressive, as has Albany’s.
Both coaches have pretty much the same game plan when it comes to stopping the other.
“We’ve got to contain those running backs, not let them get away from us, and we’ve got to defend the pass really well,” Ables said. “On our side, we’ve got to take care of the football and make plays on offense.”
Faith said his Lions must slow down Cumpton.
“We’re going to have to play a great game,” Faith said. “You go into the game thinking you’ve got to stop the big running back, and that’s going to be what our game plan – hoping we can contend with him. And maybe we can control the ball a little bit offensively, if we can get first downs, move the ball and put points on the board when we have opportunities. We’ll see how it unfolds.”
It could boil down to a Cupton-Hill heavyweight fight, though both teams have other weapons.
“There’s no doubt they’re pretty heavy on the run game and so are we,” Ables said. “It’s going to be a physical game, and I think we’re both hoping we get out of there injury free.”
Hawley has won the last two meetings – winning 22-20 in 2019 and 32-7 in 2018. Albany leads the all-time series 20-3-1 according to the Lone Star Football Network.
The Lions last win was a 21-0 decision in 2013. They were district rivals from 1976-99.
Because of Albany’s injuries, this game has lost some of its luster. But it’s still two of the Big Country’s best going at it on a Friday night.
“If we were going in healthy, this would be a great game for the Big Country – two ranked teams, two outstanding programs that are going to compete hard,” Faith said. “I think if everybody can come out healthy, I think it’ll be a situation where both teams will be better when the game’s over.
“I wish Hawley all the luck in the world when they get into district and start their playoff run. I think Coach Ables would say the same about us. I think it’ll be an outstanding game. I think both teams just need to stay healthy.”
Pick: Hawley 35, Albany 21
NEXT BEST GAME
Comanche (3-0) at Tolar (3-0)
Comanche, which beat Early 49-40 last week, begins a brutal stretch that will tell us just exactly how good the team is.
Remember this is a team that was 1-9 last year.
Tolar now is ranked No. 10 in Class 2A Division I. The Rattlers beat Flower Mound Coram Deo 56-7 last week, after beating Early 51-14 the previous week in Early.
Comanche follows this tough test with Albany in the non-district finale.
Win or lose, Comanche should be ready for District 5-3A DII play.
BEST OF THE REST
Eastland (0-3) at Breckenridge (3-0)
Breckenridge goes for a rare Eastland County sweep. The Buckaroos beat Cisco for the first time since 1999 last week, and now they hope to beat Eastland for the first time since 2011.
The win vaulted Breck into the Class 3A Division I state rankings at No. 9, while Cisco dropped two spots to No. 8 in 2A DI.
The Mavericks have won the [ast nine meetings. The Bucks haven’t beaten both Cisco and Eastland in the same season since 1999.
Eastland has struggled so far this season, while Breck has knocked off state-ranked teams the last two weeks. But anything can happen in a rivalry game. Breck leads the series 13-29-2.
Glen Rose (3-0) at Brownwood (2-1)
Brownwood has bounced back nicely from its 30-27 loss to Wylie in the season opener to beat Marble Falls 55-16 and Burnet 30-20.
But the Lions face a big test this week with Glen Rose coming to town. The Tigers are ranked No. 7 in Class 4A Division II.
Glen Rose hasn’t had much resistance in beating Grandview 43-22, Gatesville 49-14 and Graham 49-14.
This will offer a good measuring stick for the Lions and get them ready for district play.
Ira (3-0) at Loraine (3-0)
Ira, ranked No. 10 in Class 1A DI, takes on Loraine (3-0), which is ranked No. 6 in Class 1A DII, in a big six-man showdown.
Ira has outscored opponents 154-39 in wins over Motley County (54-6), Paint Creek (50-0) and No. 8 DII Jayton (50-33.)
Loraine has been just as impressive, beating Highland (48-15), Crowell (56-8) and Klondike (60-40).
Now, we find out who’s the top dog when the two bulldogs square off.
Loraine plays 1A DI Benjamin on Sept. 30, while Ira has defending Class 1A DI state champion Westbrook in district play on Oct. 28. So, this is a good warmup for both teams.
Garden City (3-0) at May (3-0)
May, a Class 1A Division I state finalist last year, gets a big test with Garden City coming to town Friday.
May is ranked No. 3 in the state, while Garden City is No. 4.
The Tigers beat No. 8 DII Jayton 58-12 in the season opener, and they’re coming off an 81-58 win over Knox City.
Since edging Valley 30-26 in its opener, Garden City has outscored opponents 115-8.
This could be a fun one, much like Westbrook’s 59-58 win over then-No. 5 Rankin last week. Buckle up.
Big Country power rankings
Class 4A/3A
1. Stephenville (3-0) – beat Decatur 52-14; at Wylie (1-2)
2. Brownwood (2-1) – beat Burnet 33-20; Glen Rose (3-0)
3. Breckenridge (3-0) – beat Cisco 30-27; at Eastland (0-3)
4. Comanche (3-0) – beat Early 49-40; at Tolar (3-0)
5. Snyder (2-1) – lost to Canyon Randall 41-6; at Monahans (0-3)
Class 2A
1. Hawley (3-0) – beat Eastland 36-12; at Albany (3-0)
2. Coleman (3-0) – beat Brady 56-24; at Llano (3-0)
3. Cisco (2-1) – lost to Breckenridge 30-27; at Jacksboro (2-1)
4. Albany (3-0) – beat Seymour 27-13; Hawley (3-0)
5. Roscoe (1-0) – TLCA-Midland (canceled); Sterling City (2-1)
Class 1A
1. Westbrook (3-0) – beat Rankin 59-58; at Spur (2-1)
2. Benjamin (2-0) – Open; Guthrie (1-2)
3. May (3-0) – beat Knox City 81-58; Garden City (3-0)
4. Ira (3-0) – beat Jayton 50-33; Loraine (3-0)
5. Loraine (3-0) – beat Klondike 60-40; at Ira (3-0)
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Albany, Hawley tangle in Big Country football showdown
