Judging from the opener between the two teams - a 37-33
Lake Travis (Austin, Texas) victory - this one figured to be special.
Lake Travis QB Michael Brewer.
File photo by Jim Redman
Judging from the quarterbacks - two of Texas' very best in
Michael Brewer (Lake Travis) and
Tivy (Kerrville) senior
Johnny Manziel - this one figured to be
flat out fun and frantic.
Turns out, it was even better than all the expectation.
According to the Austin Statesmen,
the Texas Tech-bound Brewer accounted for 440 yards as the Cavaliers,
the three-time defending state 4A champs, won their 20th consecutive
playoff game 48-42 at appropriately-named Heroes Stadium.
There were plenty of them in this second-round doozy, which featured 600
passing yards, a 102-yard kickoff return for touchdown, another
95-yarder nullified by penalty and one momentous 19-play drive that
chewed up the final 6:07 of the game for Lake Travis.
The Texas Tech-bound Brewer, who rushed for 192 and passed for 248, completed four passes for 53 yards in the final drive.
Tivy's Manziel accounted for 492 yards.
File photo by Jim Redman
A pair of fourth-quarter field goals by
Stephen Pyle proved to be the
difference as Lake Travis (10-2) advance to next week's third round of
the playoffs to be played at the Alamodome.
Manziel, who has committed to Texas A&M, threw for 352 yards and ran
for 140, including an 11-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 48-42 with
6:07 left to play. That's when Lake Travis ran out the clock.
With Manziel's total, that means the duo combined for a remarkable 952 yards.
North Allegheny (Wexford, Pa.) 17, Central Catholic (Pittsburgh, Pa.) 14A 33-yard field goal from
Alex Greenblatt and a 67-yard touchdown run by
Alex Papson helped North Allegheny knock off previously-unbeaten Central Catholic in the WPIAL Class AAAA semifinal.
The game was knotted at 7-7 entering the fourth quarter, with both teams struggling to establish a ground game. Following Greenblatt's field goal, Central Catholic moved down the field and had a chance to tie the game with a 50-yard field goal attempt.
It sailed wide, however, and Papson scored on North Allegheny's next possession.
North Allegheny will take on Woodland Hills in the WPIAL finals next weekend.
Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.) 31, Dutch Fork (Irmo, S.C.) 17South Carolina powerhouse Byrnes handed former Independence head coach Tom Knotts his first playoff loss in the state of South Carolina as the Rebels won going away.
Byrnes jumped out to a 10-0 lead and never looked back.
The Rebels will play Lexington in the 4A-I semifinals next weekend.
Valdosta (Valdosta, Ga.) 31, McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.) 28A fourth-quarter field goal was the difference in this one.
Valdosta fell behind early 14-0 before taking a 21-14 lead at halftime.
With the win, Valdosta will take on Grayson, which upset North Gwinnett, for a chance to play in the AAAAA semifinals. With nationally-ranked Camden County falling, the bracket is unpredictable and remains wide open.
Valdosta seeks its first state title since 1998.
Trinity (Louisville, Ky.) 35, St. Xavier (Louisville, Ky.) 7St. Xavier scored got on the board first, but Trinity rattled off 35 unanswered points to come away with a lopsided playoff victory.
The Tigers drew first blood with a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Luke Brohm. The Shamrocks responded when Travis Wright connected with Hunter Kopp for a 12-yard touchdown.
Following a scoreless second quarter, Trinity's Derek Bishop took over, rushing for touchdown runs of 4, 1, and 40 yards while Wright and Kopp connected for another score to allow the Shamrocks to win easily.
Bishop finished with 108 rushing yards on 19 attempts and three scores. Wright completed 15 of 22 passes for 175 yards.
Next, Trinity will take on Ryle in the 6A semifinals.
