Grandview is on a mission

Belton — When the reigning 3A DI state champions lost to Whitney in Week 9, their playoff path became much tougher and it started with a bi-district game with the 2017 state champion Rockdale Tigers.

Well, maybe it’s time to consider that it’s not No. 2 Grandview that should be worried about its path back to AT&T, but the rest of the teams in the Zebras’ wake. The Zebras flexed every muscle they had in a 42-7 routing of the Tigers that included forcing seven turnovers and picking off quarterback Jace Robinson three times. Grandview quarterback Dane Jentsch was all over the field himself, coming away with three touchdown passes and a key interception during the first quarter when Rockdale was inside the redzone.

Now, Grandview has East Chambers in the area round in Brenham.

Someone messed up and let Liberty Hill in the playoffs

Guys, Liberty Hill was supposed to be down this year! At one point in October the state runner-ups had lost five of six games, so what’d the Panthers do in the bi-district round?

Nothing much other than absolutely rolling West Columbia, 44-8. Forty-four to eight! This is what happens when teams like the Panthers sneak in via a fourth-place playoff spot, they catch teams off guard.

Our numbers had Liberty Hill as a 16-point underdog, but obviously that doesn’t take into account the sheer pedigree of a program like Liberty Hill just knowing how to turn it on the playoffs. Region IV might run through Lampasas on paper, but the Panthers are on the correct side of the bracket to make a legitimate run at a regional final and get another shot at their district foe or Needville.

The Slot-T Machine rolls on.

Close calls in 6A

For most of the night, there were a few scores that had people constantly refreshing Twitter to receive updates on. I had an inkling that we were in for a massive upset somewhere in the state and for a good portion of Friday night, it looked like there were multiple in the making.

No. 18 Austin Vandegrift scored with just over a minute remaining to dash Cypress Bridgeland’s hopes and come away with a 14-13 win. No. 15 Cedar Hill finally pulled away late and avoided another letdown versus Richardson Pearce, 38-20. Arlington Bowie staved off an explosive Weatherford, 42-36 and No. 2 Katy rallied from 14-0 down to top Fort Bend Ridge Point, 35-28.

There was some controversy in the Katy/Ridge Point game that Katy receiver Jordan Patrick had to clear up earlier Saturday morning.

Social Media Highlights

Devon Achane, still good

It turns out that FB Marshall's Devon Achane is still one of the most exciting players in the state, who knew?

Anderson-Shiro's great send-off

You've gotta love the small school send-offs like this one Anderson gave to the Fighting Owls.

Going for the win

El Paso Americas went for it all on the 2-pt conversion against Wolfforth Frenship Friday night and came away with the 36-35 win.