3A-D1 Quarterfinal team rundowns

    There are now eights teams remaining in the 3A-D1 playoffs, with the Industrial Cobras being one of them. Industrial will face Lago Vista in the Quarterfinal playoff game on Friday, Dec. 3, at Alamo Stadium in San Antonio (note, not the Alamodome) at 7 p.m.

    Below is a break down of the eight teams remaining in the playoffs.

    Because there are only eight teams remaining, I feel there none of these teams should be ranked higher than eight. So I took the highest ranked of the final eight (Diboll at 16) and made them #8 and worked forward to #1.

Region 4

    Industrial Cobras (11-2) ranked #6 and Lago Vista Vikings (9-3) ranked #7.

    For Industrial, this is new territory. After back-to-back loses in round three, including an 18-14 loss to this same Viking team last year, the Cobras finally made it to the fourth round. According to Cobras head coach Jamie Dixon, only one other Cobra team has ever played 14 games in a season, the 1951 team. That team finished 12-2. In ‘51, there were only five playoff rounds, so their fourteenth game was in the State Semi-Final round, the round where the winner of this game will advance.

    Last year, after defeating the Cobras, Lago Vista fell in the Quarterfinal round to Llano 31-25.

    The Cobras have scored 488 and allowed 185 while Lago Vista has scored 478 and allowed 245.

    Lago Vista lost to Little River Academy 30-28 in predistrict. LRA was knocked out last week and finished as the 10th ranked 3A-D1 team. They also lost to 4A La Grange 56-43, and to Llano 13-10. Llano won the district over Lago Vista.

    The Cobras have plenty of offensive weapons. Matthew Davis has picked up 1,300 yards through the air with 19 touchdowns, to go with 8 interceptions. Catching those passes have been Mason Roe, who has hauled in 12 touchdowns and 718 yards, Clearance Hosey with 5 TD’s and 482 yards, and Kaleb Figirova with 461 yards.

    The Cobras have plenty of weapons on the ground as well with Davis leading the way with 783 yards and 14 TD’s, Hosey and Ashton Garza both topping 400 yards and Brock Durate topping 300 with several other 100 yard rushers.

    It was apparent in the game against Edna, the Vikings play a stingy defense and have speed to burn on offense. They match up well with the Cobras, who have the same kind of team.

    The Cobras need to play the defense they have been playing through the playoffs and make sure to not leave any points on the table. It should be a close game but if Industrial holds on to the ball, they can win.

Region 3

    The winner of this game will play either Industrial or Lago Vista in the State Semi-Final game.

    Lorena Leopards (11-2)  ranked #3 and Diboll Lumberjacks (10-3) ranked #8.

    Last year Lorena fell to Hallettsville 61-48 in round three. Last year the Brahmas also took out Diboll 27-0 in the Area round.

    Diboll has scored 429 points and allowed 218.

    Diboll lost to 4A Madisonville, 4A Liberty, and 4A Livingston. Diboll got revenge on Hallettsville 14-0 in the Area round and got passed Little River Academy 37-34 in the Regional Round.

    Individual stats are not available for Diboll but they shut out a very good Hallettsville team and outscored a great offense from LRA. All three of their losses were to 4A school early in the year, but all three of those school finished with records around .500.

    Lorena has scored 607 and allowed 162.

    Lorena lost to Franklin 27-20 (3A-D2 #2 team) and to China Springs 21-13 (4A-D2 #1 team) in the first two games of the season. Since then, their closest game was a 34-17 victory over the Little River Academy team that Diboll defeated last week.

    Lorena has been on a roll, scoring at least 50 in five straight games. In the playoffs they defeated Hitchcock 53-28, Woodville 50-6 and  Columbus 62-13.

    Lorena quarterback Ryne Able has passed for 2,448 yards and 26 touchdowns against 10 interceptions. On the ground, the Leopards have picked up 3,303 yards and 55 touchdowns. Reed Michna leads the way with 1,269 yards on the ground and Rhett Hanson adding 877.

    Lorena has all the advantages in this game. They should win, and win fairly easily, however, Little River Academy also had all the numbers in their favor and Diboll held them off for the victory.

    The winners of the Region 1 and 2 games will meet in the other Semi-Final game.

Region 2

    Mount Vernon Tigers (13-0) ranked #2 and West Trojans (13-0) ranked #4.

    Last year Mount Vernon fell in the State Semi-Final round to Jim Ned, 24-17. Jim Ned went on to win state over Hallettsville. Last year Mount Vernon knocked out West in the Area round of the playoffs, 24-21.

    Mount Vernon has scored 655 and allowed 204.

    Mount Vernon has a balanced offensive attack and they use it pound thier opponents, putting up an amazing 7,000 yards offense. And that doesn't include kick or punt returns. Tigers Quarterback Braden Bennet has thrown for 3,371 yards, 40 touchdowns, against only 7 interceptions. But Mount Vernon is far from just an air attack team as they have rushed for 3,315 yards as a team.Mackenzie McGill leads the way with 2,033 yards and 35 TDs. They also have a 600 yard rusher, and a 400 yard rusher.

    Catching all those passes are Caydon Coffman with 1,400 yards and 24 TDs, Jaden Horton with 831 yards and 7 TDs, plus two other 400 yard receivers.

    A 20 point victory over district opponent Winnsboro is the closest any team has come to the Tigers this season.

    West has scored 564  and allowed 148.

    West carries a perfect record but has just slipped by in several victories. One surprise on their schedule is Orange Grove, who played them close, with West winning 47-30. The Trojans were able to continue their playoff drive by defeating Malakoff 14-12 last week.            West might be able to keep this one close but Mount Vernon should win. West may have the defense to keep it close, but in the end, the Tigers  offense will take over.

Region 1

    Brock Eagles (13-0) ranked #1 and Whitesboro Bearcats (9-4) #5.

    Last year Brock fell to Jim Ned in the third round. Last year Whitesboro didn’t make the playoffs.

    Whiteboro has scored 479 and allowed 323. The Bearcats finished third in district. Brock won that district, including defeating Whitesboro 42-21.Whitesboro also lost to 4A-D2 #9 Aubrey 49-14, lost to 3A-D2 #1 Gunter 28-7 and lost to district opponent Pilot Point, 34-24.

    The Bearcats offense has been fairly balanced, leaning more toward the pass, but still effective on the ground too. Quarterback Mac Harper has picked up 2,439 yards through the air, with 26 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. Harper has four 500 plus yard receivers. On the ground, Whitesboro has gained 1,842 yards and 32 touchdowns including two 400 yard rushers and another 600 yarder.

    Brock has scored 680 and allowed 151.

    Last week Brock paid back Jim Ned with a huge 70-25 victory. Brock has showed the number ranking is justified as they have been blowing away everyone. Their closest game this year was a 19 point victory over district opponent Paradise. Their average score per game for Brock this year is 48-12.

    Brock quarterback Tyler Moody has thrown for  2,275 yards with 34 touchdowns with only 3 interceptions.

    On the ground, the Eagles have gained 3,381 yards. Kory Wilson leads the way with 2,226 yards and 29 touchdowns. Moody has also rushed for 500 yards and the Eagles have one other 400 yard rusher.

    The saying is that it’s hard to defeat the same team twice in a season, and as good as Whitesboro is, Brock is much better and should down the Bearcats fairly easily.