Region III Division I Bi-District Playoff Predictions and Analysis
Buda Hays Consolidated (7-3) vs. Magnolia (6-3)
The Buda Hayes Rebels are the 17-5A district champions. They have been led all season long by Trey Berry . He has been a sort of do it all player for the Rebels this year. He has lined up at quarterback, running back, and receiver as well as scoring from all three positions. The Rebels are also led offensively by running back Torrence Smith. Smith has rushed for 633 yards and 23 touchdowns this year.
The Magnolia Bulldogs were the 2nd place team in 18-4A this year. The Bulldogs had 2 of the top 5 rushers in 18-4A this year with Dennis Dunbar rushing for 865 yards and 7 touchdowns and Arnold Nevarez rushing for 661 yards and 5 more scores. Leroy Dobbins also chipped in with 636 yards and 6 more scores. Defensively Easton Hohrnsee led the team with 3 interceptions this year.
I would expect a quick game with a lot of running. As with most games whichever team can protect the ball this week should come out on top.
Magnolia by 7
Ahmard’s take: Buda hays by 10
Houston C. E. King (7-2) vs. Nederland (4-4)
The Houston C.E.King Panthers had a great year this year sliding into the 2nd place spot in 19-4A. The Panthers are led offensively by running back Alvester Alexander who had 1135 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns during the regular season. Quarterback Josh Williams also chipped in offensively with 411 passing yards and 8 touchdowns to go with 343 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns.
The Nederland Bulldogs were the fourth place finisher in district 20-4A this year. They are led by the two headed monster of quarterback Kirby Bellow (1517 passing yards and 16 touchdowns), and running back Wareall Grogan (1078 rushing yards 13 touchdowns).
Both teams have very good running backs, but I will have to give the not to Alexander in this battle.
C.E.King by 10
Ahmard’s take: Nederland by 7
Houston Westbury (7-1) vs. Houston Sterling (3-5)
The Houston Westbury Rebels completed a pretty solid year with their only loss of the season coming in week 0 against St. Pius. The Rebels offensive charge is led by running back Charles Sims who had 1533 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns this year. Defensively, tackle DeAnthony Simms leads the charge up front.
The Houston Sterling Raiders finished in the fourth place slot for district 22-4A. The Raiders will have as tough task a slowing down the opposition as they have all year. The Raiders gave up almost 300 yards of offense a game during the regular season.
Westbury has been on fire all year, and I expect them to continue more of the same. Feeding Charles Sims the ball.
Wetbury by 20
Ahmard’s take: Westbury by 21
Rosenberg Lamar Consolidated (6-2) vs. Friendswood (7-1)
The Lamar Consolidated Mustangs won their 4th consecutive district title and are the defending State Champions. The Mustangs are led by Senior quarterback D.J. Smallwood who was the leading passer in 23-4A with 833 passing yards and 6 touchdowns. Running back Jordan Towers rushed for 951 yards and 8 touchdowns.
The Friendswood Mustangs are a lot of peoples favorites to make a deep run this year. Texas Tech Commit Jacob Karam threw for over 2300 yards this year with 31 touchdowns. Receiver Andre Gautreaux is red hot coming into the play-offs with 1050 yards receiving on the year and 16 touchdowns. Junior Andrew Cole chipped in this year with 675 rushing yards and 6 scores of his own.
These are two hot teams right now and it is a shame that they have to meet so early in the play-offs. Look for lots of scoring.
Friendswood by 14
Ahmard’s take: Lamar Consolidated by 3
Lockhart (7-3) vs. Huntsville (7-1)
The Lockhart Lions from the Austin areas 17-4A and finished in 2nd place in the district. Offensive leaders for the Lions include running back Dominique Hardaway who rushed for 1635 yards and 16 touchdowns during the regular season. Also chipping in from the backfield are Zachary Leija (773 yards and 6 TD's) and Richard Ybarra (656 yards 5 TD's). Defensively the Lions are led by linebacker Adam Renteria (65 tackles 3 sacks).
The Huntsville Hornets were the 18-4A champions this year, and their only loss on the season was a narrow 27-24 loss to College Park in week 1. Talented Junior Justin Gilbert leads the offensive charge for the Hornets. He gets help from running back Joseph Maxey who has rushed for 373 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Hornets defense which is led by Texas A&M commit Kirby Ennis only gave up an average of 233 yards of foffense during the regular season.
Both teams here are run oriented teams, but the difference maker should be the team that can offset the run with the pass, and which defense steps up and has the best game.
Huntsville by 10
Ahmard's take: Huntsville by 14
Houston North Forest (6-3) vs. Beaumont Central (6-3)
The North Forest Bulldogs finished in fourth place in a very competitive 19-4A this year. The Bulldogs are definitely are running team with running back Michael Sigers leading the way. Sigers ran for 1097 yards this year to go with 8 touchdowns. Christian Terry also saw his share of the carries this year, rushing for 822 yards and 12 touchdowns. The Bulldogs are riding a three game winning streak which clinched the play-off berth for them.
The Beaumont Central Jaguars seem to run a revolving door at the running back position with 13 different backs getting carries for the Jaguars this year. Getting the majority of the work load was Nijel Daw (495 yards 4TD's), Charles Thomas (320 yards 4 TD's), David Mayfield (259 yards 1 TD), and Keith O'Neal (238 yards 1 TD). The Jaguars defens only gave up an average of 17 points a game this year which kept them in most games.
Both these teams LOVE to run the football, so I would expect a very quick game.
North Forest by 10
Ahmard's take: Beaumont Central by 7
Houston Davis (8-1) vs. Houston Worthing (4-5)
The Houston Davis Panthers are the second place team from 21-4A, and other than a late season match-up with Westbury that decided the district champion, the Panthers have pretty much run through all opponents they have faced thus far. The Panthers offfense is averaging over 390 yards of offense a game, and the defense is only giving up a little over 250. Senior quarterback John Castillo past for over 2100 yards this year with 23 touchdowns. His favorite targets has been Patrick Chenier (35-882 and 11 TD's) and Jamaell Thorne (21-387 and 5 TD's). The Panther defense led the district with 11 interceptions during the regular season.
The Houston Worthing Colts were the third place team from 22-4A this year. Junior running back Arthur Jackson was tops in 22-4A this year with over 1300 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns. Sophomore quarterback Kyle McDonald proved to be a good change of pace with the passing game throwing for a little over 700 yards and 7 touchdowns. The Colt defense only allowed 200 yards of offense a game.
This should be a good match-up of teams that run the ball well. We'll see if Worthing's defense can keep that 200 yards a game average by opponents up this week.
Houston Davis by 10
Ahmard's take: Davis by 21
Richmond Foster (3-6) vs. Angleton (6-3)
The Richmond Foster Falcons qualified for the play-offs as the fourth place team in 23-4A. Sophomore quarterback Luke Tomas stepped in due to injury this year and did a good job leading the offense. Tomas threw for 600 yards and had 5 touchdowns. Also contibuting on offense for the Falcons was Junior running back Miles Carlton who had 685 yards rushing with 3 touchdowns and Senior receiver Tyler Baylor. The Falcons will need a great effort by a defense that has given up 350 yards a game this year.
The Angleton Wildcats are the district champions in 24-4A this year, and have been led by a duo of underclassmen in Junior running back Henru Josey and Sophomore quarterback Quandre Diggs. Diggs and Josey were #2 and #3 respectively in rushing yards this year with Diggs racking up 1122 yards and 14 touchdowns and Josey totaling 1150 yards and 19 touchdowns. The Angleton defense had 7 interceptions on the year and forced 20 fumbles recovering 12 of them.
I would expect this one to get out of hand early. I don't really see Foster's defense slowing down Angleton. The one X factor in the game is if Josey plays or not. He was injured in last weeks game.
Angleton by 20
Ahmard's take: Angleton by 14
Regional Player of the Week: Andre Gautreaux, WR, Friendswood
Senior receiver Andre Gautreaux has been impressive all year cathing 46 passes for 1051 yards, an impressive 22.8 yards a catch. He scored 16 touchdowns on the year. Gautreaux took his game to the next level last week against La Marque when he had 422 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns.