Preview: Players to Watch in Central Texas – Week 4
There are a lot of good matchups this week with the potential of shootouts. Here are the players to watch this week across Central Texas! 1. Noah Long Noah Long 5'10" | 175 lbs | RB Liberty Hill | 2024…
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Continue ReadingThere are a lot of good matchups this week with the potential of shootouts. Here are the players to watch this week across Central Texas!
1. Noah Long Noah Long 5'10" | 175 lbs | RB Liberty Hill | 2024 State TX (SO-RB) – Liberty Hill High School (Liberty Hill, TX)
2021 Season: 475 rushing yards, 6 rushing touchdowns
Liberty Hill is known for its running game and Long has shown that he already has the skills and talent to be the leading charge for the Liberty Hill rushing attack but the Panthers now face a tough opponent in the LBJ Austin Jaguars. LBJ is currently undefeated and has allowed just 14 total points in two out of the three games played. The only exception is against Parish Episcopal, which ended with a 44-42 win for LBJ Austin. Long, and the Liberty Hill offense face a tough defense that has slipped in the past but kept the likes of Manor and La Vega at bay as well.
2. Drake Torno (SR-DL) – Liberty Hill High School (Liberty Hill, TX)
2021 Season: 19 total tackles, 7 tackles for a loss, 4 sacks, 1 forced fumble
On the opposite side of the ball, Torno has become one of the most disruptive players for Liberty Hill’s defense. However, the Panther defense also faces a tough challenge in keeping an offense that has scored at least 28 or more points each game this season, from running up the scoreboard. Although, the Liberty Hill defense has also done well at keeping opposing teams from scoring with Georgetown scoring the most so far against Liberty Hill with 13 points last week. Considering the matchup, it may be up to players like Torno to create disruption and influence the outcome.
3. Brayden Buchanan (JR-QB) – Vandegrift High School (Austin, TX)
2021 Season: 639 passing yards, 7 passing touchdowns, 1 interception
Vandegrift has been steamrolling any opponent so far this season with the Vipers closest game being against Ellison, which ended in a 31-14 win for Vandegrift. However, the Vipers begin district play against Stony Point which has been a scoring machine with the 38-7 loss to Bowie being the only exception. Stony Point’s defense has also proved to be troublesome for teams like Copperas Cove and Del Valle, but considering the two teams’ high-scoring nature, the game could evolve into a shootout which puts Buchanan in the spotlight given he could be one of the driving forces for keeping Vandegrift in the game.
4. Reece Beauchamp (SR-WR) – Vandegrift High School (Austin, TX)
2021 Season: 15 receptions, 310 receiving yards, 6 receiving touchdowns
The same could be said for Beauchamp, who has emerged as Buchanan’s favorite target so far this season. If the game does become a shootout, Vandegrift will have to rely on the successful duo of Buchanan and Beauchamp to keep the Vipers in the game.
5. Cameron Cook (JR-ATH) – Stony Point High School (Round Rock, TX)
2021 Season: 399 rushing yards, 5 rushing touchdowns, 7 receptions. 130 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns
For the other team, the pressure is on Cook, who has been one of the driving factors for Stony Point’s high-scoring offense. Cook is dangerous both on the ground and through the air and if the game does become an offensive-driven game, then Cook will need to find the endzone often.
6. Trayvian McCoy-Gay (SR-RB) – Round Rock High School (Round Rock, TX)
2021 Season: 496 rushing yards, 6 rushing touchdowns
Round Rock faces a similar predicament as well. McCoy-Gay has been a scoring machine for the Dragons and considering Round Rock will now face a high-scoring offense in Cedar Ridge, the same pressure could fall on McCoy-Gay as well. This is considering that Cedar Ridge has scored more than 40 points in two out of the three games this season. The only game Cedar Ridge did not score more than 40, was the 29-7 loss to Cedar Park.
7. Travien Brown (SR-DL) – Round Rock High School (Round Rock, TX)
2021 Season: 12 total tackles, 3 sacks
Although a shootout adds pressure to offensive players to match the opposing team’s scoring, pressure is also added to defensive players to make key stops to get the win. That pressure will be on Brown, who is the sack-leader for Round Rock so far this season. The Dragons will be looking to him to cause the necessary disruption to give the Dragons a chance to keep a lead.
8. Quentin Owens (SR-RB) – Wagner High School (San Antonio, TX)
2021 Season: 451 rushing yards, 4 rushing touchdowns
Wagner has been high-scoring as of late, in part thanks to Owens, with the Thunderbirds scoring 69 points against Stevens and 41 points against Alexander. The only hiccup for the offense was against Johnson when Wagner lost the game 21-13. However, another challenge has emerged in the undefeated Smithson Valley. Considering the level of the opponent, games such as these require teams to lean on their star players and for Wagner, the Thunderbirds will be leaning on Owens to continue to shine like he has.
9. Cash McCollum (SO-QB) – Wimberley High School (Wimberley, TX)
2021 Season: 590 passing yards, 6 passing touchdowns, 2 interceptions
McCollum really made a name for himself in the game against Lampasas last week, but Wimberley now faces a bigger challenge in the undefeated Fredericksburg. The Billies have not allowed a lot of scoring as they allowed six points against Sam Houston, 27 points against Tivy and 18 points against Gonzales. Wimberley has already faced a tough defense against Cuero, which only allowed three points for the Texans. However, coming off of such a strong performance, McCollum has momentum going into this game.
10. Jesse Leija (JR-RB) – Fredericksburg High School (Fredericksburg, TX)
2021 Season: 510 rushing yards, 7 rushing touchdowns
The same could be said for Leija, who has done nothing but score this season for Fredericksburg. The Wimberley defense is no easy task as the Texans have allowed three points against Canyon Lake, 21 points against Cuero and 21 points against Lampasas. Although, Fredericksburg is used to running up the scoreboard as they have scored more than 40 points in every game this season. Considering that trend, Leija is in another prime spot for a big day against a tough defense.