Round Four Phenoms: Top Performances from Central Texas

<p>As the quarter and semi-finals take place this week statewide, it is essential to take a step back and acknowledge the greatness of the playoffs in the Lone Star State. Round Four was a continuation of just that, with program legends finishing their legacies, and breakout stars taking the postseason by storm. Before it's time to preview this week's matchups, let's recap 5 of the dazzling performances from Central Texas in Round Four.</p>    <p class="text-gray-700">A matchup nightmare out wide, Bloomgren combines a massive frame with fluid footwork and dynamic speed. Despite the loss to Vandegrift, Merrik finished his Tigers career with another dominant showing, totaling over 160 yards and 2 touchdowns on just 6 receptions. While a true "contested catch specialist", Bloomgren is a very versatile receiver, with a polished route tree and smooth change of direction. He completed his senior season with over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns, capping off a stellar career. With offers from Army, Air Force, Davidson, and Penn, someone is getting a star at the next level.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/MerrikBloomgren/status/1992365034782253516?s=20 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">A name I've become extremely familiar with this season, Sweeney continues to dominate down the playoff stretch, producing as good as any QB in the state. The dynamic dual-threat complements electric arm talent with great speed at all levels. Grant had another ridiculous performance in a shootout win over Alamo Heights, piling up over 470 total yards, 4 TDs over the air, and 3 more scores on the ground. He showcases great accuracy and anticipation, fitting strikes into tight windows at all levels. Whenever windows don't open, Grant takes off with smooth strides and surprising physicality as a runner. With over 5,000 total yards and 56 TDs on the season, Sweeney will look to keep the Greyhounds' title hopes alive in a thriller versus Randle on Friday. He holds offers from schools such as UNLV, UTEP, and UTSA.</p>      <p class="text-gray-700">A slashing speedster out of the backfield, Carter has been the leader in production for the Bears' offense throughout a thrilling playoff run. He totaled over 200 total yards and 2 touchdown scores in a tight victory over Davenport. Ty totes the rock with a great vision and patience combination, which, paired with his 4.4 speed, makes him nearly impossible to bring down in the open field. He also displays rapid, but intentional, footwork as he pops in and out of running lanes. Carter has rushed for nearly 1,900 yards on the season, along with 29 total TDs. Not to mention, he is also a weapon in the return game. Expect the Bears to continue to feed the hot hand as they look to upset the powerhouse Kilgore Bulldogs this week.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/TyCarter84946/status/1998211901491421314?s=20 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">Shoquist is a twitched-up tailback with plenty of burst and physicality. In a workhorse effort against New Braunfels, the Rangers' playmaker totaled over 180 yards on 20 carries, along with 2 total touchdowns. The star sophomore flashes the ability to both run between the tackles and break carries outside. Gunnar is a downhill runner with a great hop cut and little wasted movement when accelerating. While his full-season stats are not available, Shoquist has certainly totaled over a thousand yards and plenty of TD scores. Expect the Rangers' offense to continue to lean on Gunnar as they step into a heavyweight matchup versus Port Arthur Memorial on Friday.</p>      <p class="text-gray-700">A versatile defensive back with great field awareness and instincts, Antoun proved just that in a massive win over Johnson. He had not one but two interceptions, along with a PBU and 4 tackles. Luca displayed his stellar ball skills, along with his polished footwork and hips, which he uses to mask the routes of receivers. Both of his picks were massive moments in the deep part of the secondary. As he continues to get more comfortable and experienced, Antoun has shown that his speed, length, and hands amount to those of an elite defensive back. He has compiled 4 interceptions, 9 PBUs, and 28 total tackles on the season. As the Cavs have their eyes set on an undefeated season, watch out for Luca to make more impact plays versus North Shore on Saturday.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Luca_antoun/status/1997523549209448896?s=20 </div></figure>

As the quarter and semi-finals take place this week statewide, it is essential to take a step back and acknowledge the greatness of the playoffs in the Lone Star State. Round Four was a continuation of just that, with program legends finishing their legacies, and breakout stars taking the postseason by storm. Before it's time to preview this week's matchups, let's recap 5 of the dazzling performances from Central Texas in Round Four.