Blitz Picks — Week 16

It is Final Four week in the Texas high school football 11-man ranks and two Big Country teams look to join the two area six-man teams that will be playing for state titles at AT&T Stadium. May and Westbrook are getting ready for their state title showdown, while Hawley and Albany hope their seasons do not come to an end this weekend.

The picks were perfect last week for the first time ever and hopefully I will nail them again this time around. I will hold off on making a pick for May and Westbrook until early next week as they do not face off until next Wednesday.

Season: 374-469, 79.7%
Week 1: 31-41, 75.6%
Week 2: 29-41, 70.7%
Week 3: 30-37, 81.1%
Week 4: 31-41, 75.6%
Week 5: 33-38, 86.8%
Week 6: 23-28, 82.1%
Week 7: 25-31, 80.7%
Week 8: 28-41, 68.3%
Week 9: 31-40, 77.5%
Week 10: 33-37, 89.2%
Week 11: 32-39, 82.1%
Week 12: 24-29, 82.8%
Week 13: 14-15, 93.3%
Week 14: 6-7, 85.7%
Week 15: 4-4, 100%

2A DIVISION I STATE SEMIFINALS

HAWLEY (14-0) VS Marlin (11-3) - Thursday, 7 P.M. - Weatherford

The Bearcats are still standing, but likely battered and bruised after taking down Coleman and Cisco in back-to-back weeks in Abilene. Now they turn their attention to Marlin, a team that went just 4-5 last year and was picked to finish fourth in District 8-2A Division I. The Bulldogs ended up second in their district to Italy but have caught fire in the playoffs to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2003. They are enjoying their first season over .500 since going 8-4 in 2010. Marlin dropped their season opener to Riesel 17-6 and a non-district game to Lexington 33-21 two weeks later along with a district game against Italy. Hawley is in the semifinals for the first time ever and will have to put together another complete game to advance.

The Bearcat defense was outstanding against Cisco, while the offense, without injured running back Austin Cumpton, did just enough to pick up the victory. Marlin’s offense put up 26 points in an upset win over Crawford last week, but had averaged nearly 53 points per game since the 23-21 loss to Italy on Oct. 8. The Bulldog offense features some dynamic players, led by quarter Desmond Woodson, running back Ty Harris and wide receivers Derion Gullette and Trajon Butler. Gullette, a junior at 6’2, 225, is also highly regarded linebacker that has scholarship offers from Baylor, Ohio State, TCU, Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech.

Hawley got a great effort from sophomore Diontay Ramon at running back filling in for Cumpton against Cisco. He ran for 114 yards and a touchdown. The Bearcats may end up leaning on Ramon again this week, along with the passing game led by the Rodey Hooper to Kason O’Shields combination that has been outstanding all season. Hawley played without injured junior linebacker Hez Parker on defense last week and would love to get him back to battle the potent Bulldog offense.

THE NUMBERS

How they got here: Hawley beat San Saba 56-9 in bi-district, beat Sundown 40-22 in area, beat Coleman 21-7 in regionals, beat Cisco 17-14 in quarterfinals; Marlin beat Bosqueville 54-20 in bi-district, beat Lindsay 48-7 in area, beat Tolar 52-36 in regionals, beat Crawford 26-6 in quarterfinals.
Playoff History: First meeting. This is deepest ever playoff run for Hawley. Marlin lost in 1964 4A championship to Palacios 12-0 and 2003 4A Division II championship to Atlanta 34-0.
Points per game: Hawley 40.9 — Marlin 40.1
Points allowed per game: Hawley 6.7 — Marlin 15.4
Streak: Hawley won 14 — Marlin won eight

Key Players

Hawley
JR QB Rodey Hooper: 151-251, 2,213 yds, 26 TD, 11 int
JR RB Austin Cumpton: 991 yds, 17 td rushing; 2 rec, 44 yds, TD
SR RB Lawson Bailey: 672 yds, 9 TD rushing; 1 rec, 34 yds
JR WR Kason O’Shields: 48 rec, 711 yds, 8 TD; 193 yds, 1 TD rushing; 63 tackles, 7 int, 5 pbu, 1 ff, 1 fr
SR WR Aeneas Segura: 39 rec, 594 yds, 8 TD, 7 yds, 1 TD rushing; 44 tackles, 2 int
SO RB/WR Diontay Ramon: 14 rec, 208 yds, 3 TD; 383 yds, 8 TD rushing; 49 tackles, 8 sacks, 1 ff, 4 pbu
JR Kyle Nichols: 102 tackles, 11 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries
JR Hez Parker: 89 tackles, 1 int, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble
JR Will Scott: 104 tackles, 8 int, 3 forced fumbles, 8 pbu
SR Corley Williams: 83 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 1 int, 1 fumble recovery

Marlin
JR QB Desmond Woodson: 166-245, 3,450 yds, 37 TD, 6 int; 620 yds, 4 TD rushing
SR RB Ty Harris: 1,154 yds, 5 TD rushing; 13 rec, 93 yds
JR WR/LB Derion Gullette: 62 rec, 1,430 yds, 14 TD; 116 tackles
JR WR Trajon Butler: 59 rec, 1,371 yds, 18 TD; 776 yds, 10 TD rushing
JR WR Zhamauryon Lofton: 25 rec, 536 yds, 6 TD; 80 tackles, 9 int, 16 pbu
FR Tyraun Bell: 186 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 int
SR Tremayne Richardson: 91 tackles, 12 sacks
SO Jemere Hartsfield: 91 tackles, 1 int

Winner plays winner of: Timpson (12-0) vs Shiner (14-0), 7 p.m. Thursday at Tomball’s Tomball ISD Stadium

THE SPREAD: HAWLEY BY 4
THE PICK: HAWLEY

2A DIVISION II STATE SEMIFINALS

ALbany (13-0) VS Stratford (13-1) - Thursday, 6 P.M. - Lowrey Field, Lubbock

Denney Faith has the Lions back in the state semifinals for the first time since 2018 and they will meet Region I champion Stratford Thursday night in Lubbock. Albany has won every game this season by double-figures, with wins over Muenster by 13 and Windthorst last week by 14 in the books as their two closest games.

Stratford enters on a ten-game winning streak and as the winner of District 3-2A Division II. The Elks also have a rich history as state champions in 2000, 2005 and 2008 and a runner-up finish in 2004. They are in the state semifinals for the first time since 2019 when they fell to Hamlin in the final four. Stratford fell to 3A Division I Bushland 21-14 in week four and have not been touched since. Their closest game during their current streak was a 34-14 win over Panhandle on Sept. 24 and last week’s 26-6 quarterfinal victory over Wellington last week. Last week they led just 7-6 at the half but pulled away with three second half touchdowns to pick up the victory.

Photo: Kelly Basting

Like the Lions, the Elks are pretty balanced team on offense that runs for 294.9 yards per game and throws for 144.2. Albany runs for 307.7 per game and throws for 164.7. Cody Rinne is the player to watch on the Elk offense. The Stratford quarterback ran for 272 yards and four touchdowns against Wellington and racked up 186 yards and four more scores the week before against Wink. He has amassed 664 yards and 7 touchdowns rushing the playoffs alone, and hasn’t been bad throwing either going 27-44 for 586 yards and six touchdowns.

The Lions have used a bevy of weapons this season to get this far, and that balance may be something that shifts the game in their favor as Cole Chapman, Jaheim Newton, Coy Lefevre and Cooper Fairchild are four of many players who have made huge plays all year.

As you might expect, both teams also play great defense. Albany has only allowed four teams to reach double-digit scoring in games this season, while Stratford has allowed five. The Lions have allowed 90 points on the season, third in 2A Division II behind D’Hanis and Mart, while the Elks gave up just 127, good for fifth best in the state.

Photo: Gary Ford

THE NUMBERS

How they got here: Albany beat Era 68-0 in bi-district, beat Olney 32-10 in area, beat Muenster 34-21 in regionals, beat Windthorst 28-14 in quarterfinals; Stratford beat Wheeler 72-14 in bi-district, beat Seagraves 48-3 in area, beat Wink 56-21 in regionals, beat Wellington 26-6 in quarterfinals.
Playoff History: Fourth meeting. Stratford won 28-0 in semifinals in 2008, Albany won 28-14 in quarterfinals in 2009, Stratford won 21-15 in area in 2010. Stratford is seeking first state championship game berth since 2008 when they beat Cayuga to win 2A Division II state title. Albany is seeking first title berth since 2015 when they fell to Bremond in the championship game.
Points per game: Albany 50.2 — Stratford 45.2
Points allowed per game: Albany 6.9 — Stratford 9.1
Streak: Albany won 13 — Windthorst won ten

Key Players
Albany
JR QB Cole Chapman: 120-187, 2,083 yds, 31 TD, 3 int; 740 yds, 8 TD rushing
SR RB Jaheim Newton: 1,614 yds, 21 TD rushing; 4 rec, 31 yds
SR RB/DB Robert Bailey: 478 yds, 6 TD rushing; 44 tackles, 3 int, 10 pbu
JR RB/WR/DB Coy Lefevre: 470 yds, 7 TD rushing; 13 rec, 196 yds, 3 TD; 62 tackles, 1 sack, 2 int, 3 pbu
SR WR Cooper Fairchild: 45 rec, 657 yds, 8 TD
JR WR London Fuentes: 27 rec, 517 yds, 7 TD
SO WR/DB Adam Hill: 21 rec, 451 yds, 10 TD; 80 tackles, 4 int, 12 pbu
SR LB Taren Farmer: 129 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 1 int, 2 forced fumbles
SR RB/LB Brooks Neece: 214 yds, 11 TD rushing; 4 rec, 115 yds, 2 TD; 143 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 0.5 sacks
SR Ryan Mark: 73 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 4 pbu
JR Samuel Rosas: 66 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 int, 8 pbu

Stratford
SR QB Cody Rinne: 124-191, 2,2012 yds, 19 TD, 7 int; 1,735 yds, 31 TD rushing; 164 tackles, 6 int, 4 pbu
JR RB Zane Burr: 1,210 yds, 18 TD rushing; 141 tackles
SR WR Dru Jones: 46 rec, 794 yds, 7 TD; 6 int, 4 pbu
SR WR Anastacio Ibarra: 30 rec, 328 yds, 5 TD; 69 tackles
JR WR Luke Brayden: 26 rec, 408 yds, 3 TD
FR Bryce Brayden: 168 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 int, 2 fr
JR Freddie Duarte: 46 tackles, 4 int

Winner plays winner of: Mart (14-0) vs Falls City (13-1), 7 p.m. Friday at Elgin’s Wildcat Stadium

THE SPREAD: PICK ‘EM
THE PICK: ALBANY