Preview: 5A Playoffs Quarterfinals in Central Texas
The quarterfinals are here for Central Texas 5A teams. Just as 2020 ends the true fun begins as both Cedar Park and Liberty Hill are within reach of the semifinals and a state title. Still, both teams need to get…
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Continue ReadingThe quarterfinals are here for Central Texas 5A teams. Just as 2020 ends the true fun begins as both Cedar Park and Liberty Hill are within reach of the semifinals and a state title. Still, both teams need to get past Manvel and Pioneer this week. Both Cedar Park and Liberty Hill have plenty of talent, but these are the players to watch out for this week.
1. Manvel vs Cedar Park (Friday at 2 p.m.)
- Ryder Hernandez Ryder Hernandez 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Cedar Park | 2021 TX (CP) – The senior quarterback has been one of the most talked-about names this year and that will continue as long as the powerhouse of Cedar Park continues through the playoffs. Hernandez remains a player to watch simply because he is a playmaker and it seems like he can score no matter what team he is playing against. He had 390 passing yards and four touchdowns with one interception against Canyon last week. This season, he has 3,472 passing yards and 47 touchdowns with just two interceptions, which came in the playoffs.
- Josh Cameron (CP) – One of Hernandez’s favorite targets in the playoffs has been the senior receiver Cameron, who had 11 receptions for 174 yards and two touchdowns against Canyon, and 10 receptions for 191 yards and three touchdowns against Foster. This season, Cameron has 68 receptions for 945 yards and 12 touchdowns which makes him one of the top receivers for Cedar Park. Cameron has also scored in every game since Nov. 25 against Pflugerville, and odds are, he will score again.
- Ian Ferguson (CP) – The junior defensive end has gotten into the backfield on multiple occasions this season as he has racked up 11 sacks on the year, which is the most for Cedar Park’s “Black Rain” defense. In the playoffs, Ferguson has racked up four sacks and 19 total tackles the last three games. Ferguson and the “Black Rain” are among the reasons why Cedar Park is so elite this year. On top of a high-scoring offense, having a defense that shuts any team down can make a team unstoppable, and so far, the 12-0 Timberwolves have proved just that.
2. Liberty Hill vs Pioneer (Saturday at 5 p.m.)
- Blake Simpson (LH) – The senior running back has shocked the high school football industry with his stats, in the playoffs. Simpson rushed for 298 yards and five touchdowns against Rouse, essentially destroying Rouse on his own alongside the offensive line. Simpson has been unstoppable in the playoffs, totaling nine touchdowns in the past three games and 630 yards. This season, he has 1,480 yards and 22 touchdowns. Simpson continues to be a player to watch because it is going to be nearly impossible to stop him and Pioneer will have to play its best defense all season.
- Lloyd Johnson Jr. (LH) – Defensively, the junior defensive end is among the leaders for Liberty Hill as he has racked up six sacks this season and 13 quarterback hurries. Three of those sacks have come in the past two games against Rouse and Boerne-Champion. Against Rouse, Johnson recorded two sacks. This season, he also has 53 total tackles including 11 tackles for a loss, and he has one fumble recovery. Although the Liberty Hill defense has a lot of talent, Johnson remains a standout player during the playoffs, so definitely keep an eye out for him based on these recent games.