The Dripping Springs Tigers needed 30 minutes Nov. 10 to seize control of the program’s first playoff game in seven seasons.
A 21-point first quarter barrage gave Dripping Springs the momentum necessary to roll past the Austin Maroons in a 63-10 rout at House Park.
With the win, Dripping Springs advances to play Angleton Saturday at 2 p.m. at Bobcat Stadium in San Marcos.
But for Tiger head coach Galen Zimmerman, getting off on the right foot provided a positive feeling, as many of his current players were in elementary and middle school the last time Dripping Springs was in the postseason.
“To have that experience and having these kids work hard, and our seniors, who were so close to the playoffs last year but not being able to get there, we’re excited,” Zimmerman said. “It’s good at this time of the year to play extra football.”
Dripping Springs’ offense, led by quarterback Reese Johnson and wide receiver Johnny Hoyle, stomped on the gas pedal in the first quarter and never looked back.
Johnson began the onslaught with a 27-yard touchdown run, which was then followed by a 9-yard touchdown pass from Johnson to Curtis Raymond. Cox capped off the first quarter with a six-yard touchdown run.
Zimmerman credited the Tigers’ fast start to a strong week of practice leading to the playoff game. The preparation led the Tiger offense to amass 559 yards of total offense.
“We had a good week of practice. I believe you play like you practice,” Zimmerman said. “We executed well and (the players) were focused all week. We did a great job of preparation.”
Dripping Springs built a 21-0 lead when the first quarter ended at 8:04 p.m. The Tiger pass attack put the contest out of reach in the second quarter.
Johnson, who threw for 176 passing yards, connected with Hoyle for a trio of highlight reel scores within a five-minute span in the second quarter. The blitz was capped off with a 31-yard strike to Hoyle, who made a diving snag in the endzone to give Dripping Springs a 42-0 lead.
With the score, Hoyle tied the school single-season receiving touchdowns record at 12.
“I wasn’t going to run the route, but my coach told me to switch sides (of the field). I ran as fast as I could. I didn’t think I would get there,” Hoyle said. “I guess I got lucky. I didn’t think I was going to catch it.”
Hoyle said the Tigers knew they would see man-to-man coverage in the defensive backfield. He said the team exploited the Maroon coverage and was able to beat their press.
While Zimmerman said he believes in running the ball, the ability to succeed in the pass game was equally important. He said Austin was focused on halting the Tiger run game, which finished with 383 yards.
“When you’re up against someone that’s trying to take that away, you have to have some answers,” Zimmerman said. “Tonight, they wanted to stop our run … it left some people on an island. Credit our wide receivers, and our offensive lineman.”
A three-yard touchdown by Teo Brinckmann gave Dripping Springs a 49-0 hafltime lead.
On the defensive end, Dripping Springs limited Austin to 237 total yards. Austin High’s lone points were tallied in the second half.
Zimmerman said the defense had a “great game plan” that led to success.
“Our kids were prepared for what they had to do,” Zimmerman said. “They’re a good football team, but our kids were a half step quicker tonight. They were mentally locked in.”
On the horizon lies an Angleton team that is projected to reach the Class 5A, Region IV final.
For the Tigers, focusing on their mantra of going 1-0 each week is priority.
“For our kids, it’s celebrating and being 1-0 this week,” Zimmerman said. “If you’re not 1-0 during this time of the year, you’re packing your pads up. It’s cliché, but you have to live by it right now.”
