When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Shelton Stadium
Records: Hays 7-1 4-1 27-4A;
Champion 4-4, 2-3
Last week: Hays 44, Seguin 23; Champion 27, Clemens 14
Last meeting: First meeting
between schools
Champion offense: Spread
Champion defense: 3-4
Hays offense: Multiple
Hays defense: 3-4
What they’re saying: “We need Taven Mayberry performing like he did tonight if we want to make it to a championship level as a football team,” Hays head coach Blake Feldt after Mayberry’s 187-yard rushing night last week.
Players to Watch:
Hays: QB Caleb Kimbro, WR Granger Studdard, OL William Trevillion, OL Reed Darragh, Slot receiver Taven Mayberry, WR Hayden Cagle, TE Banner Steele, DE Kyle Cox, LB Devin Jennings, CB Christian Rodriguez, CB Jared Rodriguez, LB Colin Hubert.
Champion: QB Kyle Poeske, WR Michael Moloney, WR Spencer Jarzombek, OL Kyle McKinney, DB Jake Margozewitz
Intangibles: The Rebels clinched a post-season spot last week against Seguin but still have a lot to play for. Hays can’t afford to look past Boerne Champion one bit. The Rebels need a victory over Champion to earn a right to play for the district title at Alamo Heights the following Friday. Champion will test Hays’ pass defense the same way Seguin did last Friday night. Champion quarterback Kyle Poeske has completed 202 of 356 passes for 2,662 yards. He has also thrown 21 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Champion, which was picked to be among the district-title contenders at the beginning of the season, has underachieved with a 2-3 mark in District 27-4A, but the Chargers are still dangerous. Hays seems to have hit its stride, however, and is playing well both offensively and defensively. The call here is the Rebs don’t let a chance to play for the district title slip away.
Hays Free Press prediction:
Hays 49, Champion 21
