Hays earned arguably the program’s biggest regular season victory in the last decade when the Rebels knocked off No. 2 Smithson Valley in overtime last Friday night at Shelton Stadium to earn a share of the District 27-4A title. What an incredible night it was for Rebel players, fans and coaches, but for Hays to be successful in the playoffs starting this Friday night against San Antonio Brennan the team has to quickly regain its focus.
The matchup should be a good one for Hays, against a Brennan team that will mirror Canyon’s style of punishing, straight ahead run-based football. In fact, Brennan has thrown the ball only 80 times all season.
The Rebels seem to have solved the penalty and turnover problems that plagued them earlier in the year, and are as healthy as they’ve been all season. Look for Hays to snap a playoff winless streak that dates back to 2006 and set up an area-round matchup with No. 6 Cedar Park.
When: Friday 7:30 p.m.
Where: Clemens’ Lehnhoff Stadium
Records: Hays 7-3, Brennan 7-3
Last Meeting: First meeting
Last Week: Hays 34, Smithson Valley 28, OT; Brennan 28, Medina Valley 10
What they’re saying: “That was no fluke. We moved the ball all night long and we beat them,” Hays head coach Blake Feldt said after Hays shocked the Central Texas football world by knocking off Smithson Valley in OT.
Hays Offense: Spread
Hays Defense: 3-4
Brennan Offense: Power I
Brennan Defense: 4-3
Players To Watch: Hays – QB Caleb Kimbro, Slot Receiver Michael Romero, Slot Receiver Taven Mayberry, WR Mason Cervenka, WR Granger Studdard, WR Trevor Ragsdale, C Boone Feldt, LB Dalton Johnson, LB Mark Oldham, DE Kyle Cox, CB Christian Rodriguez, CB Jared Rodriguez, DT William Trevillion, DE Joel Young
Players To Watch: Brennan – RB Joshua Luna, RB Aaron Beaugard, RB Jesse Jenkins, QB Dillon Gatian, WR Brandon Sanchez, DB/TE Grant Wantabe, OT William Mora, LB Fabian Acuna.
Free Press Prediction: Hays 35, Brennan 17
