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AUSTIN SPORTS JOURNAL
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5
QUESTIONS WITH...
PERRI LOWE, BASTROP VOLLEYBALL
What is your biggest volleyball ick?
My biggest ick in low-top volleyball shoes.
If you were given $1 million, what is the first thing you’d do, and you can’t say travel?
I would apply to my dream college. Eckerd College in Florida and play for the volleyball team.
What would your last meal be?
Hush puppies from Paw Paw and a large root beer.
Who is your favorite volleyball player from the Austin area that’s not on your team?
Jarell setter Jazmine Gonzalez.
What are the first three songs you’re putting on a pregame playlist?
Poppin’ My Collar by Three 6 Mafia, Bad Habit by Steve Lacy, and TGIF by Gorilla.
Bonus question: If you could invite one person in the history of the world to dinner, who would you invite?
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. She is very influential in government policies and an inspiration for women.
Michael Adams/ Austin Sports Journal
An LBJ cheerleader cheers on the Jaguars against Wimberley on Friday at Nelson Stadium in Austin.
1.
WESTLAKE (2-1)
Lost to Atascocita 39-21 UP NEXT at Cibolo Steele
High School Football
2. LAKE TRAVIS (3-0)
3.
def. Midland Legacy 41-20 UP NEXT vs. San Marcos
AUSTIN HIGH (2-1)
Lost to Buda Johnson 44-35 UP NEXT at Temple
VANDEGRIFT (2-1)
def. Stony Point 35-28 UP NEXT Open
def. Glenn 42-21 UP NEXT vs. Converse Judson 4.
BOWIE (3-0)
WEISS (2-1)
LBJ serves notice to Class 4A
2.
3.
Lost to A&M Consol. 25-19 UP NEXT at Lehman
ANDERSON (2-1)
Lost to College Station 34-17 UP NEXT Open 1.
GEORGETOWN (3-0)
def. Copperas Cove 44-8 UP NEXT Open
LIBERTY HILL (2-1)
def. EP Eastlake 49-25 UP NEXT vs. Connally
5.
Lost to Huntsville 48-28 UP NEXT Open 4.
CEDAR PARK (1-2)
WIMBERLEY (2-1)
Jaguars’ speed and athleticism prove to be too much for the Texans
Up next
• Wimberley at Lampasas, 7:30 p.m., Friday
• Parish Episcopal at LBJ, 7:30 p.m., Friday at Nelson
LBJ (2-0)
def. Wimberley 27-16 UP NEXT vs. Dallas Episcopal 1.
Lost to LBJ 27-16 UP NEXT at Lampasas
def. Caldwell 30-26 UP NEXT at Llano 2.
JARRELL (3-0)
Lost to Miles 46-6 UP NEXT vs. Comfort 3.
JOHNSON CITY (2-1)
def. Eastside 56-0 UP NEXT at Troy 4.
THRALL (3-0)
By Michael Adams Austin Sports Journal
LBJ served notice to the rest of Class 4A Friday night.
The Jaguars are back.
LBJ (2-0) put together a convincing 27-16 win over powerhouse Wimberley at Nelson Field in Austin that featured two Top 10 teams in Class 4A.
“These guys played with passion and heart, and basically just got after it,” said LBJ head coach Joe Rauls. “Understand, that was one heck of an opponent we played here tonight. A win like this lets us know where we are. There’s a long road ahead, but I think with our guys doing what they did, that made a statement.”
It wasn’t just the win that was eye opening, it was how the Jaguars’ did it.
LBJ contained Wimberley quarterback Cody Stoever, which as many teams have found out, it not an easy task.
Stoever, who received several preseason player of the year honors, is a gritty quarterback that can beat you on the ground and through the air.
The Jaguars minimized Stoever’s ability to run, despite giving up two rushing touchdowns to the Texans’ star player. That forced the Texans (2-1) to go to the air where LBJ’s secondary was waiting and intercepted Stoever twice.
Then there was LBJ’s speed and athleticism on offense that produced big play after big play.
After Stoever put the Wimberley on the scoreboard board first with a three-yard touchdown run, LBJ quarterback Ali Scott found Marquis Murry for a 38-yard touchdown pass to tie the game.
On the Jaguars first possession of the second quarter, quarterback Scott connected with Louis Hickman Jr. for a 78-yard touchdown toss that gave the Jaguars a 14-7 lead. Stoever tied the game on another short touchdown run
Continued
LBJ’s Caleb Crenshaw (1) makes a run during a high school football game at Nelson Stadium on Friday in Austin, Texas.
Michael Adams/ Austin Sports Journal
Thursday Football Rewind
19 25
Baptism by fire
Freshman QB has rough start in loss to AMC
Weiss quarterback Jaxon Schad (15) makes a pass while being pursued by Vakapuna Foketi (99) of A&M Consolidated during a high school football game on Thursday at The Pfield in Pflugerville.
By Michael Adams Austin Sports Journal
PFLUGERVILLE –Years from now, Texas high school football pundits will study the 2024 Weiss Wolves and the adversity the team has faced this season.
On Thursday, in just his third varsity start, freshman quarterback Jaxon Schad had a baptism of sorts from A&M Consolidated’s relentless pass defense in Weiss’ 25-19 loss at The Pfield in the District 12-5A-I opener. Schad was thrusted into the starting job when New Mexico State pledge Jax Brown suffered a season-ending injury in Weiss’ scrimmage with Waco University on Aug. 23. There was bound to be growing pains for a freshman playing in his third varsity game, and boy, were there ever.
A&M Consolidated (3-0) picked off Schad four times in the first half, converting them into 21 points that included a 26-yard pick-six by Cannon Kieschnick that put the Tigers ahead 21-0 early in the second quarter.
Just as the Wolves (2-1) looked to be turning the page with an 18-yard touchdown run by Daniel Berry,
Up next
• at Lehman, 7:30 p.m., Friday at Bob Shelton Stadium
A&M Consolidated blocked the extra point attempt and returned it 100 yards for a two-point score.
On the last play of the first half, Jorian Guinn intercepted A&M Consolidated’s Will Hargett and nearly returned it for a touchdown, but was stopped three-yards short.
The momentum carried over in the second half as Weiss tried to mount a miraculous comeback after a rough start. The Wolves outscored the Tigers 13-2 in the second half, but fell just short.
Weiss was considered the favorite in District 12-5A-I. While the Wolves aren’t out of the championship picture, they will need some help down the road.
SCOREBOARD
Thursday’s scores
East View 48, Belton 14
Vandegrift 35, Stony Point 28
A&M Consolidated 25, Weiss 19
Buda Johnson 44, Austin High 35
LASA 27, Northeast 20
Bowie 42, Glenn 21
Friday’s scores
Class 6A
Atascocita 39, Westlake 21
Round Rock 33, Vista Ridge 7
Hutto 63, Cedar Ridge 56
McNeil 35, Westwood 14
Lake Travis 41, Midland Legacy 20
Akins 30, Manor New Tech 0
Dripping Springs 41, Harker Heights 38
San Antonio Wagner 40, San Marcos 17
Del Valle 29, Leander 17
Class 5A
Liberty Hill 49, El Paso Eastlake 35
Pflugerville 42, Fort Bend Christian 32
Montgomery 67, Elgin 26
Waco Midway 17, Rouse 6
Prestonwood Christian 49, Bastrop 14
McCallum 71, Prinkston 51
Georgetown 44, Copperas Cove 8
Huntsville 48, Cedar Park 28
Bryan Rudder 49, Connally 21
Hendrickson 14, Hays 13
Lockhart 52, Lehman 7
College Station 34, Anderson 17
Class 4A
Florence 56, Austin Achieve 0
Llano 20, Marble Falls 13
Lago Vista 29, Taylor 22
Salado 55, Giddings 14
Jarrell 30, Caldwell 26
La Grange 52, Smithville 7
Travis 48, Navarro 0
LBJ 27, Wimberley 16
Burnet 49, Little River Academy 35
Class 3A
Blanco 17, San Antonio Lanier 7
Thrall 56, Eastside 0
Class 2A
Thorndale 27, Riesel 6
Granger 34, Holland 22
Miles 46, Johnson City 6
Mart 69, Bartlett 2
New Braunfels Christian Academy 58, McDade 0
Michael Adams/ Austin Sports Journal
High School Football
THURSDAY NIGHT ROUNDUP
Johnson holds off Austin High; Vandegrift mounts comeback
From staff reports
BUDA – The Buda Johnson Jaguars (3-0) on Thursday used a fast start and held off Austin High for a 44-35 win at Bob Shelton Stadium in Buda.
Running back Kael Hatnot rushed for 148 yards on 14 carries and had three touchdowns for the Jaguars, who are off to their first 3-0 start since 2021. Hatnot also had a receiving touchdown, an 18-yard reception for Johnson’s first score.
The Jaguars held a 14-3 lead after the first quarter, which proved to be the difference.
Austin High (2-1) traded points with Johnson for the final three quarters but couldn’t overcome the Jaguars’ fast start.
Vandegrift 35, Stony Point 28: For one half of football, Stony Point (1-2, 0-1 District 25-6A) put Vandegrift on its heels, taking a 20-14 lead into the locker room at halftime at Kelly Reeves Stadium.
The Vipers (2-1, 1-0), who were coming off an overtime loss to Cedar Park, mounted a second half comeback to pick up a win in the district opener for both teams.
Vandegrift tied the game early in the third quarter on an 8-yard rushing touchdown by Griffin Gorrebeeck and took the lead on the ensuing extra point attempt.
The Vipers extended the lead to eight points midway through the quarter on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Miles Teodecki to George Farley.
Stony Point tied the game with a 10-yard touchdown run by Bobby Tarbutton.
Vandegrift got the eventual game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter on another Gorrebeek touchdown.
Stony Point wide receiver Tristan Rimes led the Tigers offensive stand with 105 yards on six catches with three touchdowns.
East View 48, Belton 14: In Georgetown, Tanner Namken had nine catches for 168 Yards and a touchdown
to lift East View to a non-district win over Belton.
The Patriots (2-1) dominated this game from the start with a high-powered offensive assault that included a solid performance from Kieston Rainey, who had 143
total yards and three touchdowns.
Luke Martin also assisted in East View’s offensive attack with 124 receiving yards on 7 catches with two touchdowns.
Buda Johnson’s Kael Hatnot (20) makes a run during a high school football game on Thursday at Bob Shelton Stadium in Buda.
Annemarie Davis for the Austin Sports Journal
High School Football
SCHEDULE
Thursday’s games
Navarro at Pflugerville, 7 p.m. at The Pfield
Akins at Northeast, 7:30 p.m. at Nelson
Bastrop at Crockett, 7:30 p.m. at Burger Stadium
Friday’s games
Westwood at Cedar Ridge, 7 p.m. at Dragon Stadium
Hutto at Manor, 7 p.m.
Round Rock at McNeil, 7 p.m. at Kelly Reeves
Stony Point at Vista Ridge, 7 p.m. at Gupton Stadium
Ingram at Blanco, 7 p.m.
San Antonio Brackenridge at Marble Falls, 7 p.m.
Smithville at Caldwell, 7 p.m.
Thorndale at Austin Achieve, 7 p.m.
Thrall at Troy, 7 p.m.
Converse Judson at Bowie, 7:30 p.m.
Buda Johnson at Dripping Springs, 7:30 p.m.
Westlake at Cibolo Stelle, 7:30 p.m.
San Marcos at Lake Travis, 7:30 p.m.
Copperas Cove at Del Valle, 7:30 p.m.
Austin High at Temple, 7:30 p.m.
Weiss at Lehman, 7:30 p.m. at Shelton Stadium
Lokhart at Hendrickson, 7:30 p.m. at The Pfield
Connally at Liberty Hill, 7:30 p.m.
Elgin at McCallum, 7:30 p.m. at House Park
Hays at Cedar Creek, 7:30 p.m. at BISD Memorial Stadium
Dallas Episcopal at LBJ, 7:30 p.m. at Nelson Stadium
Travis at Luling, 7:30 p.m.
Rockdale at Giddings, 7:30 p.m.
La Grange at Taylor, 7:30 p.m.
Lago Vista at Marion, 7:30 p.m.
Salado at Little River Academy, 7:30 p.m.
Wimberley at Lampasas, 7:30 p.m.
Jarrell at Llano, 7:30 p.m.
Comfort at Johnson City, 7:30 p.m.
Eastside at St. John Paul II, 7:30 p.m.
Burnet at Fredericksburg, 7:30 p.m.
LASA at Fort Bend Christian Academy, 7:30 p.m.
midway through the quarter, but LBJ answered with Scott’s third touchdown pass of the game, a 37-yard reception by Javarlyn Smith. It would be the final score of the first half as LBJ took a. 2114 lead into the locker room.
“Ali is a winner,” Rauls said. “There are a lot of quarterbacks that may have a lot of stats or greater stature, but when it comes down to being a winner, there’s no one better than Ali.”
Continued from page 6 MORE COVERAGE ONLINE
LBJ’s defense held Wimberley to a field goal on an early third quarter drive. The Jaguars’
offense put the final stamp on the victory with a 48-yard touchdown run by Caleb Crenshaw, who quietly rushed for over 100 yards.
“We just put our foot down and said we’re here,” Crenshaw said. “We all saw how everyone was predicting Wimberley to win… that just put a fire under us, and we came out here with something to prove and get the win for our city.”
See more photos with this story online at austinsportsjournal.com.
Michael Adams/ Austin Sports Journal
Wimberley’s Cody Stoever (2) is stopped on a run during a high school football game at Nelson Stadium on Friday in Austin.
1.
2.
Volleyball RANKINGS
Records are as of Sept. 12
DRIPPING SPRINGS (33-1)
Up next: vs. Bowie (6:30p, Tuesday)
AUSTIN HIGH (30-3)
Up next: vs. Westlake (6:30p, Tuesday)
BUDA JOHNSON (26-6)
Up next: at NB Caynon (7p, Tuesday)
Up next: vs. Westwood (6:30p, Tuesday) 3.
ROUND ROCK (21-12)
ANDERSON
In a bevy of talent,
Parker Duncan
claims her spot at the elite
table
Up next: at Austin High (6:30p, Tuesday) 4.
5.
WESTLAKE (19-13)
1.
2.
3.
LIBERTY HILL (26-5)
Up next: vs. Glenn (6:30p, Tuesday)
GEORGETOWN (24-7)
Up next: vs. East View (6:30p, Tuesday)
WEISS (26-8)
Up next: at Elgin (6:30p, Tuesday)
CEDAR PARK (15-15)
Up next: at Crockett (7:30p, Tuesday) 4.
Up next: vs. Lehman (6:30p, Tuesday)
ANDERSON (12-9)
1.
2.
3.
WIMBERLEY (24-2)
Up next: vs. Chaparral (6p,Tuesday)
GATEWAY PREP (17-3)
Up next: vs. Marble Falls (6p, Tuesday)
SALADO (23-6)
Up next: at Burnet (6p, Tuesday)
JOHNSON CITY (21-7)
Up next: vs. Blanco (6p, Tuesday)
THRALL (16-6)
Up next: at Lexington (6p, Tuesday)
The future Razorback has the Trojans eying a district title, playoff berth
By Michael Adams Austin Sports Journal
The room for volleyball standouts and Division I recruits from Austin area high schools is a crowded space.
The list of invites features names such as Dripping Springs’ Henley Anderson and Callie Kruger, Austin High’s Riley Malloy, Georgetown’s Addison Gaido, Westlake’s Lily Davis, and many more.
Four of the five players previously mentioned are committed to play at the University of Texas for indoor or beach volleyball. The other – Malloy – will play at the storied University of Southern California when her high school career ends in 2025.
A name on the VIP guest list to the party that
sometimes gets overlooked is Parker Duncan. Anderson’s 6-foot senior outside hitter is claiming her spot at the table reserved for Austin’s top volleyball talent.
“When I hear my name mentioned with Henley and all these other great players makes me realize I can compete with these other really great players,” Duncan said. “They’re all so good on the court. It just makes me feel really proud of myself and my teammates, because without them, I couldn’t be here.”
Like more than 20 other volleyball players from high schools in the Austin area, Duncan is headed to a Division I college volleyball program.
Duncan will join nine other players from the Austin area going to the SEC when she steps on the campus of the University of Arkansas and joins the Razorbacks volleyball team.
She said chose Arkansas because it felt like home.
“During the recruiting process, the coaches made me feel really comfortable,” Duncan said. “Then when I stepped on campus and met the teammates I was going to be playing with, it just felt like home.”
Anderson’s Parker Duncan (4) is introduced before a volleyball match at Westlake High School on Tuesday.
Michael Adams/ Austin Sports Journal
Volleyball
DISTRICT 26-6A
Who’s making it out of the ‘District of Doom?’
By Michael Adams Austin Sports Journal
For several districts in the Greater Austin Area, the road to the postseason begins Friday.
The nine-team District 25-6A is two weeks into district play with Vandegrift currently atop the standings with a 4-0 district record. The Vipers hold a one-game lead over Round Rock and Hutto and 1½ -game lead over Cedar Ridge and Vista Ridge.
The unfortunate reality for the four teams from 25-6A that make it to the postseason is that a team from District 26-6A, also known as the “District of Doom,” awaits in the first round.
As arguably the toughest volleyball district in the state, 26-6A features two teams ranked in the Top 5 in Class 6A by the Texas Girls Coaches Association – No. 1 Dripping Springs (33-1) and No. 4 Austin High (30-3).
Bowie (16-5) is ranked No. 24 in the state poll, while traditional volleyball powerhouses Westlake (19-13) and Lake Travis (16-15) are on the upswing after tough non-district competition and missing key players.
Then there’s the surprise – Del Valle (14-8).
The Cardinals are one of the better stories in the early season and would be a playoff team in any other district. However, it’s going to be an uphill road to the postseason for upstart Del Valle, which opens district play at Westlake on Friday.
The parody is six of the seven teams have records above .500, but only four will make the playoffs. The other two will be left out.
So, who’s making it out of the “District of Doom?”
Continued on page 9
Anderson’s Parker Duncan (4) goes for the kill during a volleyball match at Westlake High School on Tuesday.
Continued from page 6
Before Duncan arrives at Arkansas, there’s some unfinished business with her current teammates at Anderson ¬– make the playoffs.
Duncan and the current senior class were freshmen the last time the Trojans made the postseason.
It didn’t help that Anderson was playing in the SEC of high school volleyball, District 26-6A, often competing with Dripping Springs, Lake Travis, Westlake, Bowie and Austin High for a playoff spot.
The news of Anderson dropping to Class 5A and into District 24-5A was exciting news for Duncan and the Trojans, who will challenge rival McCallum for a district championship.
“Our (non-district) schedule kind of got us ready for district,” Duncan said. “We were playing really tough competition that we won’t see in district, so that’s going to help us with consistency, and we’ll be more effective, and our game will come together.”
Duncan and the Trojans began the road to the playoffs on Friday at home against LASA.
Michael Adams/ Austin Sports Journal
Michael Adams/ Austin Sports Journal
Westllake’s Lily Davis (7) serves during a volleyball match at Westlake High School on Tuesday.
Volleyball
AUSTIN AREA VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jesse Letts
Glenn, outside hitter, senior
Letts had back-to-back double doubles in the Grizzlies’ two wins this past week. Against St. Michael’s on Friday, she had 18 kills and 11 digs, along with 2 aces. On Tuesday in Glenn’s win over East View, she had 16 kills and 15 digs, as well as two aces.
About the selection process: Each week, the Austin Sports Journal selects five players from Austin area schools that had standout performances during the previous week of action and let readers vote on the winner. Voting takes place Thursday through noon, Fridays. The winner is announced each week in our e-paper and online on Sundays.
Past winners
Week 1: Laney Hennessee, Wimberley
Week 2: Takyla Brown, Weiss
Week 3: MC Brandl, Glenn
Game of the Week
GLENN GRIZZLIES @
Continued from page 8
Here’s our thoughts:
Sure bets: Dripping Springs and Austin High
The Tigers and Maroons are safe picks for the postseason. Dripping Springs is the heavy favorite to win the district championship but might get a challenge from Austin High. Behind USC pledge Riley Malloy, the Maroons have proven time and time again they are a legit player.
Austin High opens district play Friday at home against Bowie and then hosts Westlake on Tuesday. The matchups against Dripping Springs are Oct. 4 at Dripping Springs and Oct. 29 at Austin High.
Safe bet: Westlake
LIBERTY HILL PANTHERS 26-5 14-18
6:30 p.m.,Tuesday at Panther Gymnasium | Series record: Liberty Hill leads series 14-0 Last meeting: Liberty Hill won 25-22, 25-14, 25-14 on Oct. 3, 2023.
GLENN PLAYERS TO WATCH: Jaylene Garcia, Sr., libero; Jesse Letts, Sr., outside hitter; MC Brandl, junior, outside hitter; Milan Benavides, sophomore, defensive specialist
LIBERTY HILL PLAYERS TO WATCH: Taylor Gaines, senior, outside hitter; Annie Witt, senior, outside hitter; Ava Kostroun, senior, middle blocker; Evie Bruce, senior, middle blocker; Ava Hight, senior setter.
The Chaparrals record is a tad deceiving. Westlake has been without Lily Davis, who just won a beach volleyball world championship. Davis rejoined the team this past Friday in the Chaps’ loss to Georgetown. There’s no doubt Westlake is a different team when Davis is on the court. But she’s not the only noticeable absence this season. Sophomore setter Emerson Butler has been out all season and there’s no timeline for her return. However, on paper, a healthy Westlake team is right on par with Dripping Springs and Austin High.
The battle for the final playoff spot
Should the district play out the way it looks on paper, the final playoff spot will come down to Bowie and Lake Travis. The Cavaliers will run the gauntlet beginning on Sept. 20 at home against Austin High and then host Dripping Springs on Sept. 24. After that, two road games at Bowie (Sept. 27) and Westlake (Oct. 1) await.
The Bulldogs start with the gauntlet right out of the gate at Austin High on Friday before traveling to Dripping Springs on Tuesday. We predict Lake Travis’ momentum, should the Cavs keep building it, will become the deciding factor. So, we’re going with the Cavaliers for the fourth playoff spot.
The crazy thing is, whichever team ends up on the outside would likely be a playoff team in any other district in Region IV.
Courtesy photo of SonnyZepeda/A2Z Media
Michael Adams/ Austin Sports Journal
Bowie’s Gabriela Garcia (4) sets the ball during a volleyball match on Aug. 27 at Moe & Gene Johnson High School in Buda.
Glenn’s MC Brandl
Liberty Hill’s Taylor Gaines
