They haven’t worried much about the opposition, only hoping to improve in what’s a season of transition, though it certainly hasn’t appeared that way.
Even after eight straight wins and a district championship under first-year coach Jeff Walker, that routine isn’t about to change one bit.
Rogers (9-1) meets Hallettsville (5-4) in a Class 2A Division II bi-district playoff game at 7:30 tonight at Hutto’s Hippo Stadium. The winner will face either No. 3-ranked Blanco or Stockdale in an area-round game next week.
A win tonight for either school will be its first playoff victory since 2004. The last time Hallettsville won in the postseason, the Brahmas’ season was ended by Liberty Hill, where Walker served as offensive coordinator, the next week in the 3A Division II Region IV final.
“They’re pretty focused,” Walker said of his team. “We try to keep everything routine. We’re in a routine that we’ve been in since Week 1.”
It’s hard to argue going against it.
The Eagles have been one of the area’s most complete teams for much of the season with a defense that’s been just as tough as their smash-mouth Slot-T offense.
Rogers has rushed for more than 3,000 yards - best in the area - with an offense that thrives on ball control and wearing down opposing defenses. Each of that unit’s three primary ball carriers - tailback Jordan Sebek and fullbacks E.J. Larkin and Robert Campos - averages nearly 8 yards per carry.
On defense, the Eagles have allowed just 14 points per game. Rogers shut out defending District 25-2A champion Salado in the final three quarters of last week’s 30-10 win that clinched the league title. Junior Chance Marek had an interception return for a touchdown, and linebackers Tim Weir and Dustin Hamilton and lineman Bronc Rice created havoc in the backfield.
Of course, when your offense averages 36 points per game, you can do much more than methodically run over opponents.
The quick feet of Campos and Sebek have made them tough to bring down. Campos has been Rogers’ biggest threat in its last three games, scoring seven touchdowns.
“They’ve got some people who can break it, especially Campos,” Hallettsville coach Rick Masek said.
But getting the kind of offensive production the Eagles have been accustomed to won’t come easily against the Brahmas.
They’ve allowed just more than 140 rushing yards per game, and that’s coming from a district that produced a pair of 1,000-yard rushers.
Linebacker Christian Wood-Dvorak is the anchor, with a team-high 75 tackles. In the secondary, Tanner Carson led the district with six interceptions. Hallettsville forced 24 turnovers, including 11 fumbles.
“They’ve got an extremely good defense,” Walker said. “They’ve been there, done that.”
The best way to counter Rogers’ offense might be for the Brahmas to play a little keepaway of their own, and they’ve certainly got the running backs to pull it off.
Sophomore Ryan Lenzy ranked third in 26-2A with 902 yards and fourth with nine touchdowns. Also dangerous out of the backfield is senior Jordan Erskine, who has 672 yards and six scores.
Both average more than 6 yards per carry for an offense that rushed for more than 2,000 yards.
“They’re both big kids that run hard,” Walker said. “We have to stop their running game. They do a good job of that.”
Neither program is in unfamiliar territory.
Hallettsville, which spent four years in 3A, has qualified for the playoffs four times in the last five seasons. The Brahmas are in the playoffs for the second straight season.
Rogers, whose nine wins are its most since a 13-win campaign in ’04, have been in the playoffs 12 times in the last 15 seasons.
“They’re a solid football team with a lot of tradition,” Masek said. “When you put that together, they’re hard to beat."
Said Walker: “We can beat anyone, but anyone can beat us.”
rschneider@temple-telegram.com
