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Hot Rangers stand between Badgers and first win
The Rangers, who walked into Burnet and handed the Bulldogs 24-21 loss last week, are all but out of the playoff race but have been -- week in and week out -- one of the most competitive teams in 25-4A. The Rangers have scored wins against Burnet and Dripping Springs (28-14). Their losses came at home against Pflugerville Hendrickson (20-17), at Austin Lake Travis (33-28) and at home to Marble Falls (21-17). Lake Travis has clinched a playoff spot. Marble Falls would clinch a berth if the season ended today. Hendrickson still can make the playoffs with two wins and some help. The Badgers (0-8, 0-5) play at Vista Ridge (2-6, 2-3) at 7:30 p.m. today. "It seems like every week we have to play a team that just played a great game against Burnet," LHS head coach Ryan Bailey said. "The kids will look at that score and then look at our score against Burnet (48-21) and try to compare.
While the Vista Ridge defense has been consistent, the offense has not. Of late, it has thrived behind the arm and legs of junior quarterback Taylor McHargue. McHargue has thrown for 677 yards and four touchdowns, though he has had tendency to make mistakes with seven interceptions. He leads the team in rushing with 657 yards and six touchdowns. Lampasas faced a running threat two weeks ago in Pflugerville Connally's Darius Darks. Darks ran for almost 150 yards, but he did it out of a shotgun-read offense. McHargue is an option quarterback. The Badgers will have to play it old-school to stop McHargue. The defense must play force and contain, with one player assigned to the quarterback and one to the pitch man. "He's more of an option guy, a veer guy," Bailey said. "That's where he can hurt you, so this week coach (defensive coordinator Jimmy) Randolph has the kids working on assignment football, and they've worked hard and responded 7 loss to the Hawks. Lucas has each week despite playing with well." The Rangers have three other capable ball-carriers in Evan Gilbert, Calvin Thompson and Drew Coleman. Coleman has been used in a multitude of ways. He has rushed for 177 yards and two touchdowns, and leads the team in receiving with 329 yards and two more scores. The Badgers are coming off a 42- 7 home loss to Hendrickson in which they showed, for the first time in three weeks, the ability to move the ball on offense. Poorly timed penalties and an interception on a tipped pass, however, limited scoring opportunities. Sophomore quarterback Vann continued to answer the bell multiple injuries. Millican returned to the lineup after missing three weeks. He completed 12 of 23 passes for 102 yards and an interception. The interception was returned 53 yards for a score. "On the deeper routes, Vann was pressured on the first one he threw, and I think he rushed his deeper throws a little bit after that," Bailey said. "But other than that, he threw the ball well, made his checkdowns and did a lot of good things." The offense moved the ball well on the ground at times, but a 21-0 first-quarter deficit limited the opportunities to run. Brode DuBose broke loose on a 39-yard run that set up the Badgers' only score, and Jarrod Bowen ran for 45 yards and a touchdown. For the first time in three weeks, Bailey expects his entire receiving corps to be healthy. Last week, the group did not drop a pass but played without speedy sophomore Aaron Reyna, who was out with a head injury. Reyna practiced this week and should play. Send-off
The Lampasas High School Booster Club will be at Star Propane on Highway 281 at 4 p.m. today to give the football team a send-off. Members plan to bring signs and goody bags for the players. Anyone is invited to attend. The club has done this for every road game. |
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