Once again, Timberwolves head to state quarterfinals

Cedar Park rolls ahead despite injury to QB Grimm.

SAN ANTONIO – Cedar Park’s football team is headed back to the state quarterfinals for the third consecutive season.

Cedar Park defeated Alice 36-7 Friday night in the regional round of the Class 4A, Division II playoffs at Heroes Stadium, as quarterback Nate Grimm passed for a pair of firstquarter touchdowns before leaving with an apparent ankle injury.

After losing to Lake Travis in the Class 4A, Division I state quarterfinals in each of the past two years, Cedar Park (112) will make its first trip to the 4A, Division II quarterfinals on Friday, when the Timberwolves will play San Antonio Brennan at 7:30 p.m. in the Alamodome.

Cedar Park’s heralded “Black Rain” defense limited Alice to 222 total yards and held an opponent to fewer than 10 points for the seventh time this season.

After Alice (9-4) drove 51 yards in eight plays on its first drive, Cedar Park’s defense didn’t allow another Coyotes drive to last longer than five plays or travel more than 26 yards until the fourth quarter.

Alice finally scored on an 11-play, 84-yard drive against mostly backups, breaking the shutout with 3:23 to play.

“The offense they run is tough to adjust too at first, but our guys did their jobs tonight and matched their assignments,” Cedar Park coach Joe Willis said. “That’s a good team over there, and we worked to match up and get the job done tonight.”

Despite the loss of Grimm, Cedar Park racked up 332 yards of total offense. Nathan Harwell rushed for 90 yards on just three carries, scoring on runs of 28 and 59 yards.

Grimm first-quarter touchdown passes went to Samuel Brock, who caught a 20-yarder, and Ethan Fry, who grabbed a 3-yarder.

CJ Udoye took over at quarterback after Grimm’s injury and handed off to a bevy of running backs, who helped Cedar Park rush for 264 yards.