High school football game of week pits Austin Hyde Park against Holy Cross.
Express-news staff writer David Hinojosa sets up the San Antonio area’s high school football weekend.
GAME OF THE WEEK
AUSTIN HYDE PARK VS. HOLY CROSS, 7 P.M. FRIDAY, WHEATLEY SPORTS COMPLEX
Hyde Park (0-0) update: Hyde Park, which competes in TAPPS Division II, went 0-9 last season and looks to rebound with an experienced group of returners, which include nine starters on offense and five on defense. Senior quarterback Ryanwilliams threw for 706 yards in his first season running the Panthers’ spread offense a year ago.
Holy Cross (0-0) update: The Knights dropped to TAPPS Division III after going 6-4 and earning a playoff spot in Division II in 2019. The Knights’ chances received a big boost two weeks ago with the arrival of Jordan Battles, the former Brandeis quarterback whose transfer to Judson was denied by the UIL. Instead of returning to Brandeis, where he would have been eligible, Battles transferred to Holy Cross. Notable: Battles is a former ball boy at Holy Cross when his father, Shaun, was an assistant there. ... Battles led Brandeis to the state quarterfinals the previous two seasons. He was named District 28-6A’s MVP after passing for 1,309 yards and 13 touchdowns and rushing for 1,821 yards and 26 scores. ... Battles fills a void the Knights had at quarterback. He could see some time in the secondary, too. ... The Knights defeated Hyde Park 41-17 last year and leads the all-time series, 6-2.
KEY STORYLINE
Clemens at Austinwestlake, 7:30 p.m. Friday: This was initially an open date for Clemens until last week whenwestlake was forced to cancel a game against Dallas Highland Park, which had a COVID-19 outbreak.
It’s a big chance for the Buffaloes, ranked No. 3 by the ExpressNews in Class 6A/5A, to test itself against a powerhouse that won the Class 6A Division II state title last season. Clemens quarterback
Max Didomenico, who combined for 2,789 yards and 33 touchdowns, works behind a line that has three returning starters, including All-state selection Jackson Andrews.
They’vemet once before, in 2018, whenwestlake won 28-14 in the second round of the Class 6A Division II playoffs.
KEY MATCHUPS
Chester (Va.) Life Christian vs. Steele, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Lehnhoff Stadium: Steele opens against a teamwith 10 players who hold Power 5 college offers, highlighted by linebacker Aaron Willis, who is committed to Tennessee.
Life Christian opened the season last week with a 31-20 loss against Pulaski (Ark.) in Little Rock. Life Christian is a private school that opened in 2018. It went 2-6 that season and 4-6 last year.
Steele (8-3 in 2019) is doing some rebuilding on offense with two returning starters. One of them is four-year starting quarterbackwyatt Begeal, who passed for 2,469 yards and 20 touchdowns last season. The Arkansas State commit also rushed for 585 yards and eight touchdowns.
Killeen Harker Heights at Smithson Valley, 7:30 p.m. Friday:
Harker Heights, of District 12-6A, and Smithson Valley meet for the first time. Harker Heights,
4-7 a season ago, relies on the athletic ability of quarterback Terrance Carter.
Smithson Valley has a lot of spots to fill with three returning starters on offense and five on defense. Senior defensive end Trey Moore had five sacks, three batted balls and 39 tackles last year.
Fredericksburg at Boerne, 7 p.m. Thursday: These Hill Country rivals meet for the 40th time with Boerne holding a 21-18 series edge. Fredericksburg outlasted the Greyhounds in their previous meeting, 38-31, in double overtime last season.
Each look to bounce back from tough defeats last week. Boerne lost to Sweetwater, 35-30, and Fredericksburg dropped a 21-20 decision towimberley, the Class 4A Division II state finalist in 2019.
UNDER THE RADAR GAME
Stockdale at Poth, 7:30 p.m. Friday: Poth looks to take control of the District 15-3A-I race in a battle of undefeated teams in league play. Poth (4-0 overall, 2-0 district), the Express-news No. 1 team in its Sub-5a rankings, has outscored opponents, 24814. Stockdale (2-2, 2-0) has scored 49 points in its last two games after totaling six in its first two.